Frequently Asked Questions
- What is The Hymn Project?
- What songs are on The Hymn Project?
- How did you determine which hymns to include on The Hymn Project?
- How many verses are played for each hymn?
- How were the hymns played? And are there introductions, more than one verse?
- Is it just piano?
- Can I listen to samples of the music, to hear what it sounds like?
- Does The Hymn Project have any other uses, outside of congregational singing? How else can I use this?
- Is it easy to use?
- Where can I obtain lyrics to the hymns on The Hymn Project? Do you sell hymnals or songbooks with The Hymn Project?
- I'm with a church that has several instrumentalists, and/or offers a different style of music. Could I still use The Hymn Project?
- How was The Hymn Project recorded? Is this a quality recording?
- What does it look like?
- How much does it cost?
- Can I get a discount for ordering multiple copies?
- Are these songs copyrighted? Did you get permission to record them?
- Is there a return policy?
What is The Hymn Project?
The Hymn Project is a 7-CD collection of 200 hymns, packaged in two complete sets.
The first set, entitled, "The Hymn Project: An Anthology from America's Church Houses," features 150 hymns on 5 CDs. The second set, entitled, "The Hymn Project: A Holiday Collection from America's Church Houses," features 50 hymns on 2 CDs, including Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Patriotic titles.
To see a list of the titles offered on The Hymn Project, please see the Order page! Simply scroll down below the order form, and you'll find an alphabetized list.
Return To TopWhat songs are on The Hymn Project?
A list of the hymns included on The Hymn Project can be found on the Order page. Simply scroll down below the order form, and you'll find an alphabetized list.
Return To TopHow did you determine which hymns to include on The Hymn Project?
A great deal of time was taken with every detail of our production process. We set out to create the most extensive collection to date, but we also wanted it to be compact, graceful, and easy to use.
We settled at 200 as the ideal number of hymns to fit this description. We then set out to choose the most often-used and often-requested hymns in today's churches. Several church musicians, church goers, and church leaders were consulted during the process of choosing these 200 songs, and we believe we have created the ideal collection.
Return To TopHow many verses are played for each hymn?
Each hymn features the number of verses that are traditionally sung in congregational settings, based on our research and experience. Since The Hymn Project was designed with you the user in mind, a great deal of time and attention was taken with every detail: including how many verses we would include. We trust you will find our choices well-suited for your tastes and situation.
If you'd like to see how many verses are included in a particular hymn, we have provided documents just for that purpose, located here! Created to be conveniently printed off, you can keep them with you as you plan services or music for your event.
Return To TopHow were the hymns played? And are there introductions, more than one verse?
The hymns were played directly from the hymnbook, as one would hear them in church. There are no embellishments or stylizations, no voices, and no additional instruments. This very simplicity is what distinguishes The Hymn Project and makes it useful for smaller gatherings, gentle background music, meditation, and a host of other situations.
To hear some samples of The Hymn Project, please click on the link at the upper-left corner of this page. (Make sure the volume is turned up on your computer.)
The hymns were performed with you, the user, in mind. Each one features an introduction to make it clear where the verses actually begin. And, where applicable, the hymns include multiple verses. The number of verses was carefully chosen: Each hymn features the number of verses traditionally sung in congregational settings.
If you'd like to see how many verses are included in a particular hymn, we have provided documents just for that purpose, located here! Created to be conveniently printed off, you can keep them with you as you plan services or music for your event.
Return To TopIs it just piano?
Yes, The Hymn Project is a compilation of 200 hymns on solo piano. This simplicity was a significant part of our goal to create a brand new resource for churches, nursing homes, funeral homes, and small gatherings of all kinds. Similar recordings have featured either full orchestrations or stylized embellishments. Other products have provided only MIDI or digital versions of the hymns, which can be difficult to use and lacking in sound quality. The Hymn Project is the first product to compile such an extensive collection of hymns, performed by a real pianist, directly from the hymnbook -- in a compact and easy-to-use package.
Return To TopCan I listen to samples of the music, to hear what it sounds like?
Yes, we would love for you to listen. In the upper left-hand corner of each page of our website, you'll find a link to a media player that will allow you to hear samples of 19 of these hymns, almost all the way through. (Make sure the volume is turned up on your computer.) We want you to feel confident in the sound and quality of our product.
Return To TopDoes The Hymn Project have any additional uses, outside of congregational singing? How else could I use this?
While The Hymn Project is the premier hymn accompaniment resource, it has also found a home in several other situations.
Here are just a few:
Background music at church events and dinners, background tracks for performers, meditation and devotional music, funeral homes, nursing & retirement homes, wedding music, inspirational music for the military and others far from home, piano study, phone hold music, and in private and public libraries as an archive of traditional faith music.
Is it easy to use?
The Hymn Project was designed for efficiency and ease. If you can operate a CD player, you can use The Hymn Project!
Each individual CD was designed to include a variety of song tempos, subjects, and styles -- so that you can plan a service or event using just one of the CDs if you wish.
However, you may also choose to change CDs during your event, burn a new CD that includes only the songs that you need, or use a CD player that holds multiple CDs.
