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Views from the Choir Loft

Richard Terry’s Hymnal in PDF and paperback

Veronica Brandt · September 6, 2014

Old Westminster Hymnal HE OLD WESTMINSTER HYMNAL was the only collection of hymns authorized by the hierarchy of England and Wales back in 1912. Coming out of years of suppression the Catholic Church in England was still finding her feet.

Persecution can make saints, but can also foster a ghetto mentality where intellectual virtues are disparaged. After surviving on cut down devotions, the prospect of full, sacred liturgical worship may have appeared too strong or foreign.

R. R. Terry burst onto the scene with the drive to revive Gregorian chant and polyphony. Then, as now, hymns were more popular – as R R Terry writes:

“Of all forms of Church music, the one which seems to have wielded an influence out of all proportion to its intrinsic worth is the vernacular hymn.” – On music’s borders by R R Terry (Unwin 1927)

His Westminster Hymnal marked a more scholarly approach to hymnody. The compiler searched out the authentic tunes for each piece, sometimes giving a range of tunes to choose from. The Musical Editor’s Preface goes through a few of the more glaring examples of the decay of hymn tunes. It is well worth reading even just as a snapshot of music in England at the time.

Maybe the last word can go to the Right Reverend Bishop of Newport who wrote the main preface. After noting the number of hymns included is 250, he continues:

The tunes have been in part selected and in part composed by Mr R R Terry, Mus.D., Organist and Choirmaster of Westminster Cathedral, who has also written and edited the harmonies. This eminent musician has here presented the public with a work of great originality and distinction, for which he is entitled to the thanks of the Catholic Church in English-speaking countries. The Hymns are what we have been accustomed to, but the musical setting is, on the whole, far more scientific and satisfying than anything that has hitherto appeared. There can be no doubt that it will conduce very much to the devotion and decorum of extra-liturgical worship and popular services to have one common manual of Hymns, which at once offers a suitable variety and prevents the undesirable introduction of amateur efforts and unedifying novelties.

      * *  PDF: Old Westminster Hymnal (mostly 1912)

      * *  Old Westminster Hymnal in paperback (crown quarto, 432 pages)

      * *  Spiral bound (letter, 432 pages)

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Hymnbooks Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    Schola Director Posts ‘Live’ Recording
    As I explained in my article posted earlier today, Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland is actually a Catholic tune (in spite of what some have claimed). The volunteer choir I direct sang that beautiful ADVENT melody last Sunday, and I invite you to listen to the live recording. It will get better the more we sing it.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Message from the Vice-President!
    The Vice-President of the Church Music Association of America, Dr. Horst Buchholz (who also serves as Director of Sacred Music for the Archdiocese of Detroit) sent us an email yesterday regarding the harmonizations (PDF) I composed for the Gregorian Chant psalm tones. Dr. Buchholz says: “Those settings are absolutely exquisite, as I'm used to when it comes from you. Bravo! Well done! Now, as a sequel, if you could write something for accompanying psalms in English that would be awesome.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Requesting Our Advent Eucharistic Hymn
    A young lady named Agnes wrote to us: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, do you have the PDF score for Ave Corpus Domini set to the ADVENT melody? Last year, we sang the hymn tune “Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland” quite a bit using your contrafactum technique. My choir appreciates the Latin hymns and practice videos, especially in the ADVENT and CHRISTMAS seasons. Your recent article on Gregorian Psalm Tones is a great help to my organist brother, and reminds us of attending VESPERS years ago when we lived in California. Thank you so much for all the effort put into providing these wonderful resources!”   Agnes, if you are listening! Yes, the PDF file you desire can be downloaded for free at the Brébeuf Portal via this URL link. Thanks for writing to us!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Amid all these old liturgical books, I find that I am happy and at ease; I feel at home.

— Dom André Mocquereau (1884)

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