16 RULES FOR CHANTING. for two of the short notes; the object being to prevent a stress being thrown in some part of the chant upon trifling words, such as of, the, &c. The single or Gregorian is the natural chant; the double chant is merely two single chants which harmonize and follow. Any sentence of ten or more syllables, which allows a break that will give four syllables to the first clause and six to the last, will do for a single chant. The verses in the Book of Psalms are of this kind, and the Prayer-book translation always marks the break by a colon (:). Any two such verses or sentences following each other will answer for a double chant. There are pieces of chanting music in which each syllable has its own note or notes fixed for it; but these are not composed on the same principles, nor will they do for any other sentences than such as happen to have the proper number of syllables required for the particular piece of music. Metrical poetry, if the lines contain the proper number of syllables, can be chanted; but except for Doxologies, or for pieces unsuited for hymn tunes, it seems unadvisable. Nos. 308, 317, 333, are of this kind. The passages of Scripture in this volume 27 RULES FOR CHANTING. 17 may all be chanted to single chants, and the greater part of them to double chants. The principle on which they are printed is either to put a single sentence into a single line, or to divide it into two lines at the natural break of the sense. Each line, therefore, may be chanted, according to its length, as if it were a whole or a half verse of one of the Psalms: if as a half verse, then two lines will make up the chant. The following few have been pointed, as specimens of single chants:Nos. 131, 217, 284, 337, 338. As specimens of double chants, Nos. 10, 72, 92, 94, 160, 184, 229, 298. In some the short notes are in italics, in others not, that they may be used as progressive lessons where chanting is taught. In any of those pointed, when the dot occurs in the middle of a word of one syllable, it is not intended that it should be chanted as two syllables; but that two notes, or the whole bar, should be given to that one syllable, with as little break as possible. B MORNING AND EVENING. 1. Morning Hymn. AWAKE, my soul, and with the sun Thy precious time misspent redeem; Wake and lift up thyself, my heart, (L. M.) All praise to Thee who safe hast kept, We may of endless life partake. Lord, we our vows to Thee renew; And with Thyself our spirits fill. Direct, control, suggest, this day, That all our pow'rs, with all their might, 2. Matins Hymn. LET ev'ry heart in God rejoice; (L. M.) To Him sing praise with cheerful voice; Lift up your hearts with one accord, By Him are thoughts and actions weigh'd, To God our Father let us go, For He his children's wants doth know; And Christ our Shepherd, alway near, Our souls will feed, our prayers will hear. 3. An Opening Hymn. O LORD, the Giver of all good! Before thy face we bow; And though thy dwelling is on high, (C. M.) Write on our hearts thy word of truth, 4. Evening Hymn. (L. M.) GLORY to Thee, my God, this night, O may my soul on Thee repose, If in the night I sleepless lie, My soul with heav'nly thoughts supply; |