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The Concord Anthem Book Volume II Edited by Archibald T. Davison ECS No. 1200 |
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From the original Preface The editors believe that the music selected for this volume maintains the high standard of quality which prevails in the first Concord Anthem Book [ECS No.13], and the same care has been taken to include pieces of varying difficulty, so that needs of choirs, both large and small, may be met. There are, on the other hand, a number of three-part anthems designed particularly for choirs deficient in men’s voices, and these selections are so arranged that all the men, both tenors and basses, may unite on one part. On the other hand a few anthems, being written for double-chorus, or in more than four parts, require a moderately large choir for adequate presentation. Every accompaniment has been simply arranged on two staves for the organ. Anthems frequently are published with piano accompaniments which are reductions of an orchestral score, and these accompaniments are often impracticable, not only because they require a technique peculiar to the piano, but also because they frequently extend into ranges which are ineffective on the organ. Much of the music was written to be sung in words in a language foreign to our people, or for forms of worship unfamiliar in Protestant Churches. In other cases the only accessible English texts were barred from our muse by copyrights. It has been necessary, therefore, to arrange new English texts for many of the anthems. Great care was been taken to provide words which will give fitting utterance to the spirit of the music. Double texts have been supplied in a few cases, so that the anthems shall be available for use both by persons who desire to sing the traditional words associated with the music, and by those who prefer a more modern expression of religious thought. Where the original words ere Latin, the Latin title has been given underneath the English title. The editors have been careful to mark ‘abridged’ all pieces which have been shortened in order to bring them within service length. Such a case is Dvořák’s An Anthem of Praise, which, incidentally, is not offered for use at regular services of worship, but is intended for festival occasions when the church is celebrating some civic or patriotic event. The music has, perhaps, been underedited, but only with the idea of leaving choir-masters wide scope for individual interpretation. It is strongly urged that the unaccompanied pieces be performed without instrumental support. The best traditions of church music require this, and it is hoped that choirs will observe that tradition whenever possible. Archibald T. Davison |
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© 2008 ECS Publishing. All rights reserved. |
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