case merely with regard to the more elaborate compositions, but even with regard to the psalmody of the country churches, | has hitherto been conducted, to be really intended merely for the improvement of the performance of Scottish psalmody, an deed to the improvement of sacred music. We have seen, that most of the present psalm tunes were composed in dark and barbarous times, when music partook of the barbarity that darkened and tainted every thing else. These tunes are regarded as venerable, from having been so long united with the objects of our highest veneration: but this is a circumstance totally extrinsic from the value of the music. I beg to call the marked attention of your readers to this obvious consideration, that, which the greatest composers have not dis-object which will conduce very little indained to improve. The compositions of this kind, expressly for the use of country churches, by Michael Haydn,* are perfect models of what such music ought to be. They unite all the simplicity and gravity of the old psalm tunes, to the sweet, flowing, and rhythmical melody of the best modern music. In England, also, the improvement has been considerable, but it is limited to anthems and compositions of that nature; their psalmody is very little better than our own, though, in consequence of the use of the organ, and the prevalence of choral singing, it has the advantage of much better performance. A spirit of improvement has lately arisen in this country, which has been much sti mulated by the great Festival in 1815, and fostered by the Institution for the Encouragement of Sacred Music. I would recommend to the attention of your readers the able Report lately published by the Directors of this Institution, whose efforts in improving the performance of our psalmody have been already very successful. But while I have had much pleasure in witnessing these exertions, I find that their views in regard to the objects of the Institution differ considerably from those which I should think essential to the ultimate results they ought to have in view. This Institution, though nominally for the encouragement of SACRED MUSIC, would seem, from the manner in which it of the music of all If, therefore, all the music of those bar barous ages has been consigned to merited oblivion except the psalm tunes, I beg to ask, why have these been preserved? There can be but one reason; because they have so long formed a part of our worship. I confess I cannot see the force of this reason. Is every old and unmeaning custom connected with the church to be preserved, merely on account of this association? The answer certainly must be-No; because, happily for the world, many such cus toms, in this country at least, have been abolished. Surely, if it has been found, by the most incontestible experience, that the old music of the Theatre and the Chamber is now totally unable to excite any of the feelings for which it was originally intended-or indeed any other feelings than those of weariness and disgust; and if, consequently, all such music has been for ever dismissed, there is the best reason for dismissing in the same manner that psalmody, which is only preserved in the venerable mantle of spiritual association, as the most worthless substances are embalmed in the amber that surrounds them. The experiment of change has also been tried, with regard to it. The same subjects have been treated in the modern style; and the contrast is indisputably as great between the psalms of Martin Luther (I take the best of them) and those of Michael Haydn, as between the opera songs of Master Lawes and Mozart. Some innovations have taken place in the psalms, even in Scotland. Witness the modern psalmody lately admitted into some of the principal churches, where, not only are the old tunes sung in a new style, but modern tunes have been introduced, many of which are superior, and more agreeable to the congregations than the old ones. We have all observed the general delight afforded by the performance of the Sicilian Hymn, or the Adeste Fideles, and the refreshing effect produced by the rhythmical flow of these melodies, after the drawling monotony of the common tunes. If this innovation then has been permitted, the exclusive privilege of the old tunes has been already encroached upon; and, since the encroachment is begun, in the name of true melody and sound sense, let the war of taste be continued, until our system of psalmody shall acknowledge the same laws which are submitted to in every other department of music, and indeed in every other department of the fine arts; those, to wit, which knowledge prescribes to ignorance, and cultivation to barbarity. In all countries but our own, the improvement of sacred music has, as it ought to do, kept pace with that of music in general; and this not merely in the catholic countries, but in the protestant parts of Germany, the very land where a great part of the old psalm tunes were produced. Surely it will not now be said, that we, who are Calvinists, must not do a thing which is plainly proper, because it has been done by Catholics and Lutherans. We have reason to boast, that we are distinguished from the one of these communions by purer doctrines, and from the other, by better principles of church government. Does it add to the glory of these distinctions, that we are remarkable for worse music? If the pomp and luxury of great bands of musicians is inconsistent with the simplicity of our worship, let us have our music as simple as it can be; but I have never understood that simplicity is at variance with good taste. If our church music is still to be sung by the congregation, unaccompanied by an instrument, (which, however, I hope and trust will not be long the case,) the beautiful and expressive melodies of modern times are infinitely better adapted for this kind of performance than any, even the best, of the old psalm tunes. first modern masters, there is no doubt they will always please; and, in the meantime, the object of the Institution is accom plishing, by the formation of a numerous body of singers, to whom the execution of the psalm tunes will be a matter of the ut most facility;-by the diffusion of these But even though the proper object of singers among the churches ;-and by the the Institution for the Encouragement of consequently superior tone given to the Sacred