HEIDELBERG 54 (Brink)

Composer: Emily R. Brink

Emily R. Brink is a Senior Research Fellow of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and Adjunct Professor of Church Music and Worship at Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her main areas of responsibility are conference planning and global resources. She is program manager of the annual Calvin Symposium on Worship, which draws more than 70 presenters and 1600 participants from around the world. She also travels widely to lecture and to learn about worship in different parts of the world, especially in Asia, where she has lectured in Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan. Her areas of interest include congregational song from all times and places;… Go to person page >

Emily R. Brink composed HEIDELBERG 54 in 1977. The tune has chantlike features at its beginning but develops larger melodic gestures toward the end. Because of its use of several melodic motives, the tune is accessible to many congregations. Either for initial learning or for regular use, try having the choir sing much of this setting in harmony, but have the congregation join in singing the personal final line (at the double bar).The long lines of this text demand careful choral leadership. Try also to sing this hymn unaccompanied or have those making profession of faith sing with just guitar as accompaniment.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook