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Article THE MUSICAL RITUAL. Page 1 of 3 →
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The Musical Ritual.
THE MUSICAL RITUAL .
BIT T . AV . TEW . J USTICE OP THE P EACE , P . P . S . a . W . of W . Y . ; P . M ., No . 910 ; P . Z . . No . 495 . The Editor Avas complimentary enough , in the issue of " The Freemason" for Saturday , the 12 th April , 1873 , to insert a
letter from a Past Master of a small Provincial Lodge , containing some observations on a contemplated Masonic Avork shortly expected to issue from the pen of that eminent Musician and Organist , Bro . Dr .
William Spark , of Leeds . This note called the attention of the brethren to the necessity for some fixed but classical standard of music to be recognized by the Craft , and to tho efforts of Dr . Spark to introduce in one standard
Avork suitable music applicable to all our various Masonic Orders and gatherings of the brethren in their respective lodges . It Avas with much gratification I read in the "Evening Mail , " the " Morning Post , " & c , an announcement of the completion , of Dr . Spark ' s long-promised present to the
Craft , " The Freemason ' s Liber Musicus . " Immediately I availed myself of the intimation , and have IIOAV in my possession a copy of this Avork . The Saint OsAvald ' s Lodge , No . 910 , Pontefract , also possess a
copy Avhich its members appreciate as a gem of Art . Permit me , therefore , to submit to your consideration one more letter Avith a feiv critical remarks on some of the details of this truly valuable book ,
—remarks Avhich , as I am a profound admirer of classical music , and at the same time anxious to reform this neglected branch of Masonry in this country , and desirous to introduce every possible improvement into
the ritual of Masonic ceremonies , rites and festive gatherings , especially by the universal adoption of appropriate songs and melodies so long and so much needed into English Lodges , may , I hope , be not
altogether unacceptable to the majority of your readers , but , to the contrary , many may be glad to embrace this opportunity of having ,
Avithout research , a feAV of the beauties of tho Liber Musicus pointed out for them . The volume before me—bound in blue —is a collection of Traditional , Foreign , and English Vocal and Instrumental selec .
tions from the best Masters , as well as original compositions , by Dr . Spark ; for the first , second , and third degrees in Freemasonry . It comprises , besides , Masonic Anthems , Marches , Duets , Programmes ,
Toasts , Songs , Trios , Choruses and Funeral Odes , as AVOII as intermediate music bet-Aveen the recognised degrees . The Avhole arranged for Voices , the Organ , the Pianoforte , or the Harmonium .
There is a magnificent collection of instrumental and vocal melodies Avorthy of the intelligence of the Craft , and Avhich in number , choiceness , and variety , is qualified for a place besides the greater Avorks in the library of tho Masonic Lodge , the
scholar or the private gentleman . The book is brought out by Motzlor and Co ., and published by Bro . Geo . Kenning , in the highest style of their Art . It is printed . from large engraved music plates , and forms a noble volume of nearly "hvo hundred and tAventy pages . "
Bro . Dr . Sparks' account of his A \ ork in the preface is almost too modest a one . " The motives which have induced me to bring to a close the Freemason ' s Liber Musicus " have been a sincere love of high admiration for the brethren of the Mystic
Tie , Avith an earnest desire to produce a . truly practical Avork worthy-of the estimation of the Masonic Brethren . " Nobly indeed has the author performed his arduous task , and it merits both at home and
abroad the favour of every Masonic Lodge , and its intrinsic beauties alone entitle it to be zealously appreciated hy every brother throughout the world . On examining carefully into this volume I find it contains both
vocal and instrumental selections . Take tho latter Music first . Let me point out the tAvo marches on the first and second
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Musical Ritual.
THE MUSICAL RITUAL .
BIT T . AV . TEW . J USTICE OP THE P EACE , P . P . S . a . W . of W . Y . ; P . M ., No . 910 ; P . Z . . No . 495 . The Editor Avas complimentary enough , in the issue of " The Freemason" for Saturday , the 12 th April , 1873 , to insert a
letter from a Past Master of a small Provincial Lodge , containing some observations on a contemplated Masonic Avork shortly expected to issue from the pen of that eminent Musician and Organist , Bro . Dr .
William Spark , of Leeds . This note called the attention of the brethren to the necessity for some fixed but classical standard of music to be recognized by the Craft , and to tho efforts of Dr . Spark to introduce in one standard
Avork suitable music applicable to all our various Masonic Orders and gatherings of the brethren in their respective lodges . It Avas with much gratification I read in the "Evening Mail , " the " Morning Post , " & c , an announcement of the completion , of Dr . Spark ' s long-promised present to the
Craft , " The Freemason ' s Liber Musicus . " Immediately I availed myself of the intimation , and have IIOAV in my possession a copy of this Avork . The Saint OsAvald ' s Lodge , No . 910 , Pontefract , also possess a
copy Avhich its members appreciate as a gem of Art . Permit me , therefore , to submit to your consideration one more letter Avith a feiv critical remarks on some of the details of this truly valuable book ,
—remarks Avhich , as I am a profound admirer of classical music , and at the same time anxious to reform this neglected branch of Masonry in this country , and desirous to introduce every possible improvement into
the ritual of Masonic ceremonies , rites and festive gatherings , especially by the universal adoption of appropriate songs and melodies so long and so much needed into English Lodges , may , I hope , be not
altogether unacceptable to the majority of your readers , but , to the contrary , many may be glad to embrace this opportunity of having ,
Avithout research , a feAV of the beauties of tho Liber Musicus pointed out for them . The volume before me—bound in blue —is a collection of Traditional , Foreign , and English Vocal and Instrumental selec .
tions from the best Masters , as well as original compositions , by Dr . Spark ; for the first , second , and third degrees in Freemasonry . It comprises , besides , Masonic Anthems , Marches , Duets , Programmes ,
Toasts , Songs , Trios , Choruses and Funeral Odes , as AVOII as intermediate music bet-Aveen the recognised degrees . The Avhole arranged for Voices , the Organ , the Pianoforte , or the Harmonium .
There is a magnificent collection of instrumental and vocal melodies Avorthy of the intelligence of the Craft , and Avhich in number , choiceness , and variety , is qualified for a place besides the greater Avorks in the library of tho Masonic Lodge , the
scholar or the private gentleman . The book is brought out by Motzlor and Co ., and published by Bro . Geo . Kenning , in the highest style of their Art . It is printed . from large engraved music plates , and forms a noble volume of nearly "hvo hundred and tAventy pages . "
Bro . Dr . Sparks' account of his A \ ork in the preface is almost too modest a one . " The motives which have induced me to bring to a close the Freemason ' s Liber Musicus " have been a sincere love of high admiration for the brethren of the Mystic
Tie , Avith an earnest desire to produce a . truly practical Avork worthy-of the estimation of the Masonic Brethren . " Nobly indeed has the author performed his arduous task , and it merits both at home and
abroad the favour of every Masonic Lodge , and its intrinsic beauties alone entitle it to be zealously appreciated hy every brother throughout the world . On examining carefully into this volume I find it contains both
vocal and instrumental selections . Take tho latter Music first . Let me point out the tAvo marches on the first and second