The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Messrs Drapers,

As you have lately inserted a Piece to satisfy some of your good old Customers, relating to Church Music, which contains several Mistakes, not to say falsehoods, please to give the following a Place, and you will likewise satisfy some of your good old Customers.

"Music! Thou Charmer of all Human Race,
"Thy heav'nly Lays embellish ev'ry Grace,
"The Soul from pensive Thoughts by Music freed
"Receives new Vigour, and flies on with speed
"Tow'rds lasting Bliss where heavenly Arts
do lead."

The exquisite J. B. begins his notable Piece in this polite Strain, "There are a set of Geniuses, who stick themselves up in a Gallery,
"and seem to think they have a Privilege of engrossing all the singing to themselves, by singing
"such Tunes as it is impossible for the Congregations to join in."

However zealous this Foreign Gentleman may be in his African ("Bawling") way of Worship, it is of little importance to the People of this Land, who endeavour to sing the Praises of the most High, with Decency and Order. I have attended the public Worship in many Churches on this Continent, and never had the unhappiness of hearing any Tune sung or ("bawl'd") which resembled "Ally Croaker" in the least degree. On the contrary they were Tunes composed according to the good old Rules which the Congregations in general might join in as well as in any other. Indeed I must confess it was with Difficulty I held my Breath so long as they were singing some of their Notes in some Places.

The sagacious Mind of J. B. seems grieved at the manner of those "Geniuses" in singing (or "Bawling") their "jiggish Tunes" as he is pleas'd to term them: One would think he distinguished an essential Difference between them and the good old "plain simple" ones. But as it appears he has no Taste for Music, nor discerning between Psalm Tunes, Jiggs or "Ally Croaker" this Observation may be dismissed without further Notice.

His Resentment is shewn in the Fable of the "Clergyman" who desired to hear the Old Hundred Psalm Tune sung, but was not granted the Favour, by Reason (as he says) the Gentlemen had a new one "consisting of four or five Parts with many Fugues." What the Author here mentions (being invalid) might be suppos'd the Product of his own Musical Genius, did not his Name B. and his factious Disposition, denote him an Ally to one Belial, a Hater of Psalmody, who has little to do with Church Music.

By Mr. B's Judgment of the Geniuses in their Devotion he may be esteemed a superstitious Bigot, the Searching and Judging the Heart being an omniscient Prerogative.--It is allowed by all who have the Knowledge of the Theory of Music, that the genuine old Method of Singing and Composition is the only true one, which many fond of their own Way, through Ignorance, pervert.

Upon the whole, those Tunes are humbly recommended for Divine Service, which are of the most grave and solid Composition, and bear the nearest Resemblance (not of Ally Croaker, but)

of the sublime Songs of the harmonious Choir in the celestial Realms of Eternal Glory. For
"Music! is in the Breath of second Birth.
"The Saint's Employment, and the Angel's Mirth,
"The Rhetoric of Seraphim is, a Gem
"In the King's Crown of New Jerusalem:
"Then those that do despise such sacred Mirth,
"Are neither fit for Heav'n nor for Earth."

J. W.