I found an interesting short article on the history of Psalmody in New England. \u00a0As with anything “new,”\u00a0the transition was not smooth or broadly accepted. \u00a0Interestingly, there was no mention of race in this article, but more focused what the Scriptures say, gender, and points of view from ministers.<\/p>\n
The Puritans had reservations with singing the Psalms of David with a “lively voice.” \u00a0They were more interested in continuing the tradition of monotone. \u00a0Other questions that the Puritans discussed were whether women should be allowed to sing with men, whether the unconverted (pagans) should be allowed to sing with church members, whether we should sing music in meter created by man, and whether it is proper to sing new music.<\/p>\n
When Andrew Law first “introduced part song”, congregations took issue with women singing the melody, mostly in a soprano part. \u00a0Some men would insist on singing the soprano part and making the women sing the tenor part. \u00a0The author’s authority then references Scripture, saying that it is considered a sin to allow females to lead the singing. Puritan ministers compiled a “Bay Psalm Book” in 1640, which consisted of metered psalms but no music.<\/p>\n
Music had gone by the wayside in the 18th century. \u00a0Reverend Mr. Walter, of Roxbury, Massachusetts said that congregations would know maybe four of five tunes which “had become so mutilated, tortured and twisted that Psalm singing had\u00a0become a mere disorderly noise, left to the mercy of every unskillful throat to chop, alter, twist and change according to their odd fancy, sounding like five hundred different tunes roared out at the same time…” This became the new norm for many churches. \u00a0Rev. Walter later said “melody sung in time and tune was [considered] offensive.” \u00a0The church preferred the old “melodious” way, as oppose to the new way, thought of as an unknown tongue.<\/p>\n
The church much preferred the old way of lining out. \u00a0Congregations felt as if they were restricted if they were given notes and a melody to sing. \u00a0An anonymous writer in 1723 wrote: “Truly, I have great jealously that if we once begin to sing by note, the next thing will be to pray by rule and preach by rule, and then comes Popery!”<\/p>\n
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Source:<\/p>\n
“EARLY CHURCH MUSIC IN NEW ENGLAND.”\u00a0The Musical Visitor, a Magazine of Musical Literature and Music (1883-1897)<\/i>\u00a014, no. 11 (11, 1885): 286. http:\/\/search.proquest.com\/docview\/137457419?accountid=351.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I found an interesting short article on the history of Psalmody in New England. \u00a0As with anything “new,”\u00a0the transition was not smooth or broadly accepted. \u00a0Interestingly, there was no mention of race in this article, but more focused what the … Continue reading