Adoremus Hymnal: Pew Edition

Rating:
Summary: Great quality printing and binding
Review: Great quality printing and binding. Easy to follow, large print, side by side: English and Latin Mass plus scores of Hymns. It would be extremely useful if you are attending a Latin Mass or a Mass in a Non-English speaking country where the language is based on Latin, such as: Spain, Portugal, Italy, France and Central & South America. Recommended for all Catholics.

Rating:
Summary: Best hymnal in print
Review: The Adoremus Hymnal is almost certainly the best hymnal in print. It is lovingly bound, and full of the best English and Latin hymns. It does not try to "simplify", "modernize", or (worse still) "gender-revise" the text of these hymns, and thus presents this sacred music as it should be. Best of all, it has several Gregorian-chant settings of the Mass, in Latin as well as English.

There are two criticisms of which the makers of this hymnal should be aware: first, there are no psalms included, and these are badly needed, both in Latin and English. Second, there are a great many beautiful and venerable hymns that could be added; I hope the hymnal expands in future editions (_without_ including the rather mediocre hymns that have appeared since the 1970's).

Rating:
Summary: Adoremus Hymnal - no vision needed
Review: This is a depressing little volumne. It will appeal to cahtolics whose musical taste stoppped in 1953. I can't imagine any parish, with a diverse community of ages, choosing this hymnal. If this is the only music resource available in a parish, there will be no real variety. The editorial content shows that modern music is low man on the totem pole. I know of NO teenager or babyboomer who would be 'inreiched' by singing so many songs in latin and with such dreary melodies. This is a good volumne for musicologists studying the place of music in the catholic liturgy. For those who want to have a music program with selections that are beautiful, contemporary and speak to this generation the Gospel of Christ, do look elsewhere. The musical selections are unrealistic in their relenting criteria of "nothing post Vatican II is really good, musically." I'm thankful it does not have a place in the majority of American parishes.