Music were merely the improve whole music of these churches. This will, ment of the performance of the old psalm of course, make the congregations themtunes, yet it does not follow, that these selves better singers, and the object of the tunes should make any considerable part Institution will be effectually answered. (as they have always as yet done) of the But I must repeat, that this ought to be a public performances. The public perform- very subordinate part of the objects of this ances must please the public, and, to pre- | Institution, which ought to have in view a serve funds and patronage, must continue much more dignified and liberal result. to do so. If these performances consist of the great ecclesiastical compositions of the HARMONICUS. Edinburgh, printed by James Ballantyne & Co. THE SALE-ROOM. No. XIII.] SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1817. a A Periodical Paper, published weekly at No. 4, Hanover-Street, Edinburgh. I am enabled to be the more explicit, as, From ANDREW PISMIRE, to the Conductor of the during my last visit to Scandinavia, my SIR, SALE-ROOM. As the notice with which you have honoured me in your Sale-Room induces me to think that you intend to make farther use of my name, (by which my self-love is not a little flattered,) and as every great man ought either to have a wonderful origin, or a long pedigree; I am happy to inform you, that my pretensions in both these important particulars are more considerable than even those of the great Emperor Napoleon himself. On this subject * BRUTUS BUONAPARTE, with the natural hankering which most people have after noble blood, if they knew how to come by it, was ambitious to be thought the son of a French Marquis, who had been governor of Corsica, and intimate with his mother. After he became EMPEROR, his ambition rose with his fortunes, and he learned and courteous friend, Gudmund Aldrede, Professor of Antiquities in the University of Upsala, with a liberality in which I never found a learned man of his country deficient, presented me with a beautiful and unique MS. of Langbeens saga, in the Runic character, (the only one ever known to exist, whatever Olaus which it was proved that Napoleon had a hereditary consigned to a German the task of writing a book, in claim to the empire of the world, being lineally descended from Constantine, the last Emperor of the East, through his infant son, AGATHOMEROS, (created for the occasion,) who had been saved in a wonderful manner by his nurse, conveyed on board a Genoese galley, and carried to Italy, when Constantinople was sacked by the Turks in 1453-The Italians (unwilling, we suppose, to dishonour so great a name by mispronouncing the Greek theta,) translated AGATHOMEROS into Buonaparte. This is no joke: the book was written and published. N He had to wife the renowned Væna, a princess of Finland, who had been demanded in marriage by a monstrous Berserkr and enchanter. According to the then established laws of honour, her father, who was now old, and whose name was Drumdrotn, was 1 Wormius may have said to the contrary,) | in which the history of my forefathers commences in the reign of King Rigr, who flourished about the end of the second century. The whole Saga, which is very long, is now in the hands of your learned colleague, Doctor Mahalaleel Dun-bound either to kill the suitor in single der, who intends to study the character and combat, find a substitute to do so, or give language, with a view of translating and up his daughter and his dominions. Her publishing the whole by subscription, with only brother, then eighteen years old, had an Introduction and Remarks, in three vo- undertaken the duel with more spirit than lumes quarto, as soon as he has finished hope of success, and the day of trial was his Treatise on Free-will and Necessity, income, when Langbeen landed from one of two octavos, and his History of Beregonium,* in three volumes imperial size, with block prints, and a block head of the au thor, executed in his best manner by the celebrated German engraver in wood Gottlob von Eselwitz of Plumpensumpf, in Po-with a magic girdle, the gift of a dwarf, merania. According to the foresaid very ancient and interesting Saga, my ancestor Langbeen was a mighty Kemp in his day; of a powerful body, and great length of limb, as his name denotes,-for no one acquired a name in those times without having some claim to it. *That this illustrious city was destroyed by fire from Heaven, is asserted by the universal tradition of the country, and is now proved beyond a doubt, by no less the Aland islands at Sveaborg with King Rigr, whom he had accompanied in his celebrated progress.† Fired with the glory of the enterprise, Langbeen entered the lists, and took up the combat. Fortified which rendered all the art of the Berserkr abortive, he encountered and slew him, married the princess, and carried her to Norway. For two years they lived happily, and had born unto them a son, with legs that might have done honour to the heir-apparent of the Grand Cassowary; perfect in all the lineaments of the family, and every way worthy of his illustrious father. He was called Vænungr, in compliment to his mö than three stones as large as the egg of a goose, incrust-ther, who had now much to say in the house; ed in a hard substance which may once have been mortar, although now in a state of incipient vitrifaction, which I picked up with my own hands on the side of DUN MACSNICHAN, or Macsnachan's Hill, according to the learned in the Celtic tongue. (See Gael. Ossian, vol. iii. p. 528.) Of these precious reliques, coloured plates, as large as the life, shall be given, from drawings taken on the spot by Mrs Dunder, who paints. The two last volumes will contain a complete refutation of all that ever hath been said, or ever can be said, respecting Ossian and the Fingalians. MAH. DUNDer. ! + See "Illustrations of Northern Antiquities," p. 444. The purpose of this progress of King Rigr was, to assign to each of his subjects the rank in society which he ought to hold. In this scheme, my ancestor did much important service, as he immediately thrashed all who grumbled at the lot assigned to them into a voluntary acquiescence with the will of the king; for Langbeen loved laying-on with all his heart, and, being a contented good-bumoured man himself, he had no mercy upon croakers. |