[ Transcription of the Title Page and (part of the) Preface, from a copy in Shropshire County Library. ]
[ Title page ]
Accompanying Tunes
edited by
"Sing ye praises with understanding."
London:
NOVELLO AND COMPANY, Limited
_._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._
This edition of `Worship-Song' has been prepared in response to urgent requests from a large number, both of individuals and churches, who desired a musical setting to the Hymnal they use and love. The opportunity has been taken to carefully revise the collection of hymns first published in 1884 and enlarged by a Supplement in 1894, so as to bring it within the limits necessary to an Edition with tunes, and to adapt it to the requirements of worship in this New Century. Certain hymns have therefore been omitted which experience proved to be of little actual service in public worship. These are chiefly metrical versions of the Psalms and of the Te Deum, also those translations of German Hymns not sufficiently lyrical for singing, as well as many of the hymns contained in `The Home Sanctuary' section of the earlier editions, only suited for individual use in private, or in the sick chamber. On the other hand about twenty-five hymns, chiefly of recent production, which appeared to the Editor to be of great beauty, have been inserted in their appropriate places.
The principle on which this musical edition of `Worship-Song' has been prepared has been to set the well-known hymns to their familiar, or, as they used to be called, their `proper tunes'; whilst for the newer hymns, which have never been satisfactorily mated with tunes, new ones have been composed by some of the most gifted tune-writers of the day. In many instances a considerable number of tunes had been writted by various writers before the Editor felt that the proper rendering of the words had been attained. An illustration of this may be found in the case of Mr Rudyard Kipling's `Recessional', for which some fifteen tunes were composed before satisfactory ones were obtained. So much care has been taken in this respect that the Editor confidently expects that the new tunes will become general favourites. Certain it is that they have all passed and approved themselves to the critical judgment of many competent musicians.
For this service the Editor is chiefly and deeply indebted to Mr Arthur Berridge, Mr Josiah Booth, Mr Edwin Edwards, and Mr L.Morley Horder, who were unsparing both of time and labour in order to make the book musically correct as well as to secure the most appropriate expression of the sentiment of the hymns, through the tunes associated with them; whilst for judgment upon those tunes specially submitted to them he is indebted to the Rev.Carey Bonner, Dr Walford Davies, Mr W.C.Filby, and Mr Edwin Moss, to all of whom the most cordial thanks are offered.
It will be noticed that the name of a Musical Editor does not appear on the title page of this book. No one person has served in that capacity, since the result of such single Musical Editorship in the past has usually been the inclusion of too large a number of the Editor's own compositions, and even when that has not been the case the selection of tunes has been determined too much by his individual judgment. But whilst the Editor has reserved to himself the right of final decision on tunes, he has benefited in the very highest degree by the musical judgment, and knowledge of the requirements of the church of the present day of the musicians already named, who have spared no pains to make the musical part of this book worthy of the hymns.
If this book should commend itself, as the Editor believes it will, to the churches and the public at large, it will be largely due to the able and painstaking co-operation of his musical advisers.
The Editor ventures to call attention to a feature in the naming of certain sections of this book. No sections, for example, will be found with the heading `Missionary' or `Baptism', since hymns under such a heading would probably be restricted to use on such special occasions; but Missionary hymns will be found under the heading `The Kingdom of God,' and hymns suitable for Adult Baptism will be found under the heading `Consecration', whilst hymns for the Baptism or Dedication of Children will be found under the heading `Intercession for Children'. It is very desirable that such hymns should be used, as they are suited to be, on other occasions.
For the hymns now first introduced to this work he is indebted to the following: -
For permission to use tunes either composed by or belonging to them he offers warm thanks to the following, who have graciously allowed their use without payment. Those specially written for this work are indicated thus [ dagger ]: -
Permission has been purchased for the following tunes, in a large number of cases on very favourable terms, for which the Editor is grateful: -
Every effort hs been made to discover the addresses of composers and owners of tunes, but in some few cases these efforts have failed. The Editor trusts that the permission he would gladly have sought will be graciously accorded.
For the preparation of the various Indexes, which have been arranged as guides to the body of the book, in which, rather than in the Indexes, all particulars of authorship of both hymn and tune are given, he is indebted to Mrs Oscar Giessmann, the Authoress of `The Epic of Sound'. To other friends, too numerous to mention, who have assisted him in various ways, he offers sincere thanks.
The Editor believes that this collection, both as to its hymns and tunes, is fitted to give expression to the thoughts and feelings of Christian people in this New Century, and he trusts that it will prove an aid to their worship, and so be for the greater glory of God.
[ Of the 112 tunes marked as having been "written for this work", none has been included in Rejoice & Sing - in many cases having been set in Worship Song to hymns which have long since passed out of current use. Only one - Walford Davies's tune Christmas Carol for `O little town of Bethlehem' - appears to have retained some degree of familiarity at the end of the 20th century.
End of File. Return to Top . . .
<< Back to the Enchiridion notes on Horder's Worship Song
<< Back to the Alphabetic Index of Source Books
(The Rejoice & Sing Enchiridion:edited by David Goodall; last amended 31/12/03)