The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-12-20

the services gave cut the funeral hymn most
appropriate under the circumstances How
blest the righteous when he dies;;" and then
instead of singing DR.. Mason's " Hamburg,
Bradbury's "Zephyr' or Rest" or II. K
divers Federal Street." any of which
suited; he started Windham." l must
confess it annoyed me, to say the least of it.
But Windham was old.
l like what Heman says about having
tunes welded to words. (By the way, lei
me object to the illustration. Precious as
are the memorable words of the Hymn Of
Institution, and Reads tune Wndham, /
venture to hope that, some day, sweeter
and more appropriate tune may be united to
these words and one equally solemn, More
over Wmdham was composed for, and has
always been sung to ths hymn, "Broad is
the road that leads to death" to which it is
admirably adapted. he tune to the hymn,
Twas on IL that doleful night,
should be ons v, inexpressi
biz tenderness mingled with
delight; and IS b De mace The match
less tune, Hear, is welded to Tate's hymn,
'While angels watched their focks by night,
at least in nay association; Old Hundred of
course to the Tooth Psalm; AvOn to, "Oh
Thou whose tender mercy hears;" Corona
tion to "All hail the power of Jesus name. "
Yet Prof. Allen in the "Victory" has
tune, Conquest" to these last words, far
prettier in my humble judgment, and much
easier to start and to sing than Coronation,
and lacks only the sacred signet of age and
the approval of the Church to make it de-
cidedly preferable Also of later tunes,
though they are comparatively new;-NaO-
mi, to "Father, whate'er of earthly Bliss
Rest, to "Asleep in Jesus" Bethany, to
Nearer my God to Thee;" Retreat, to
"From every stormy wind that blows" &c
would not divorce any such happy union.
And as to the old tunes, when they are toll
cradle, let them remain united to the words
to which they are linked. For example,
"Penitent" las called in the Presbyterian
Psalmodist) to "Shew pity Lord;" COnuert'
to "How happy are they" lions Pilgrim, to
SIN songs of sublime admiration and praise.
The beauty and power of such tunes come
from association. But the effect is lost upon
an ear even moderately cultivated. Fol
when such theme is reduced to order, de-
prived Of its untrue and abominable harmo
MES, (for really you don't know what par
leads,) and measured by bars and beats, the
tune is so changed it is barely recognizable
Must the Committee put in the innumerable
singular and unexpected quauers mot tc
mention nasal accent) with which such tunes
are sung by those Stat ioac themS Rather
may ask, can the Comnittee do it? Anc
must 1 sing Come we that love the Lord,
to the doleful tune Idumea, because "oul
fathers" did?
But unless every hymn is welded to apar
ticular tune-and it would be mammoth
tune-book to furnish spouses for our hymn
book-there must be batch of common ant
familiar tunes, which can be made to change
partners" at the discretion of the chorister
Such tunes especially should be simple, sub
stantiai, first rate, as from their frequent use
they must stand severer tests.
While therefore concurring most hearth.
in Heman's "principles," his judgment o
choir galleries and the "plural precentor' y
ate, his preference for the fiddle (why no
call it violin p in leading music, his condem
nation of instrumental overtures, preludes
interludes and pOstludes, the latter especial
ly, and in the main in his structures upol
the organ, Though if made subservient t.
the worship and praise of God, [ do not OBJ
ject,) and in his choice of the old tunes; AM
while 1 hope the Committee may be brav
enough to face the popular demand, an
to heed such wise suggestions, I do furthe
hope that they may be brave enough in issu
ing a book Ordained to be sung in tn
churches" to get the very best tunes, sane
toned by correct cultivated taste as we'll a
by the concurrent judgment of time, whetf
er they be new or old.
A COUNTRY PASTOR.