Excerpt from The Christian Hymnal: A Choice Collection of Hymns and Tunes for Congregational and Social Worship

In the compilation of the christian hymnal, the Trustees beg leave to say that, while they have had an eye to a just economy, they have, at the Same time, spared no means to make the book as perfect as possible. To this end, they have not only secured the best copyrighted music now in use, but have also had written expressly for this work a number of new tunes by some of the most talented and popular composers in this country. Such names as Dr. Thomas Hastings, T. J. Cook, John Zundel, T. E. Perkins, Silas J. Vail; Philip Phillips, W. H. Doane, Solon Wilder, A. Squire, etc., need only be mentioned to assure the superior character of the new music introduced. These men have all been in constant correspondence with the Editing Com mittee in Cincinnati, and have rendered valuable assistance in the preparation of the work. Thanks are especially due to Mr. W. H. Doane, of this city, for suggestions in reference to the general plan and style Of the book, as well as for his admirable contributions to it.

The Editing Committee have kept constantly in view the importance or meeting the wants of all classes in our churches; hence they have attempted to bring the Old and New together in such a dress, and in such relations to each other, as that there shall be no incompatibility between them. The old standard tunes that have stood the test of long use will be found always to occupy the first place, while many familiar pieces, that are especially valuable because of endearing associations, have been harmonized expressly for this work by the best harmonists in the United States. These, with all other new arrangements, are marked with a star thus: - and should not be used in other works without permission. The same caution should be observed in reference to all music marked (new), such pieces having been written ex pressly for the christian hymnal.

The hymns, with a few exceptions, have been selected from the Christian Hymn Book, and embrace every variety of meter in that book. An index has been arranged, in which all the omitted hymns of the Christian Hymn Book are referred to pages in this book where suitable tunes may be found. Hence a complete adaptation to the entire Hymn Book is provided for, and this, of itself, renders the hymnal invaluable, as it contains 'a larger variety of metrical music than any other book now published.

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