THE BOSTON HANEL AND HAYDN SOCIETY COLLECTIN OF CHURCH MUSIC; BELSELECTION OF THE MOST APPROVED PSALM AND HYMN TES, ANTHEMS, SENTENCES, CHANTS, &c. TOGETHER WANY BEAUTIFUL EXTRACTS FROM THE WORKS OF HAYDN, MOZART, BEHOVEN, AND OTHER EMINENT COMPOSERS. HARMONIZED FOR THREE AND FOOICES, WITH A FIGURED BASE FOR THE ORGAN AND PIANO FORTE Assembled men, to the deep Organ join, EDITED BY LOWELL MASON. NINTH EDITIONITH ADDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS. Boston: PUBLISHED BY RICHARDSON,RD, AND HOLBROOK, NO. 133, WASHINGTON-STREET. DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS WIT: DISTRCLERK'S OFFICE.. BE it remembered, that on the thirteenth day of Septembethe year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty, in the fifty-fifth year of the Indence of the United States of America, JOSEPH LEWIS, Secretary of the Handel and Haydriety, of the said district, has deposited in this Office, the title of a book, the right whereof heims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit: "The Boston Handel and Haydn Society Collection of Cch Music; being a selection of the most approved Psalm and Hymn Tunes, Anthems, Sentes, Chants, &c.; together with many beautiful extracts from the works of Haydn, Mozart, Boven, and other eminent composers. Harmonized for three and four voices, with a Figured se for the organ and piano forte. ---Assembled men, to the deep Orgam, The long resounding voice, oft breaking clea In one united ardour rise to Heaven!''-Thom. Edited by Lowell Mason. Ninth Edition, with additions and irovements." In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United Stas, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, chat and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned:"rd also to an act, entitled, " An act, supplementary to an act, entitled, an act for the encouragment of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and propriete of such copies during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to thearts of designing, engraving and etching historical, and other prints " JHN W. DAVIS, Clerk ofthe District of Massachusetts. THE several later editions of this work have presented an almost uniform appearance. It was thought better to forego the advantages, as to correctness and good taste, which would have resulted from introducing various improvements, than to subject choirs and schools to the inconvenience arising from frequent alterations in the tunes. It is obvious, however, from the progressive nature of science and taste, in respect to music as well as other subjects, that this uniformity cannot be, and ought not to be perpetual. Within the last few years, much attention has been directed to the subject, and, as was to be expected, great improvement has been made, not only in the manner of performing psalm and hymn tunes, but also in their composition. Is it to be supposed that in psalmody, science and taste have accomplished all they can accomplish? and is it desirable that all attempts at improvement should be checked? This is impracticable, if it were desirable. The same tunes, and in the same form, will.not always please. New tunes will be composed, and old tunes will receive new harmonies, and other alterations will be introduced, more in accordance with the existing taste. The question, then, is, whether this book shall be enriched, by being made to conform to these improvements, or whether, by remaining stationary while the public taste is advancing, it shall be suffered to fall into neglect. Unless, therefore, it be maintained that the present psalm and hymn tunes cannot be improved, and that no better can be substituted in their stead, or else, that bad tunes are as valuable as good ones, there may be as valid reasons, founded in public utility, for introducing alterations into books of psalmody, as for introducing alterations into text books on arithmetic or grammar. In accordance with these views, it has been thought advisable, after deferring it several years, to make at this time, a thorough revision of the Handel and Haydn Collection, and to present to the lovers of church music, from the new materials which have been accumulating, those pieces which are most interesting and valuable; and to make such other additions, together with such alterations in the tunes of former editions, as the improving state of psalmody and of the public taste seemed to require. In doing this, it has been found very difficult to pursue a proper medium between an excessive desire for novelty, on the one hand, and undue prejudices in favor of early associations, on the other. Utility has been the aim. No alteration, not even the most trifling, has been made, except for the purpose of rendering the book more truly valuable. PREFACE. The present edition of this work is believed to possess advantages over any preceding edition, in the following respects: viz. 1. NEW MUSIC. Nearly one hundred metrical tunes have been introduced, presenting a great variety in respect to style, and a large portion of entirely new tunes. These have been selected with great care, and it is believed that nearly all of them are of such a character as to promote the great design of psalmody, and are well adapted to secure its appropriate effect. It would have been easy to have given a larger portion of light music, and of