EXPLANATORY MARKS OF THE PSALTER.

THE Psalter has been so pointed that it may be read with pleasure, as well as sung with ease. Hence, all unnecessary marks, which might disfigure the page, or obscure the meaning, have been avoided. The following explanation, it is hoped, will remove any difficulty that may occur.

Two species of Chants are used for the Psalter in the service of the Church of England, single and double. The single Chant, of which the subjoined is a specimen, must be sung through once to every verse, the first section being sung to the first part of the verse as far as the colon, and the second section to the remainder of the verse.

A double Chant is exactly equal to two single Chants, and must be sung through once to every two verses. Should the Psalm contain an odd number of verses, the last half of the Chant must be repeated for the final verse.

1. All the syllables, as far as the first accent in each part of the verse, must be sung to the first or reciting bar of each section of the Chant. Consequently the time of the first bar or reciting note is variable, and must depend upon the number of the syllables to be sung to it; but though it may be held longer than a full bar if the number of words require it, yet, however few the words, it is never held less than a full bar: these must not be gabbled or unduly hurried, but recited at the pace in which they would commonly be read. The remaining syllables in each division of the verse are to be sung to the remaining notes in the corresponding section of the Chant.

2. The accents of the verse correspond with the bars of the Chants, that is, the word immediately following the accent is sung to the note immediately following the bar: only, it will be observed, that whilst there are two bars in the first section of the Chant and three in the second, the first division of the verse has only one accent, and the second two accents. The reason of this is, that the remaining accents are perfectly needless, if it be carefully borne in mind that the first accent in the first division of the verse always corresponds with the first bar in the first division of the Chant, and the first and second accents, in the second division of the Chant, always answer to the first and second bars in the second division of the Chant.

3. When a single word or syllable stands between two accents, it is to be sung to the notes be­tween the corresponding bars. See Example 1.

4. When a syllable has two dots placed over it, it is to be sung to two minims, or notes of equal value. See Example 2.

5. When two dots and no word occur between two accents, the syllable preceding the first accent is to be sung, not only to its own note or notes, but to the two succeeding minims. See Example 3. 6. When two syllables are tied together, they are to be sung to the same note. See Example 4. 7. When a syllable is followed both by an accent and a dot, it must be sung, not only to its own note or notes, but to the succeeding minim. See Example 5.

As a general rule, to avoid the unnecessary accumulation of marks, the syllables OF THE are not tied, even when they are to be sung together.

N.B.- To rectify a habit which prevails in some places, of invariably dwelling on the syllable which immediately precedes the first accent in each division of the verse, whether emphatic or other­wise, a circumflex accent has been introduced into the present form of the work, to mark the syllable which is properly entitled to the emphasis. In using this accent, special care must be taken- 1. Not to dwell longer upon the accented syllable than would be necessary in good reading. 2. Not to make a pause, when the accented word consists of more than one syllable, between the syllable over which the accent is placed and that which follows it. Let the word be pronounced fully and firmly as in ordinary reading. 3. Not to restrict the emphasis in such words as mighty, blessed, filleth, fodder, etc., to the syllable which has the accent, but to distribute it pretty equally over the whole word. An attention to these directions will render Chanting an intelligible, easy, and delightful exercise.

EXAMPLES REFERRED TO ABOVE.

Ex. 1.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord:

Ex. 2.

-by the

side:

' doeth these things: ' way- of thy statutes, ' heathen

And he­

Ex. 3.

Ex. 4.

Whoso

Teach me the

Whêrefore do the

Ex. 5.

' water­

say:

and- êxercise him­that- forth his

shall

ând I shall

Where

' self'

' fruit in

/../

' keep it

is'

P

d

day and night.

düe

never

O

unto the

season.

fall.

end.

now their God?