ELW v. LBW

Excellent topic, Doulos.

I believe that the ELW is best understood based on its differences in four key areas:

• Changes in the selection of hymns
• Changes to the text of hymns
• Additional settings of the liturgy, including new liturgies
• Reorganization including the release of new resources

Somewhere I have a link to the list of hymns present in WOV/LBW that were not included in ELW. Other than the notable and politically motivated removal of "Onward, Christian Soldiers" and one other hymns of militaristic metaphor the name of which escapes me at the moment, most of what's missing is hymns that were never popular. Many of the 15th and 16th century chorales that were added to LBW in an attempt at a renaissance of this sort of singing were taken back out, and some of the more ephemeral pieces of new hymnody from WOV are missing.

New material is a combination of ecumenically significant hymns common in other faith traditions, newer Lutheran hymns, multicultural material, and some of the more popular pianistic "praise chorus" type stuff.

The textual changes are generally mild compared to what has happened to most other denominational hymnals. There has been a concerted effort to excise any military metaphors, c.f. "Lift High the Cross" among others. The changes towards gender neutrality are mild.

Some of the new settings are worthwhile, some not. Setting ten sets the familiar texts of the liturgy to common hymn tunes and is intended to cover the situation where only a (e.g.) Methodist organist is available. The pairings are, in my opinion, just awful, and ruin the tunes for other uses as well as making a mockery of the liturgy. Sadly, many congregations actually like this setting. There are two new organistic settings, setting one by Mummert, Pavlechko, and Farlee; and setting nine. Both of these are solid updates to the somewhat dated harmony of the familiar LBW setting two.

The new companion resources are a mixed bag. The accompaniment edition of the ELW is a disappointment, with fine print and an awkward size and layout. Recent printings have split this into two volumes which helps only slightly. There are alternate accompaniments for both piano and organ in development. Four of each have been published. Though expensive, these are helpful for any keyboard musician who likes to vary introductions and accompaniments. The alternate accompaniments are all newly composed by a broad range of the usual ELCA composers.

For the congregational hymnal that is the core of the series, ELW is a huge improvement. The LBW/WOV combination was stale and juggling the two books a distraction. With the exceptions I've noted, the hymns that were dropped will not be missed, and a good deal of the new material is helpful.

I just recently started going back to church again after having to work Sundays for what seems forever. I grew up with the LBW and am used to those liturgies. The church in my town just started using the With One Voice / blue book a few weeks before I started attending services there. I have trouble singing the liturgy from the WOV / blue book. Growing up our congregation sang from the LBW in harmony, we had a cantor, etc. I like the music from the LBW much better. It's better suited to my voice, I find the music richer and more complex. It seems to have more depth. Maybe it's just that it's burned into my memory.
On Pentecost we go back to the LBW and I'm really looking forward to it.
I'm not familiar with the ELW.

Welcome, tisamy!

__________________
Job 13:7

I grew up with the LBW...I just recently bought a ELW (my Church doesn't use it)...I got the ELW because it seemed more like a BCP (Book of Common Prayer) that I loved so much when I was Episcopalian/Anglican (I've been both...yes there is a difference)...I like the ELW that it is easier for me to do morning prayer with, but as a worship book I still like the LBW better...it's not quite so "touchy feely" as ELW...

__________________

Our organist always plays in a different key than the hymns are written, and my wife is driven crazy by it since she has perfect pitch.

ah...perfect pitch...the "440 line to GOD"...that's what we used to call it in the Music department at SFA...I could tell you STORIES about folks with perfect pitch...

__________________

I like the ELW for its expansion of the kinds of songs that we can sing. Cutting out the harmonies probably wasn't a good idea. The pages are too thin and will deteriorate easily. I like the variety of liturgies. We use 4,6, and 8. All are good. My wife is not fond of the fact that the prayers (offertory prayer, e.g.) are not printed in the book. I don't miss the LBW. It had grown weary. And the hymnody was so heavily tilted toward Western European 16th-17th century stuff. I'm grateful for the variety of hymnody.

Howdy. Hope you don't mind a question from an"outsider" (AALC).

Do your congregations chant the Psalms? If so, do you like the chants that are provided in ELW?

There are psalm tones that I like that come out of the This Far by Faith hymn book. I tired of the ones from the LBW, and I'm not sure if we have used many from the ELW. We use a lot of the ones from Gather. I like these better, even though some of them are hard for cantors and pianists to read.