The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-07-08

air, commonly known as "The Maid of Mon
terry" and frequently called "WatcheS" anC
often heard in cOtilhOns, has long been used
by the children as their favorite tune for
want to be with Jesus" 1t is called in our
collection C1overdale The no lees familiar
English national air, "GOd save the Queen,
has been appropriated by the Church in
America and called America. The college
song, "Lauriger Horatius," made famous
and painfully familiar during the war as
Maryland, my Maryland" here appears as
Nelson, and ia set to the words, "My days
are gliding swiftly by" The old tune King
wood to the solemn words of Charles Wesley
"Lo on narrow neck of land" | have
often heard as child sung in childish games,
entitled "under the juniper tree" in connec-
tiOn with some quite uOsanctifed words some
thing like these:
Come all ye young men in your wicked ways
Who SOW your wild oats IN your youthful days,
If you would De happy il you would be free,
Come sit with me under the juniper tree, &c.
| am sure no more unhalloWed associations
can be connected with the prayer from Yam
pa by Herald, or the exquisite air from
Martha by Floton, sometimes sung to "Gaide
me 0 thou great Jehovah" both of which |
hoped to find in our book. For one, would
have preferred such operate gems, but for
the great majority, and for the service of
song in our churches, just such familiar airs
as have commented on, in the present stage
of taste are more useful.
The adaptation of tunes to words, a work
that requires the greatest judgment, the
incest appreciation of words and music, po-
etcal and musical expression, and we'll ma
tured, delicate and just taste, has been done
in manner that demands our sincere admi-
ration and hearty praise. 1t is a part for
which an editor gets no thanks if we'll done,
aud unstinted blame if carelessly done.-
When l think of the mechanical difficulties
of getting every psalm and hymn with every
stanza printed in full, and of the large num-
Der so infrequently used that must yet have
a tune suitable near at hand, my admiration
increases. l have been interested and
amused in searching for Mr.. Rouse, and
finding him snugly ensconced here and there,
deftly hidden in places not conspicuous, set
to tunes but seldom used-several of them
together-have rejoiced at such triumph of
ingenuity.
This book will be very great relief to our
bewildered choristers andprecentors, to whom
the minister has thoughtlesSly not given the
hymns before service. The tune is almost
always such as his own judgment approves,
and far better than he would have chosen on
the spur of the moment, better than the ma
jority gould have 6Ono ithample oppOrtun-
ity, being most frequently the 7ery beat tune
After such hearty commentators, may
be permitted to point out what seem to me
as blemishes. l may say in almost every
instance l specify, the tune suits the words
admirably well, but it is not the tune that
has been generally associated with the words
1t may be that, frequently, mechanical rea-
sons compelled the unusual association, the
length of the hymn, or the collection of hymns
Of certain style might not have given space
for the one left out, or such considerations.
Psalm 19, L. NJ, "The heavens declare
Thy glory Lord" is set to Rockingham l
have always seen and heard it with Rothwell
or Uxbridge. Psalm 84, "Great God attend
while Zion Sings" set to the same tune
Rockingham, is usually set to Antigua
Psalm 68, "Lord when Thou didst ascend on
high" here set to Efingham, has from time
immemorial been sung to Duke Street
Psalm 138, "With all my powers of heart
and tongue" here set to Migdol, has hitherto
been set to Luton sometimes to Blendon.) J
Psalm 81, "God in His earthly temple lays" :"
have always seen with Ames instead of
Alfreton. ROLAND was composed for the
words, Psalm 84, Glow pleasant, how di-
vinely fair, set here to Gratitude; and Hymn
449, "My God how endless is Thy love-" has
always been sung to Gratitude. Psalm 5,
Lord in the morning Thou shalt hear, has
been welded to Warwick and not to Barby.
Psalm At, go for shout of sacred joy, "
claims St. Martins, though Zerah suits it as
we'll or better. Addison's hymn Tor Andrew
Marvel's rather "When all thy mercies O
my God," is set to Brattle Street. Geneva
has always been chosen for it, when it could
be sung, and it is introduced into this collec-
tion, most wisely l think. Devices seems tc
suit "Father how wide thy glory shines,
better than Broousgrove; and Chester
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
better than Evan. Henry suits, "Ts BY
thy strength the mountains stand," better
than Peterborough
But l need not say more. And these
criticisms are not at all an evidence that
am not satisfied, nay pleased with the work
that has been presented to the Church. Th'
one anthem, or set piece, and the one chant
are perhaps the very best if we are to b.
limited to one.
Taken as whole, the Book of Hymns ant
Tunes issued by our Committee, in its collec
ton of tunes, the adaptation of the tunes t,