The Hallelujah - Mason, Lowell

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"A large book of hymn-tunes, chants, and anthems, many composed or arranged by Lowell Mason. "Such pieces as have an asterisk (*) prefixed are now published for the first time." Mason arranged almost every older tune, especially the few American tunes before 1820, to fit his standards: "symmetrical, graceful and attractive; adapted to modern taste, and at the same time subordinate to the requirements of dignity and solemnity in religious worship" (from his Preface). He goes on to explain in some detail his dislike of "discords", for example the "ninth" and the "lawless use of the fourth" with its "abrupt and offensive intrusion". Mason displays the tunes in three basic patterns: ::file:Mason_Staffs.jpg Pattern A (4 staffs) is the traditional American and European style of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries; these occur in two sections that Mason has labeled for congregational singing (though his preface discourages congregational singing in parts) and for choir singing. Pattern B (2 staffs) is where Mason is heading with congregational singing, reflected in hymnbooks of "mainline" American denominations in the late nineteenth century, tunes to be sung by the congregation or "choir tunes" for choral singing. Pattern C (3 staffs) apparently refers to what Mason calls "choir tunes" with a solo – the melody is typically in the second part, the upper one on the second staff, and the upper staff has a harmonic variation on the melody."

⌛ Period → Romantic ◈ Genre → Music publications