A collection of sacred music. : Published for the use of the Episcopal Chapel in Glasgow by the Managers..
Episcopal Church in Scotland.
Glasgow : Sold at the shop of Dunlop & Wilson Booksellers.,
1787.
Notes from a presentation by Pam Barrowman at the Scottish Episcopal Historians Group meeting, National Library of Scotland, 6 May 2017. The minute-book of the church records that they had the plates printed in Edinburgh and brought to Glasgow. The tune to 'While Shepherds Watched ...' in this volume is to her knowledge the only use of this tune for this hymn. She compared it to a strathspey. This is also the only publication of her knowledge which has these particular variants in the tune to the hymn 'Jesus Christ is Risen Today'. The canticles are set in 'a simplified version of chant' in two parts with the words written out underneath. Her opinion is that this reflects the general development of Anglican chant at this time and is not to simplify the chant for this particular audience. The anthems in the book may have been written by the organist John Fergus. There are 'verse anthems', also common in English post-Restoration cathedrals where the choral tradition had to be rebuilt, where there is a soloist who takes on most of the singing and the choir's parts are simple and limited. This is a form of music designed for a choir that is not strong or well-trained. The figured bass notation shows that the music was designed for playing and for singing. In her opinion some of the music in both the treble and bass parts is designed for playing and not for singing (because of the tessitura). After this book had been in use for some years church records show that there were complaints that the music was getting too 'fancy' and they wanted 'strong old tunes', so a music committee was set up.
Psalm tunes (primarily without text), hymns and anthems (with English words), for 2-4 mixed voice with figured bass notation.
Notes from a presentation by Pam Barrowman at the Scottish Episcopal Historians Group meeting, National Library of Scotland, 6 May 2017. The minute-book of the church records that they had the plates printed in Edinburgh and brought to Glasgow. The tune to 'While Shepherds Watched ...' in this volume is to her knowledge the only use of this tune for this hymn. She compared it to a strathspey. This is also the only publication of her knowledge which has these particular variants in the tune to the hymn 'Jesus Christ is Risen Today'. The canticles are set in 'a simplified version of chant' in two parts with the words written out underneath. Her opinion is that this reflects the general development of Anglican chant at this time and is not to simplify the chant for this particular audience. The anthems in the book may have been written by the organist John Fergus. There are 'verse anthems', also common in English post-Restoration cathedrals where the choral tradition had to be rebuilt, where there is a soloist who takes on most of the singing and the choir's parts are simple and limited. This is a form of music designed for a choir that is not strong or well-trained. The figured bass notation shows that the music was designed for playing and for singing. In her opinion some of the music in both the treble and bass parts is designed for playing and not for singing (because of the tessitura). After this book had been in use for some years church records show that there were complaints that the music was getting too 'fancy' and they wanted 'strong old tunes', so a music committee was set up.
Episcopal Church in Scotland
Hymns, English
Anthems
Psalms (Music)
Scotland Glasgow.