imitative and fugueing pieces; but it was supposed that the good sense and improved taste of the public would be better satisfied with those tunes, which, while they have a sufficient flow of melody to interest and please, are, at the same time, sufficiently chaste and dignified for public religious worship. Several of the tunes newly introduced are in the chanting style. These will be found well adapted to psalms and hymns of a didactic or prosaic character, which require to be recited rather than to be sung. 2. HARMONY. The editor has aimed so to adapt the parts to vocal execution, as that they may be easily performed without instrumental accompaniment; while, at the same time, it is believed that the organist will find a richer and fuller harmony in this, than in any preceding edition. Combinations and progressions will occasionally be found, which could hardly be justified by rules drawn from the works of Haydn and Mozart, but which are common in the works of older writers, and especially in church music. In the course of the work there will be found several tunes in the minor mode, harmonized in the style of ancient psalmody, and closing on the dominant. Although these will, perhaps, appear singular, yet no good reason is known why this ancient style, which is peculiar to the church, should not be preserved. Some of them contain very rich harmony, and when properly performed, are very solemn and truly devotional. 3. CLASSIFICATION. Such pieces as are principally designed for private use, and for those who have made considerable proficiency in music, have been separated from the common psalm and hymn tunes, and placed among the anthems and select pieces. All the tunes from page 25 to page 248 will be found, under various circumstances, appropriate to the purposes of public worship. To a considerable extent, tunes in the same key, or in keys nearly related, have been placed together. This will be found convenient where choirs are accustomed occasionally to change the tune, while going through with a hymn, for the sake of securing more appropriateness between the music, and the sentiment, in the several stanzas. 4. ANTHEMS AND OCCASIONAL PIECES. Several of the longest, and probably the least useful of these, have been omitted, and their places supplied with others which are shorter, easier, and more applicable to the various circumstances of public worship. The chief object of this work is to furnish church music for common use; and it is not, therefore, to be expected that it should contain a very great variety of anthems, choruses, and pieces suitable for musical exhibitions and concerts. A collection consisting of such pieces, the Handel and Haydn Society have presented to the public in Choral Harmony, to which individuals and choirs are recommended. PREFACE. 5. INTRODUCTORY RULES. These have been written entirely anew, in the form of question and answer. Although very brief and perfectly simple, they are believed to contain every thing necessary for acquiring the art of reading music. Whether the present edition of this work has actually been improved in the several respects just mentioned, the public will judge. In regard to future alterations little need be said. It is not to be supposed, as before intimated, that science and taste have yet accomplished all that they are capable of accomplishing for church music, and that nothing further can be done to enrich and purify it, and render it more capable of communicating elevated enjoyment, and of expressing and exciting devout feeling. Nor can it be desired by any candid and reflecting person, that such improvements, when made, should not be given to the public in books designed for common use. The public have a claim to them; and no book which should reject them could long continue to deserve or receive public patronage. Still, those changes should be introduced in such a manner as to occasion as little embarrassment as possible. On this account it is intended, that, for some time to come, future editions of this work, should they be called for, shall receive such alterations only, as are imperiously demanded; and that they shall so nearly correspond, as to admit of their being used together, without much inconvenience. One tune may occasionally be exchanged for another, promising to be more pleasing and useful, and additions may be made; but in general it will probably be thought advisable to present new music to the public through the medium of supplementary publications. No pains have been spared to correct and enlarge this edition of the Handel and Haydn Society Collection, and to adapt it to the taste and wants of the community. It contains, in addition to the most common standard tunes used in public worship, a great variety of new music, embracing tunes of all the different metres; and without any improper comparison with other valuable works in the same department, it is deemed safe to say, that no similar publication contains such an amount and variety of church music. Previous editions of the work have been honored with much more of public favor and patronage than was anticipated. This edition is presented to the lovers of psalmody, and to all others who feel an interest in this part of public worship, with the hope and confidence that it will be found still more worthy of their approbation and support. |