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London:

CAMBRIDGE WAREHOUSE, 17, PATERNOSTER ROW.

Cambridge: DEIGHTON, BELL, AND CO.

PARAGRAPH PSALTER

Arranged for the use of Choirs

BY

B. F. WESTCOTT, D.D., D.C.L.

CANON OF PETERBOROUGH;

AND REGIUS PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY IN THE UNIVERSITY
OF CAMBRIDGE.

BIBLI

(. JUL 1ER2
CODLEA

CAMBRIDGE:

AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

1881

[The Right of Translation and Reproduction is reserved.]

138.1 1.634.

In this Edition the Pointing corresponds, except in a few cases, with that of the CAMBRIDGE POINTED PRAYER BOOK, published by the Cambridge University Press.

PREFACE.

DURING the last few years great care has been successfully bestowed upon the pointing of the Psalter, so as to ensure an intelligent musical rendering of each clause of the separate verses; but, as far as I am aware, no attempt has been made to exhibit the general structure of the Psalms in such a manner as to suggest the variety of musical treatment which is required in different Psalms and in different parts of the same Psalms for their true interpretation. The present arrangement, which has been made and tested during the last six years of my work at Peterborough, is an endeavour to obtain this object, or at least to indicate what must be aimed at, as far as I can judge, in order that the chanting of the Psalms may contribute in the highest degree to the edifying of the Choir and of the Congregation.

It is evident upon the least reflection that no one uniform method of chanting can be applicable to the whole Psalter. Sometimes the verses are separately complete; sometimes they are arranged in couplets, sometimes in triplets; sometimes they are grouped in unequal but corresponding masses. In most cases the verses consist of two members, but not unfrequently they consist of three or four. If therefore the Psalms are sung antiphonally on one method in single verses, or in pairs of verses, or in half verses, the sense must constantly be sacrificed; and the Music instead of illuminating the thought will fatally obscure it.

Thus, for example, the second Psalm consists of four triplets, which offer remarkable internal correspondences. The teaching of the

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