New Hymnbook / Children’s Songbook update
Here’s the latest information I have on the new Hymnbook and Children’s Songbook that are currently in the works for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
First, here are links to the FAQs for both the Annual Submission and the Hymnbook / Children’s Songbook Submission.
You will find places where the FAQs are unclear or contradict each other, so be patient. This project is a huge undertaking.
I’ve tried to de-conflict or clarify some of those places here–with considerable help from the lovely-and-talented-but-overworked-so-I’m-not-including-her-email-address Church Music Manager. 😉
Comments and Suggestions:
The project has received thousands of comments and suggestions, with more anticipated.
Input from members is still welcome. Use this form for suggestions or comments. (If you’re worried about “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” don’t be. “In Our Lovely Deseret” may not fare so well.)
The comment/suggestion form fields are small, but there’s a handle on the lower right to make them larger. You may want to use an offline text editor, then copy/paste your comments. Just in case.
Submitting Original Works
Original works may be submitted here through July 1, 2019. You will need to sign in using your LDS Account login.
You may submit up to five compositions in each of four categories: Hymns; Hymn Texts; Children’s Songs; and Children’s Song Texts, for a total of 20 submissions. Yeah, you read that right. (This is one area where the FAQs conflict, but yes, the submission tool is set up to accept a total of 5 in each of the four categories.) HOWEVER…
For original Hymns or Children’s Songs that include both text and music, you do NOT need to submit the text and music separately. They will automatically be considered both together and separately.
For submission that are music only (without text), use the “Hymns” or “Children’s Songs” categories as appropriate.
Hymnbook/Children’s Songbook submissions replace the Hymn, Hymn Text, and Children’s Song categories in the Annual Music Submission for both 2019 and 2020.
There will inevitably be more worthy submissions than can be included in the books. Any submissions not selected for inclusion will be eligible for the Annual Submission in future years.
With one exception, submissions that have been recognized in past years do NOT need to be resubmitted for consideration. (This is misstated in one of the FAQs.) The exception is those that were awarded “special recognition.”
Miscellaneous…
The books are expected to take several years to complete. (Any statement beginning “When the new books come out later this year…” will provoke amused laughter.)
Many works that are not included in the printed books will be available in the digital library. (For example, since the printed books will be used world-wide in many languages, national anthems will not be included in the printed book, but may be made available in the digital library.)
Before you ask, no, I’m not on the committee. If I were, I wouldn’t have time for this. 🙂
Again, here are the FAQs for both the Annual Submission and the Hymnbook / Children’s Songbook Submission.
Specific questions that aren’t covered in the FAQs can be sent here:
Hymnbook and Children’s Songbook Submission: newmusic@churchofjesuschrist.org
Annual Church Music Submission: musicsubmission@churchofjesuschrist.org
They get rather a lot of questions so…
…need I say it?
…dare I ask it?
…will it do any good?
Check the FAQs first!
One final thing: Due to technical difficulties, the deadline for this year’s Annual Music Submission has been extended to April 24. If you have music you intended to submit but thought you missed the deadline, you’ve been granted a reprieve. 🙂
Handy info…
Since you asked: How to Find Translations on This SiteFinding translations here is super easy. This is what you do: […]
Resizing Scores Using the Personal Composer DemoStep by step instructions on resizing scores or text using the Personal Composer demo. […]- Transposing Using Personal ComposerHow to transpose .pc scores using the Personal Composer Demo. Step by step instructions. […]
Hi Sally, I was wondering if in the New Hymnbook and Children’s Songbook, can I send my own translations for some hymns that I would like to be included on the new songbooks? I would like to help in that, but I don’t know if it’s possible.
I am from Chile, and I have found a lot of beautiful music that I would like to suggest my own translations.
Thanks for all! (I love your music, by the way)
Lissette, I wish I could help you on this, but I don’t have any information on submitting translations for the songbooks. You might want to use the links listed above to ask your question, since they will certainly have the answer for you. Good luck!
Sally, you’re amazing! Thanks for the update. For you and your readers, I was contacted some time ago by members of a small Presbyterian church in my town to help them with their live music during their sacrament services. To that end, I am now visiting them on the 3rd Sunday of each month, offering vocal duet and two piano duets. On Mother’s Day, they will be featuring ‘Love in Spoken Here” as the vocal duet. Ministering does have many faces. Love to all and Happy and Joyful Easter! Koleta Wells on April 20, 2019
Can you tell me how to get a copyright? I’ve just written a song and the submission tool says to center the copyright symbol at the bottom with my name, but I don’t know how to go about getting one.
The US Copyright office says this: “Your work is under copyright protection the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form that it is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device.” In addition, copyright can be registered with them for a fee. There’s much more here: https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html#protect
For the purposes of the submission tool, all you need to do is add the text they specify (be sure to put your own name in!) to the bottom of the first page of your submission. 🙂
Thank you so much! I have submitted my song!! EEK!
Sally you know I’m one of your biggest fans/admirer so I know what ever you commission will be great. I don’t know how to write music but I can sing it for you the way I feel it if ever you’d want me too, I can share ideas that way.
Just thought I’d add my 2 cents, love you.
Love you back! <3
I would appreciate an update. I have been a stake and ward choir director for over 35 years. I appreciate all your wonderful music and all you have done for the church all these years. Thank you so much.
Thank you Sally for the update. I’m not submitting anything but do appreciate being left in the loop. I’ve directed either a school , stake, or ward choir for over 55 years and have used many of you wonderful songs at the ward level. They fill an immediate and original need for choral music that is refreshing and singable. Please keep up the good work. Many of us out here are forever in your debt.