PREFACE.
THIS
HIS book of Church Anthems is intended for the use of the congregation. It is a collection of pieces which, as a rule, require in singing a degree of musical culture somewhat greater than that required by chorales or chants. Such a book appears to be demanded by the widely diffused and growing practice of anthem- singing in churches. So long as the song is that of the congregation there can be no objection to it; but nothing is more to be deprecated than the delegated worship of a choir, performing an anthem, with the congregation or an auditory. Whatever may be said in favour of this theoretically, above most things it has been found, practically, to destroy the worship- song of the people.
The pieces in this book have been selected with a careful regard to their congregational fitness, and to the varied musical attainments of different congregations. The great bulk of them will be found practicable by congregations of ordinary musical culture, certainly by all who should aspire to sing anthems at all. A few are provided for congregations more advanced; and three or four have been admitted, which, from their antiphonal structure, are scarcely suited for ordinary congregational worship. These may serve for Festival or Home use. It has been found impossible, even in pieces generally suited for ordinary worship, altogether to exclude antiphonal movements; but these are so simple in structure and broad in effect, that, with ordinary preparation in the singing class, no difficulty in their congregational use will be found.
There is no reason why those congregations who can go beyond the chorale and the chant should not fill their worship with the sustained and inspiring song of some of these pieces; only it is earnestly hoped that choirs will not introduce what