Concordia Hymn Prelude Series

[kschmidt2122]

Does anybody know of anywhere to get "The Concordia Hymn Prelude Series" published by Concordia Publishing House in the 1980s? It was a series of 42 volumes corresponding to all the hymns in "Lutheran Worship." Its successor, "Hymn Prelude Library," has apparently pushed it out of print, although CPH still sells its predecessor, "The Parish Organist"...

Some of the arrangements are kind of "junky," but I like to use them (I have 1 volume) for hymn introductions, interludes, after communion, etc.

I would love to obtain the whole series sooner rather than later. Any comments/insight is appreciated.

[voet]

Since Concordia has let this series go out of print, you might find a music store that has remaining stock on hand. Other than that, you will have to find used copies of the volumes.

I checked https://www.usedorganmusic.com/ but they do not have it among their current offerings. I believe he publishes a new list every month. You might have better luck checking the classified listings at The American Organist or Diapason. Sometimes people offer their library of organ literature when they retire. My local chapter of the American Guild of Organists often has free music available when someone retires.

[jjcricket1958]

The editor, Herbert Gotsch, (who edited most of the books up until his untimely passing ) was my organ professor. I do have the entire set, and seldom use it. PM me with an offer.

[Larrytow]

Almost all of the hymn tunes are covered in the Parish Organist or the Hymn Prelude collections. Perhaps not the same preludes, etc. as the Concordia Hymn Prelude series though.

Many LCMS churches buy the entire prelude music series for a new hymnal, to keep in the church for the organists. Perhaps one near you has the set you are looking for just laying around unused from when they upgraded to LSB ? Might not hurt to ask around.

Lutheran Worship was a lousy hymnal, in my opinion. Changed hymn titles and words (trying to be PC, ya know ), and the music editor was Paul Bunjes. A good percentage of the hymn accompaniments were Bunjefied, and really a mess. I lived though, and have played from, three hymnals in my career, and I like Lutheran Service Book best. 2nd best is The Lutheran Hymnal. This has nothing to do with your question of course, so sorry.

[myorgan]

Lutheran Worship was a lousy hymnal, in my opinion. Changed hymn titles and words (trying to be PC, ya know ), and the music editor was Paul Bunjes.

Larry,

I, too, wonder what's up with that. How many people take the liberty to edit Shakespeare, Whitman, Longfellow, or some of the major poets just because they disagree with the content. To me, a hymn needs to stay with its original lyrics. It's a disservice to the author to change the lyrics after he's dead. If I disagree with the lyrics, then I won't use the hymn. It's as simple as that.

Michael

[Larrytow]

I agree with you Michael, but that is not actually the biggest reason I hate to see hymn lyrics changed ( at least not big rewording of phrases - a word change occasionally for modern usage is "sometimes" OK ). The real reason is that, in our churches anyhow, people memorize entire hymns - all the stanzas. Then the wholesale reworking of hymns is a disservice to many members, not to mention plain wrong.

[voet]

I used to have a rector that memorized people's phone numbers by the numbers in the hymnal. That system was fine until the Episcopal Church came out with the 1982 hymnal.