PREFACE.
Ir will be unnecessary for the Compiler of the present volume to occupy any time in enforcing the duty of congregational psalmody. The Church of England does not content herself with simply recognizing it, but she requires it of her members; and even those who do not worship within her pale have of late years not only abjured former antipathies and prejudices, but, by their activity in organizing numerous associations for its promotion, have set the Church herself an example which she would do well to follow. He will at once then proceed to give a brief explanation of the general object and character of his work.
THE GENERAL PLAN OF THE WORK.
Its object is to supply congregations, and also families, with a complete manual of all that they are able or may be expected to sing in their collective capacity. It comprises the Prose Psalter, pointed for chanting, with appropriate Chants, 400 Metrical Hymns, with appropriate tunes, six Responses, arranged for different periods of the year, one Sanctus and two Doxologies. What are called the Metrical Psalms have not a distinct position assigned them, but are incorporated with the Metrical Hymns, for, strictly speaking, that is their proper designation. Certainly, in their present fragmentary and mutilated state, they have no claim to be called" the Psalms of David:" yet, as Metrical Hymns, many of them are admirable and well fitted for choral purposes. At the same time the number of the Psalm from which each is taken is placed alongside the number of the Hymn. The music, it will be seen, both in the Prose Psalter and in the Hymn Book, appears invariably in company with the words, agreeably to the universal usage in our own country in the period succeeding* the Reformation, and in modern Germany. The advantages of this arrangement are obvious and manifold. The Clergy are spared the weekly trouble of selecting the tunes: the choice of music inappropriate to the words is avoided: a due variety of chants and tunes is secured: the people know the music they will have to sing, and by practising it at home can become thoroughly familiarized with it; and above all, the melody becomes associated and intertwined in the people's minds with the Psalm or Hymn. The benefit of this last result is incalculable. No sooner is the Hymn given out than the tune starts at the same moment to the memory, and conversely. The tune suggests the Hymn; the Hymn calls to memory the tune. If it is urged, the poor can make no use of the music; it may be replied, this objection is fast receding before the widely extended range of educational appliances. The elements of music now form an
" Este's collection, at the period of its publication( 1592), was found in every Church pew, and was in general use; for the power of reading from notes was not then rare, but a general acquirement."- Preface to a collection of Psalm Tunes.