With the recent release of Flor y Canto, cuarta edición, we want to celebrate this hymnal that has accompanied the Hispanic community in the United States (as well as many parishes in Mexico, Europe and Latin America) for more than 20 years. We also want to discuss the unique features of the most recent fourth edition.
Flor y Canto, cuarta edición’s repertoire of more than 700 songs shares characteristics that defined the previous editions of the hymnal: it offers a wide variety of hymns, songs, psalms and chants to accompany liturgical celebrations with music that meets the requirements of the Roman Missal and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The new edition includes more compete Mass settings, more arrangements for parts of the Mass, and more complete arrangements for the liturgy of the hours, lauds and vespers with additional parts.
The hymnal’s fourth edition also features new composers, incorporating a broader and more diverse repertoire to reflect the diversity of the voices of new generations in the United States. Included among the new composers are Tony E. Alonso (GIA), Anna Betancourt, Albert Coppo, Silvio Cuéllar, Sister María Inés de Jesús, Julio De León (GIA), Iván Díaz, Jon Carlo García, Azeneth González, Angelyn Jáuregui, Rafael Moreno (WLP/GIA), Mario Alberto Perez, Koren and Jessica Ruiz, Athenas Vénica and Tobías Buteler. All of them expand the cultural and generational horizon of this resource that for decades continues to accompany the development of singing and worship in parishes.
Likewise, the cultural representation of Flor y Canto, cuarta edición includes rhythms from diverse countries and regions, such as the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Antilles), Central America (El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama), South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela), and Europe (Germany, Spain, France, Italy), among others. Such a variety of rhythms and cultures strengthens and consolidates the identity of this hymnal that has been such a favorite of the Hispanic community in the United States and internationally.
Thus, with more than 50 regional musical styles, more hymns and traditional songs, 35 Gregorian chants (mainly from the new Gregorian chants of the Roman Missal and the Gregorian Mass), more songs in Latin and almost 50 percent more bilingual songs (English /Spanish), Flor y Canto, cuarta edición reflects the diversity of languages and the richness of regional cultures represented in the Catholic Church in the United States. We are thrilled to offer an updated version of this trusted hymnal that can join more voices and generations in song and praise to the Lord.