| Citation |
NHG-P.764.004
13 Jan 1764:21,23 (380)
Boston, January 9. To the Printers.
As you some time since favoured you readers with some pieces
from the young and gay on the new method of psalmody, you
will be so impartial, as to oblige several of the ancient
customers to the news letter, by inserting the following,
There are a set of geniuses, who stick themselves up in a
gallery, and seem to think that they have a privilege of
engrossing all the singing to themselves; and truly they
take a very effectual method to secure this privilege,
namely by singing such tunes, as it is impossible for the
congregation to join in. Whom they get to compose for them,
or whether they compose for themselves, I will not pretend
to determine; but, instead of those plain and simple
compositions which are essential to the awful solemnity of
church music, away they get off, one after another, in a
light, airy, jiggish tune, best adapted to a country dance,
then the awful business of chanting forth the praises of the
King of Kings.--A clergyman of my acquaintance, at my
desire, presumed once to beg the favour of these gentlemen,
to sing the Old Hundredth Psalm. Was his request granted
think you? By no means. After looking upon him with a
smile of pity for his want of taste, they told him that was
out of date, but they would give him the new tune to the
same words, which was much better; for that it consisted of
four or five parts, and had many fugues. Imagine to
yourself, that you are hearing ten or a dozen ballad-singers
bawling out Ally Croaker one after another, line after line,
and it will give you some faint idea of our entertainment.
Now, who will wonder, after this true representation of
the matter, that the congregation, not being able to
accompany these connoisseurs, should, by degrees, look upon
themselves as unconcerned in the duty, and consider it in
the light of an amusement (such an amusement as it is!)
rather than a part of divine service? They think they may
as well sit down as stand up, to hear these gentlemen shew
their talents in music, which seems to be (and, I fear, too
often is) their sole view in singing. They are so much taken
up in beating time, and endeavouring to execute the figures
(as they are pleased to call them) properly, that the matter
of the psalm has very little share in their attention. How
much better is it calculated to answer the purposes of
devotion, when the psalms are sung in such an easy and plain
stile, as that the whole congregation may with one heart and
voice, join together to celebrate the praises of their
creator? J. B.
(The foregoing is published only to satisfy the desire of
some of our good old customers; this is tho't necessary to
be mentioned lest offence should be taken at the Publishers,
by the gentlemen who practise the present method.)
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