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John L. Bell

b. 1949 Hymnal Number: 67 Composer of "[Kyrie eleison]" in More Voices John Bell (b. 1949) was born in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock in Ayrshire, intending to be a music teacher when he felt the call to the ministry. But in frustration with his classes, he did volunteer work in a deprived neighborhood in London for a time and also served for two years as an associate pastor at the English Reformed Church in Amsterdam. After graduating he worked for five years as a youth pastor for the Church of Scotland, serving a large region that included about 500 churches. He then took a similar position with the Iona Community, and with his colleague Graham Maule, began to broaden the youth ministry to focus on renewal of the church’s worship. His approach soon turned to composing songs within the identifiable traditions of hymnody that began to address concerns missing from the current Scottish hymnal: "I discovered that seldom did our hymns represent the plight of poor people to God. There was nothing that dealt with unemployment, nothing that dealt with living in a multicultural society and feeling disenfranchised. There was nothing about child abuse…,that reflected concern for the developing world, nothing that helped see ourselves as brothers and sisters to those who are suffering from poverty or persecution." [from an interview in Reformed Worship (March 1993)] That concern not only led to writing many songs, but increasingly to introducing them internationally in many conferences, while also gathering songs from around the world. He was convener for the fourth edition of the Church of Scotland’s Church Hymnary (2005), a very different collection from the previous 1973 edition. His books, The Singing Thing and The Singing Thing Too, as well as the many collections of songs and worship resources produced by John Bell—some together with other members of the Iona Community’s “Wild Goose Resource Group,” —are available in North America from GIA Publications. Emily Brink

Fred Kaan

1929 - 2009 Hymnal Number: 173 Author of "Put Peace into Each Other's Hands (Hands Shaped Like a Cradle)" in More Voices Fred Kaan Hymn writer. His hymns include both original work and translations. He sought to address issues of peace and justice. He was born in Haarlem in the Netherlands in July 1929. He was baptised in St Bavo Cathedral but his family did not attend church regularly. He lived through the Nazi occupation, saw three of his grandparents die of starvation, and witnessed his parents deep involvement in the resistance movement. They took in a number of refugees. He became a pacifist and began attending church in his teens. Having become interested in British Congregationalism (later to become the United Reformed Church) through a friendship, he was attended Western College in Bristol. He was ordained in 1955 at the Windsor Road Congregational Church in Barry, Glamorgan. In 1963 he was called to be minister of the Pilgrim Church in Plymouth. It was in this congregation that he began to write hymns. The first edition of Pilgrim Praise was published in 1968, going into second and third editions in 1972 and 1975. He continued writing many more hymns throughout his life. Dianne Shapiro, from obituary written by Keith Forecast in Independent (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/fred-kaan-minister-and-celebrated-hymn-writer-1809481.html)

Anonymous

Person Name: Unknown Hymnal Number: 13 Author (v. 2) of "O Let the Power Fall on Me" in More Voices In some hymnals, the editors noted that a hymn's author is unknown to them, and so this artificial "person" entry is used to reflect that fact. Obviously, the hymns attributed to "Author Unknown" "Unknown" or "Anonymous" could have been written by many people over a span of many centuries.

Brian A. Wren

b. 1936 Person Name: Brian Wren Hymnal Number: 155 Author of "Unbounded Spirit, Breath of God" in More Voices Brian Wren (b. Romford, Essex, England, 1936) is a major British figure in the revival of contemporary hymn writing. He studied French literature at New College and theology at Mansfield College in Oxford, England. Ordained in 1965, he was pastor of the Congregational Church (now United Reformed) in Hockley and Hawkwell, Essex, from 1965 to 1970. He worked for the British Council of Churches and several other organizations involved in fighting poverty and promoting peace and justice. This work resulted in his writing of Education for Justice (1977) and Patriotism and Peace (1983). With a ministry throughout the English-speaking world, Wren now resides in the United States where he is active as a freelance lecturer, preacher, and full-time hymn writer. His hymn texts are published in Faith Looking Forward (1983), Praising a Mystery (1986), Bring Many Names (1989), New Beginnings (1993), and Faith Renewed: 33 Hymns Reissued and Revised (1995), as well as in many modern hymnals. He has also produced What Language Shall I Borrow? (1989), a discussion guide to inclusive language in Christian worship. Bert Polman

