The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-12-02
Singing...Old Psalm Tunes.

SingIng...Old Psalm Tunes.
To forward the favorable reception
OF such tunes, two facts to their origi-
nal intention must be practically borne
in mind: They are sung faster than we
usually sing them, and, what is better,
! by n greater number of voices 1t ia
great mistake to suppose that old
tunes should be sung in heavy draw
ling style. Our forefathers in the
church were cheerful Christians. A
psalm Of q dozen verses was but
short to them. Hence, rs well as from
other circumstances, it is clear that
they sang in quicker and hvelier
manner than is commonly conjectured.
The "Old Hundredth" tune is made d
dirge in our days, but in theirs it was
a joyous and animating canticle. In
like manner, "York" tune; which is
shelved among the dull and obsolete,
was, little more than a century ago, the
liveliest and most popular tune of the
entire kingdom. But, to hear old
tunes to advantage, they must be sung
in old style; not only must they be
sung with decent gravity and cheerful
sanctity. but by masses of people, by
multitude Of voices, "by all the peo-
pie together" as the original direc-
tons state Six thousand voices we're
wont to be heard at st. Pauls Cross
Three or four thousand singing at
time in church in this city is but
trife, " said the excellent Roger Ascham
in letter from Augsburgh, dated the
14th of May, 1861.
A correspondent of the New York
Observer, describing the worship at All
Saints Church, Margaret street, Lon
don, says:
Il must express my delight with tho
singing of the hymns at this service.
The words were evangelical and very
sweet. The tunes were familiar, and
the time was 80 rapid and inspiring
that was fascinated. They sang six
or eight verses, and wished there
had been twenty-six. There were no
interludes. The organ was heard only
as an accompaniment. think we
have much to learn about sacred song,
We kill all the elasticity Of our songs
by drawing style of singing. In
many of our churches the hymn is an :
infection, whereas it should be q re-
freshment and Joy. The organist
must show off his skill, and the slow
movement of the song sometimes
makes one yawn. A capital reform
will be accomplished when we suppress
the interludes, or limit them to ten
seconds, and then rouse ourselves to
rapid, cheerful songs Of praise. Mr..
Surgeons congregation did not sing
fast enough to satisfy him the Sab
bath / was there. and he begged them
to sing faster, a request which secured
great improvement in the next hymn.
1t is an interesting fact that the idea
of more rapid singing is everywhere
prevalent and growing in England,
and that few years promise to secure
the greatest improvement in the spir-
it and pleasure of public parties"
The following passage from the
quaint old divine, Thomas Fuller. may
meet the case of those who excuse
themselves from participating in the
service of song in the house Of God.
on the ground Of not having as tune
full voice as they could wish;
lord, my voice by nature is hard
and untuneable, and it is in vain to
lavish any part to better it. Can my
singing of psalms be pleasing to thy
ears which is unpleasant to my own?
Yet though cannot chant with the
nightingale, or chirp with the black
bird, I had rather chatter with the swal-
low, yea, rather croak with the raven,
than be altogether silent Hadst thou
given me better voice I would have
praised thee with better voice. Now
what my music wants is sweetness, let
it have in sense, singing praises with
understanding. Yea, Lord, create in
me a new heart, (therein to make mel
ody), and will be contsnted with my
old voice, until in thy due time, being
admitted into the choir of heaven.
have another. more harmonious, be-
slowed upon me-"
n.y. In the eouraa ~ an aVanIna-