E. S. Lorenz: Hymns for the Smaller Congregation

Lorenz became president of Lebanon Valley College at thirty-three, left the post within two years because of ill health, and then built a publishing house in Dayton, Ohio, that still bears his name. He compiled a hymnal for the United Brethren Publishing House in 1889 and founded the Lorenz Publishing Company in 1890 to serve churches with limited musical resources.

The catalogue holds 187 Lorenz scores, 109 with lyrics, and it is weighted toward the middle of the difficulty range: 73 at index 0, 62 at index 1 and 52 at index 2. "Rock of Ages, cleft for me (Lorenz)" and "Thou thinkest, lord, of me" are the most-viewed titles.

187Scores
110 minutesMusic (approx.)
58,321Notated notes
109Scores with lyric notation

About Edmund Simon Lorenz

Edmund Simon Lorenz was born in 1854 and died in 1942. He was president of Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania, from 1887 to 1889, taking office at thirty-three; his tenure ended early on grounds of health. The following year he founded the Lorenz Publishing Company in Dayton, Ohio, an enterprise built on church music for smaller congregations served by amateur musicians. It remained in family hands, and a great-great-grandson later ran the firm.

His catalogue is practical music. Alongside gospel songs and Sunday-school pieces there are anthems for Easter and Christmas, temperance and children's numbers, and hymn tunes such as the setting of "Rock of Ages" that opens the collection here. "Thou Thinkest, Lord, of Me" is the second most-viewed title, and the surrounding list includes seasonal items such as "On, through the Easter sunlight" and "Because it is christmas time", plus longer reflections like "And the peace of God that passeth all understanding".

The 187 scores run to about 109 minutes and 58,321 notated notes, with a fairly even division between simple and moderately demanding writing. The presence of 52 titles at complexity index 2 is notable for a hymn publisher: it suggests part-writing with independent lines and modest choral divisi rather than uniform block harmony. What the collection does not contain is his editorial work, the hymnals and songbooks through which he reached far more singers than any single piece could.

Listening and playing notes

Expect hymns and anthems in four-part harmony, with the tune generally in the soprano and the other voices moving in support. The index 2 titles add independent inner lines and some choral divisi, but nothing that would trouble a parish choir with a capable organist. Many pieces are strophic and under three minutes. Text setting is syllabic and unfussy, built for clear diction in a dry acoustic. Seasonal items are short and functional; the anthems such as And the peace of God are longer and reward a little rehearsal.

Selected scores

Thou Thinkest, Lord, of Me
A hymn of divine care and the second most-viewed Lorenz title, set in a calm syllabic style.
Wonderful Love of Jesus
A gospel song on the love of Christ in the warm revival idiom Lorenz published for parish choirs.
Because It Is Christmas Time
A short holiday piece for Sunday-school and parish use, with a refrain a congregation can join.
The Name of Jesus (Martin)
A setting of another writer's text, showing how the Lorenz house matched new tunes to existing hymns.
Are You Weary, Are You Heavy Hearted?
An invitation hymn for the tired, using the questioning tone that was standard in gospel songbooks.
Search the Scriptures
A teaching chorus built to press a single biblical command into a memorable tune.
The Whispers of Jesus
A quiet devotional number in which the text's intimacy is matched by a restrained accompaniment.
The Hollow of God’s Hand
A song of protection drawing on Isaiah, with the kind of pictorial title that sold hymnals.
Are You Ready? (Slaughenhaupt)
An advent or deathbed question set to music, a staple of the revival invitation repertoire.
Come Unto Me (Share)
A setting of Christ's invitation from Matthew 11, written for unaccompanied or lightly accompanied singing.