If you have access to a computer at your church/organization, the free Apple software called iTunes allows you to place all 200 songs on your computer, and then create a "playlist" of just the hymns you plan to use in a particular setting. Afterwards, you can delete that playlist and start again.
For a tutorial on how to download iTunes (it's free!) and how to use The Hymn Project with iTunes, please click here!
If you have any questions as you use The Hymn Project, please don't hesitate to contact us. We want to be of service to you in any way that we can.
Return To TopWhere can I obtain lyrics to the hymns on The Hymn Project? Do you sell hymnals or songbooks with The Hymn Project?
When creating The Hymn Project, we chose not to include lyrics, because there are so many hymns for which the words vary from tradition to tradition. We also wanted to keep costs down for churches and other organizations, so we set out to make The Hymn Project work easily with the resources these groups already have on-hand, including their current hymnals, songbooks, Powerpoint files, etc.
(Please see the Resource Page for lists and tools to help you use The Hymn Project with your current resources.)
However, if you do need to find or purchase lyrics or hymnals, we generally recommend The Celebration Hymnal, as well as a non-profit online resource, found at www.hymnlyrics.org. At www.hymnlyrics.org, you can look up any hymn by title or excerpt, then print it out or transfer the words to Powerpoint. (Please respect all copyrights!)
While we are not affiliated with either of these companies, we've found them to be excellent resources for our customers. The Celebration Hymnal includes 196 of our hymns, and it is also available in a Large Print edition. The four hymns not included in The Celebration Hymnal are:
- "Burdens are Lifted at Calvary"
- "Dwelling in Beulah Land"
- "Ivory Palaces"
- "Wounded For Me"
However, these four can all be found at www.hymnlyrics.org.
Return To TopI'm with a church that has several instrumentalists, and/or offers a different style of music. Could I still use The Hymn Project?
Yes! The Hymn Project is an extraordinary resource to keep on-hand for emergency and last-minute situations such as funerals, weddings, or background music for your events. The Hymn Project is also ideal for settings in which a piano or pianist is unavailable, including outdoor events (such as Sunrise Services, picnics, etc), small groups, off-campus events, and more.
In addition, many churches have chosen to purchase The Hymn Project for their senior citizen ministries, to use in local nursing homes, or to keep in their libraries for members to access and enjoy.
(A group of teens from a mega-church in Indianapolis recently planned to go to a local nursing home to sing hymns with the residents there. At the last minute, they were forced to cancel, because they were unable to find an pianist to play for them. One of the youth leaders said that The Hymn Project would have been perfect for their situation.)
Return To TopHow was The Hymn Project recorded? Is this a quality recording?
At every step along the way, The Hymn Project has sought the most professional and well-regarded tools and systems, to ensure that we could offer you the world's finest collection of hymns on solo piano. The Hymn Project is truly unique in its sound, professionalism, and quality.
All 200 hymns were recorded on a seven-foot Yamaha Grand Piano that was tuned daily to ensure the best possible sound. The pianist you'll hear is professional church accompanist Laura Ruble. Justin Golden produced and engineered the songs, using DPA Microphones (regarded as some of the finest in the world), and with the music-industry recording standard Digidesign Pro-Tools software.
Return To TopWhat does it look like?
The care and attention given to every detail of The Hymn Project extends into its packaging and artwork. We set out to create the most resourceful and the most beautiful collection of hymns to date. Our goal was that the packaging itself would inspire you - our customers - and that it would honor the music it contained.
Click here for pictures of the actual product, which is as inspiring to view and hold as it is to listen to: View pictures of The Hymn Project.
We are humbled by the skill and intricacy exhibited by the artists who created it: Critically-acclaimed photographer and graphic designer Michael Wilson and Owen Brock, respectively.
There is truly nothing like The Hymn Project.
Return To TopHow much does it cost?
You can order set 1 and set 2 of The Hymn Project for only $99, plus S&H. You can also purchase each set individually, set 1 for $75 and set 2 for $25. For less than a 50 cents a song, you will have an incredible resource and timeless archive at your fingertips.
Return To TopCan I get a discount for ordering multiple copies?
Yes! We offer discounts for multiple purchases, which vary according to the following increments: 5-9, 10-14, and 15 copies or more.
If you plan on ordering more than 5 copies of The Hymn Project, please contact us directly via our Contact page. We would love to speak with you about the discounts that apply to you.
Return To TopAre these songs copyrighted? Did you get permission to record them?
Yes! The best way we could honor this music was to record it masterfully and to ensure that all copyrights were respected. All but 22 of these hymns were public domain, and for those 22 we worked with the Church Copyright Association to attain licensing and permission. You (and we) can rest assured that we have honored the music as well as its writers. Thank you for asking!
Return To TopIs there a return policy?
Yes! Any unopened CD set can be returned for any reason within 30 days for a refund. Upon receipt of the item, we will credit your credit card. You can also choose an alternate reimbursement method; to do so, simply contact us via the Contact page. Return postage costs are not refundable, unless we made an error or the item arrived damaged or defective.
Return To Top