THE CHURCHMAN'S CHORAL COMPANION, 1809

ASMI 473 

The Churchman's Choral Companion to his Prayer Book; consisting of chants, responses, and anthems, with scripture hymns set to appropriate melodies; composed, selected, and adapted to the usage of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in two, three, and four parts, with thorough bass, for the organ or piano forte. By the Rev. William Smith, D.D. New-York: printed for the author. 1809.

8, 40 p. 24.5 x 34.5 cm. p. 1-40 engraved; p. 1 signed by E. Riley, 31 Dey Street, New York, as engraver.

Preface dated New York, 13 Jan. 1809; note of endorsement dated 14 Jan. 1809; copyright granted, 15 May 1809, District of New York, to William Smith as author. p. [1] dedication; p. [2] blank; p. [3], t-p.; p. [4], copyright notice; p. [5]-7, 'Preface'; p. 8, endorsement & printer's colophon: 'Printed by T. & J. Swords, No. 160 Pearl-Street'; p. 1-40, music. 'To the Right Rev. Benjamin Moore, D.D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of New-York, this work is most respectfully inscribed by the author.' (Dedication in full.) 'This collection of Chants and Hymns is, in my opinion, well calculated for the purpose of improving our people in the knowledge of sacred music... [It] is, therefore, recommended to the encouragement of the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church. [Signed] Benjamin Moore, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New-York.' (Extract from endorsement.) 'Set forms of prayer and praise have ever been characteristics of the Church, and she has always manifested a predilection for those melodies which are called Chants. Admitting a more extensive theme of praise than either Anthems or Metre Psalms, Chants have, in every age of the Church, been considered as eminently subservient to spiritual edification and comfort. However venerable Anthems may be, and however proper to be used occasionally, one consideration militates against them, namely, that they preclude the body of the people from any share in the oblation of praise, and thereby render it the exclusive privilege of a choir; whilst metre psalm-singing, by its fluctuating nature, and restless spirit of novelty, is an object of attention to the young, and of neglect to the aged. Even the frequent departures in the poetry, from the spirit and sublimity of the prose, are no small objections to rhythmical praise; for, as Dr. Beattie, in his Moral and Critical Discourses (vol. ii, p. 410), says, "As Psalms may, in prose, as easily as in verse, be adapted to music, why should we seek to force those divine strains into the measures of Roman or modern song? He who translated Livy into Iambics, and Virgil into monkish rhyme, did not act more absurdly. In fact, sentiments of devotion are rather depressed than elevated by the arts of the European versifier." [New par.] This work is designed to furnish the Protestant Episcopal Churches in the United States, with a form of services in prose, and is so adapted, as to hold a medium between the voluminous and difficult service of the Cathedral, and that which is unadorned, and merely parochial. By Cathedral Choirs, all the Responses, and the principal parts of the service, are chanted; in the parochial manner, all the service is read, in alternate response by the Priest and people. But, as most of our Churches are unendowed, and unable to support regular choirs; such as they may at any time have, can be no other than voluntary, and, consequently, mutable, according to the inclination and circumstances of the singers. Accommodated to the existing circumstances of our Churches at large, the following services are composed. The music is simple, easily learned, but capable of greatly enlivening the several offices of our holy religion. To its due performance, it is not necessary that the Priest should be a singer; his immediate duty is, to give out, according to the prescribed rubric, the first versicle of the Chant or Anthem which is to be sung; and where no rubric is prefixed, the singers are supposed to require no index to direct their choice. Single and double Chants constitute all the music of Morning and Evening Prayer, except the Doxology Anthems, and Kent's favourite Jubilate Anthem. The Litany and Communion office are embellished with Chants, Responses, and short Anthems, for the sake of variety. There are frequent instances likewise, in all the offices, of [p. the same words being set to different melodies, with a view to suit different tastes. 7] Of these Chants, Responses, and Anthems, some are derived from English Cathedral Services, others from anonymous books of celebrity, and most of the Harmonies have the names of the authors prefixed, when they could be ascertained with certainty. Through the friendship of the Rev. James Abercrombie, D.D. of Philadelphia, this work has been favoured with several pieces, composed on purpose, by Messrs. Taylor and Carr, both of the same city. To these gentlemen, for their friendly aid, and the courteous manner of affording it, public acknowledgements are justly due. A few Chants were revised, some years since, by Dr. Jackson, of this city, with a view to publicity - and the favour is not forgotten.' (Extract from Preface, which also contains a detailed description of the practice of chanting.)

          43 compositions, incl. 4 anthems, 35 chants, 3 items in Communion Office, I Sanctus & Gloria, for chorus w. keyboard accompaniment; full text. Attribs. to Barthelmon, Dr. Boyce, Dr. Boyce's Coll., B. Carr (4), Costellow, Edin. Coll., Arr. P. Erben, Rev. by Dr. Jackson, Revd. Wm. Jones, Kent, Nares-arr. R. Taylor, Pleyel, R. Taylor (8), Arr. R. Taylor (3), Unit[as] Frat[rum] (2), Webbe. 12 1st pr. (pieces attrib. B. Carr & R. Taylor); all other items are 1st Am. pr. except Chant: Venite Exultemus, Arr. R. Taylor. 12 American items, 25 non-American, 6 unidentified [Chants: All Saint's Day, Ash Weden's Day, Doxology No. 2, General Thanksgiving, Gloria in Excelsis; Communion Office: Kyrie] (12 attrib. Americans, 23 attrib. non-Americans, 2 arr. by Americans assumed to be non-American).

No Core Repertory.

          Not in Shaw-Shoemaker (no copy on Readex). CtY, DLC*.