Learn how to select and customize hymns for a liturgy in the Source & Summit Digital Platform.
This information applies to all Source & Summit customers.
Adding Hymns to your Ordo
When you create an Ordo, Source & Summit provides the given parts and texts for that liturgy based on the prescriptions of the official liturgical books.
Following the options given in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Ordos contain a + Add a Hymn button at the bottom of the Entrance Chant, Offertory Chant, and Communion Chant sections. To select a hymn in place of the proper antiphons prescribed for a particular Mass, click the + Add a Hymn button and your hymn library will open in the right panel, where you can make your hymn selections.
Adding a hymn to your Outline
To add hymns to any other part of the Mass, or in addition to the antiphons provided for the liturgy, you’ll need to add them to your Ordo Outline. Here’s how:
In the left panel, click + to add a section to your Outline.
Hover over Hymns, then click the hymn type you’d like to insert: Prelude, Opening, Offertory, Communion, Hymn of Praise, Recessional, or Other.
→ An empty hymn section will appear in your Outline in its appropriate place. If needed, you can click and drag the hymn to a different position.
Click the empty hymn section in the center canvas.
→ The right panel will display your hymn library, including: suggested hymns, upload options, and browsing options.
Select a hymn from the right panel.
→ The music will display in the center canvas.
Explore other options (optional).
Click Reset at the top-right corner of the right panel to clear the current selection. Or, click Browse to see other hymn options.
Pro Tip
If you regularly sing hymns during certain parts of the liturgy, create a template with those hymn sections to save time.
Have a limited subscription?
All plans include a selection of Eucharistic hymns. You can find them by clicking Eucharistic Hymns in the right panel. You can also upload hymns from various sources. Visit Uploading content to learn more.
Listening to Hymns
Hymns with a music icon 🎵 above the title include audio playback.
To listen to the hymn, click the play button in the bottom bar. If you’ve changed the key or applied an accompaniment, the recording will reflect those changes.
Pro Tip
When you share an Ordo, your team can listen to full recordings as well as individual parts. Visit Sharing Ordos to learn more.
Hymn suggestions
Source & Summit offers curated hymn suggestions for Sundays and major feasts based on the liturgical season and proper texts of the day.
How to access hymn suggestions
Add a hymn to your Ordo.
Suggested Hymns will appear at the top of the right panel.
Suggestions not appearing?
Hymn suggestions are currently available for Sundays and major feasts only. For weekday liturgies, try searching by topic.
Add suggestions from other sources
Source & Summit also provides hymn suggestions from additional resources used by your parish or organization. To see them, add your desired hymn collections to your User Preferences. Here’s how:
Create an Ordo or open a past Ordo from your home dashboard.
Click the book icon from the top bar on the right.
→ User Preferences will open up.
Select the Hymn Collections used by your parish or organization.
→ Source & Summit will provide hymn suggestions and references from that source in future Ordos.
✏️ Note
Music from other sources appears as reference only (title, composer, and hymn number). The Digital Platform does not provide sheet music from these sources, but allows you to upload digital sheet music from your music library directly to these reference sections.
Browsing Hymns
While the Suggested Hymns appear at the top of the right panel, you can also browse your entire hymn library. Here’s how to browse hymns beyond suggestions:
Add a hymn to your Ordo and select the empty hymn box in your Outline.
To find a particular hymn, type its name in the search bar at the top of the right panel.
To browse other hymns, scroll to the bottom to view folder categories:
📁 My Hymns - Your uploaded hymns
📁 All Hymns - The complete Source & Summit hymn library
📁 Tune - Hymns organized by hymn tune
📁 Meter - Hymns organized by meter
📁 Topic - Hymns organized by topic
📁 Hymn Collection - Hymns from outside sources in your User Preferences
Customizing Hymns
Once you have selected your hymn, use the settings in the right panel to customize it:
Notation - Switch between modern notation and text-only view
Key - Adjust by half steps with the - or + buttons (or using the dropdown selector). Playback will follow your key selection
Accompaniment - Add SATB harmonization to the score
Chord Symbols - Display chord symbols above the melody
Tune - Change the hymn tune
Verses - Choose which verses you would like to appear
Creating resources for both your choir and congregation?
Use the Resource Editor to customize materials for each group. Visit Creating booklets and music packets to learn more.