Dr. David Cherwien, at the January 2026 Winter Retreat, used this analogy in his “Venturing Beyond the Page” session: "I once saw Alice Parker hold up a sheet of music to her ear, and said 'I don't hear anything.' Indeed - the page just provides us with some symbols and reminders about how to get to the real thing - making music that is unique to that moment - even if composed long ago." 1

What about the now over 60,000 pieces of music for congregations, choirs, and organs in the CMI Sacred Music Libraries? Is this really music? We think a lot about this at CMI.

• It is music as it is translated into sound
• It is music when it inspires a congregation to worship
• It is music when it enables a choir to find their voices as worship offerings.
• It is music when a spoken worship is transformed by the sounds of singing

A recent Christian Century article, “A Great Library of Witnesses” speaks of a scholar, Stephanie Saldaña in Gaza, who was awarded a fellowship to do research in a distant library. She found healing and beauty as she was surrounded by others in the books she read who had lived through war and survived. 2

So it is with a library of “music.” As Hebrews 12:1 says, “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” We are surrounded by centuries of authors and composers who have written deep texts and beautiful music, including those today, who allow us to share in their riches as we translate symbols on a page into sound for our prayers through song. What is it about the CMI library that surrounds us with a “great library of witnesses” to the music beyond our particular congregations? What are some frequently asked questions about the CMI libraries?

1. Our congregation and choir are small. Do you have anything for us? Yes! Music in the CMI libraries can be searched by unison to multiple voicings to find just the right resources. Hundreds of options are available for helping small congregations interpret corporate song in sound.

2. Our church already has an extensive library so we don’t need more music. OK. Is all that music cataloged and searchable by liturgical day, scripture, theological topics? CMI libraries can give music already on hand its fullest potential by matching it to themes in any one worship setting.

3. Do you have music of many kinds? The libraries are a comprehensive collection of sacred music from all periods of history to the present that combines the finest texts and music into a coherent, transcendent whole. A wide range of composers, authors, and compositional styles are included.

4. With thousands of titles how can I find music right for our congregation? CMI staff offer personalized Zoom calls with members to identify search criteria specific to their resources and needs that gives them the tools to navigate the search process to get what they want quickly.

5. What about copyright? Does CMI have music for download? Yes and no. In designing the libraries CMI worked carefully with publishers to respect copyright ownership. The result is that every entry has a sample PDF of music but not the entirety of a piece. There ARE some complete downloadable copies of music where CMI owns the copyright, and indications of music in the public domain are included.

6. Is all the music in the CMI libraries old? No! The most recently published sacred music of major publishers is entered upon receipt at CMI. Of note is Dr. Mann’s “Let Nothing Ever Grieve You” , a setting of Brahms Op. 30 with a new English text. It is appropriate for upcoming Sundays, eight different theological themes, and five different scriptures. (See related article below.)

7. How can my congregation afford CMI resources? Many resources from CMI are free. Regular membership is $75 per year which includes access to the libraries. Discounts are available to members of AGO, ACDA, NPM, AAM, AFPC – your musician will know how to interpret the acronyms! No one is ever turned away for inability to pay.

Back to our original question: Is there music in the CMI music libraries? The answer is a resounding YES if you and your congregation will turn it into sound!

Best to you for worship with transcendent music,

Dr. Charlotte Kroeker

1 Quoted from email message from David Cherwien, March 26, 2026.  
2 Saldaña, Stephanie. “A Great Library of Witnesses.” Chicago, IL. Christian Century, February 2026, p. 32-3.