Electronic Hymnal

It's going to be interesting explaining all the benefits of owning an electronic hymnal.  But once you have one, you'll wonder how you got along without it.

What we are trying to get across is that this device is far different than a CD player or MP3 player, which people first think of when they see it.

A CD or MP3 recording cannot be changed.  Once it is recorded, you cannot change the pitch, or the tempo, and you are stuck with the sound of the recording itself - for instance, you cannot make a recording made with a brass section play back sounding like it was recorded using string instruments.

Why is this important?

Today, I believe one of the reasons churches do not use more hymns in their services is that they are more difficult to play using contemporary instruments like piano, guitar, synthesizer, and drums.  Hymns, as most people think of them, are an outgrowth of organ music.  Yet that is incorrect.  Hymns were mostly written for full orchestras.  Today, most people only hear organ music at weddings and funerals, so some people, especially younger people do not relate to the sound of hymns.  I've even heard some young people refer to hymns as "dirges."  That's a shame, and it doesn't have to be that way.

Traditionally, hymns were written for orchestras - not organs.  And the variety of sound was huge.  Today, by using the modern flexibility of music MIDI files, once a hymn has been digitized, the same file can be used to play it back using a trumpet as well as a violin, or even an organ.  The MIDI file captures the notes and the feel of the music.  You can then decide how you want it to sound.

So a men's group can sing "How Great Thou Art" at a lower key than the same hymns sung by a women's group if it was recorded in MIDI format.

In fact, MIDI format actually allows you to separate and listen to any of the major melody SATB parts (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) by itself, and played by any instrument you wish.

So if you like a part played by a trumpet accompanied by violins, and you want to slow down the tempo and sing it in a lower key, you can do that with MIDI files.  The next time you might want to pick up the tempo and use a saxophone quartet.  With our Electronic Hymnal, it's entirely up to you!  You can adjust every hymn just the way you or your congregation or group wants to sing it.

Listening to hymns played with contemporary instruments is a whole new experience for many.  And the magnificent words that have comforted and pleased generations for hundreds of years can be interwoven into a "contemporary" service without it causing controversy.  Gloria3 can bring hymns back to the contemporary church!

And as far as practice is concerned, the electronic hymnal is unsurpassed in being able to single out your part so you can master it, then you can drop out your part and use the orchestral backup to play it with your own instrument.

There's much more that can be done with this versatile instrument, so stay tuned as we share more ideas with you.  Feel free to comment as well.  Our goal is to provide excellent worship experiences anywhere in the world accompanied by fine music.