Calvin Prof Wins Song-Writing Contest

September 14, 2006 == MEDIA ADVISORY
 
A Calvin College music professor has won a song-writing contest sponsored by
the Christian Reformed Church as part of the denomination's 150th anniversary
plans.

Bert Polman wrote "God, We Sing Your Glorious Praises" and set it to the tune
of "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," intending the four-verse hymn to fit
both traditional and contemporary styles of worship.

The CRC sesquicentennial planning committee hopes to hear the hymn sung at
churches across the continent in 2007, and beyond.

"There's something wonderful about a song that's sung across the denomination
to help us celebrate this special event," says Joyce Borger, a member of the
150th anniversary sub-committee who led a three-judge panel through a selection
process that included 50 entries.

Borger says Polman's winning entry was marked by both a familiar melody and
wonderful words. "It was the text that stood out," she says, "and the tune is
familiar and crosses various musical styles."

Polman, a Dordt College graduate and long-time CRC member, is in his second
year as music professor at Calvin after teaching for 20 years at Redeemer
University College in Ancaster, Ont.

For the full story see http://www.calvin.edu/news/releases/2006-07/polman.htm

For the text of the song see
http://www.crcna.org/pages/sesquicentennial_hymn.cfm
For more on Polman see
http://www.calvin.edu/academic/music/faculty/bpolman.stm

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Received on Thu Sep 14 14:35:22 2006