Gordon Light

Hymnal Number: 145 Author of "Draw the Circle Wide (Traçons un grand cercle)" in More Voices Gordon Light was born in Alberta, but as an Air Force brat, lived in many places growing up. He attended Carleton University in Ottawa (B.A.) and Trinity College in Toronto (S.T.B). Ordained deacon and priest in 1969, he served in parishes in Cariboo, Edmonton and Rupert’s Land dioceses. Following a time as Dean of Cariboo in Kamloops, he moved to Toronto in 1992 to serve as Principal Secretary to the Primate. Returning west in 2001, he was Administrative Assistant to the Metropolitan of BC and Yukon, and then consecrated bishop for the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior (formerly Cariboo). After retiring at the end of 2008, Gordon was appointed chaplain to Church House staff until (2010). Among other hobbies, a longtime passion has been song-writing. He is married to Barbara Liotscos, also an Anglican priest. Both retired first to Meaford, Ontario, and now live again in Kamloops, BC. They serve as honourary assistants in St. Paul’s, Cathedral, but have also been engaged in interim ministry in other parishes. They have taken some time to travel, enjoy connecting with children and grandchildren, and have recently added their young Bernedoodle, Keady, to their household. Gordon Light

I-to Loh

b. 1936 Hymnal Number: 2 Paraphraser (English) of "Come All You People (Uyai mose)" in More Voices

Hans Leo Hassler

1564 - 1612 Hymnal Number: 73 Composer of "PASSION CHORALE" in More Voices Hans Leo Hassler Germany 1564-1612. Born at Nuremberg, Germany, he came from a family of famous musicians and received early education from his father. He then studied in Venice, Italy, with Andrea Gabrieli, uncle of Giovanni Gabrieli, his friend, with whom he composed a wedding motet. The uncle taught him to play the organ. He learned the polychoral style and took it back to Germany after Andrea Gabrieli's death. He served as organist and composer for Octavian Fugger, the princely art patron of Augsburg (1585-1601). He was a prolific composer but found his influence limited, as he was Protestant in a still heavily Catholic region. In 1602 he became director of town music and organist in the Frauenkirche in Nuremberg until 1608. He married Cordula Claus in 1604. He was finally court musician for the Elector of Saxony in Dresden, Germany, evenually becoming Kapellmeister (1608-1612). A Lutheran, he composed both for Roman Catholic liturgy and for Lutheran churches. He produced two volumns of motets, a famous collection of court songs, and a volume of simpler hymn settings. He published both secular and religious music, managing to compose much for the Catholic church that was also usable in Lutheran settings. He was also a consultant to organ builders. In 1596 he, with 53 other organists, had the opportunity to examine a new instrument with 59 stops at the Schlosskirche, Groningen. He was recognized for his expertise in organ design and often was called on to examine new instruments. He entered the world of mechanical instrument construction, developing a clockwork organ that was later sold to Emperor Rudolf II. He died of tuberculosis in Frankfurt, Germany. John Perry

Randy Scruggs

Hymnal Number: 18 Author of "Lord, Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary" in More Voices Randy Lynn Scruggs (born August 3, 1953 in Nashville, Tennessee) is a music producer, songwriter and guitarist. He had his first recording at the age of 13. He has won a Grammy Award and was twice named "Musician of the Year" at the Country Music Association Awards. He is the middle son of Earl Scruggs. As a songwriter, Scruggs's credits include "We Danced Anyway", "Love Don't Care (Whose Heart It Breaks)", "Love Has No Right", "Don't Make It Easy for Me", "Chance of Lovin' You", and "Angel in Disguise". Scruggs has worked with many artists, including Michael Card, The Talbot Brothers, Waylon Jennings, George Strait and Emmylou Harris. His career dates back to the 1970 with the release of All the Way Home, a collaboration with his older brother Gary. Scruggs recorded his debut solo LP, Crown of Jewels, in 1998. In 1994, Scruggs teamed up with Earl Scruggs and Doc Watson to contribute the song "Keep on the Sunny Side" to the AIDS benefit album Red Hot + Country produced by the Red Hot Organization. ----en.wikipedia.org/wiki