The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-07-01
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
THE NEW BOOK OF HYMNS AND
TUNES"

As soon as it was announced that the long
expected book of hymns and tunes for the
use of our Church was published, and the
public were told in Mr.. Sleight'S advertise
ment, that " every church should have it, }"
| hastened to send for copy. And now
after careful examination, venture to
give my own honest opinion. havesread
it through from lid to Id, preface, appendix,
ipdiceS and all, and have enjoyed it heartily,
l tried lin vain it is true) tossing some of the
unsingable stanzas in certain versions of the
Psalms, but have not yet learned to pro.
nounce generation as fve.syllabled word,
or ever as mono syllable. But the gener-
al impression after close perusal (Of the
music chiefly and considerable scrutiny, is
one of great pleasure and decided satisfac-
ton. The Committee, tha Secretary, the
musical editor, printers and binders have all
done their work well.
l. The appearance of the book is pleas
ing. The mechanical excellence is worthy
of note. The paper is white and substantial,
the type large and clear, the letter press ex-
celent, and the binding firm and durable.
my copy is "half roam, red edge.') Com
pared with books Of similar character issued
at the North, the paper does not seem SO
elegant, but it is good enough, and l am
glad to say good, clear white instead of
tinted; and in every other particular the
comparison is in its favor. In the main
thing for which such book is valued, in the
printing, both of the words and music, it is
not equalled by any of the books l have yet
seen. Our Southern country churches are
not yet used to Hymn and Tune books COM
bined, or to music books of this form, but |
am sure with use they will like it very much.
Nor are they accustomed to having the four
parts only on two stats, and as the idea
seems to prevail that the old folks must be
pleased and the old-time ways be adopted, 1t
would have been well to have had each part
on its own staff l know this could not be
done and yet the volume be retained in rea'
sonable compass. For one prefer the
method adopted. The printing, stereotyping
and binding, were done in Richmond. 1t is
a creditable specimen of Southern manufac.
ture.
2. The indexes are good and satisfactory
1t is a capital idea, having the numerical in
dex, giving in order each Psalm and Hymn
and the selections in the appendix, and in {
different part of the volume from the othel
indexes. 1t is almost if not quite as easy tc
find hymn in this book as in the ordinary
hymn book. In many of the recent book
there is an index of the first lines of stanzas
which would have been convenient, thougl
not necessary. The index of subjects
taken from our hymn book, and it never wa
t very satisfactory one to me. l had hope
Q new one would have been prepared. Their
is no index of texts, not even the meagre an
? imperfect one on the last page of our hymn
f book. 1t would be help and a comfort
= the minister to have such an index CAREFUL
e prepared.
!, 3. The arrangement of the tunes accord
Q ing to metres is the best under all circun
e stances. So the committee thought, and
cannot but see good reason therefor. On
e advantage of this classification under metre
J. is, that this book can be used by inexpel
# country choristerS, just as any other tun
IS bOOk,-hymn-bOOk in one hand and musi
/. book in the other. 1t is little perplexin
10 at first to find the place, but little q