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The English Hymnal, 1906 was an important landmark in 20th century
British hymnody for several reasons:
1. It contained an often-quoted preface which declared the book
to contain "the best hymns in the English language"
and ventured the epic statement that "good taste is a moral
rather than a musical issue."
2. It included, for the first time in an Anglican book, a group
of hymns embracing liberal
theology and the social gospel, such as these hymns of
American origin:
Immortal love, forever full (John Greenleaf Whittier)
It came upon the midnight clear (Sears) -- UMH #218
Thy kingdom come,' on bended knee (Hosmer)
3. It contained newly written hymns, including:
O God of earth and altar (Gilbert Chesterton)
Judge eternal, throned in splendor (Scott Holland)
From thee all skill and science flow (Charles Kingley)
4. Most memorably, it represented the first hymnic use of
a large number of traditional English folk songs. Thanks to
the sure editing of Vaughan Williams, many folk melodies were
rescued from England's past, including:
KINGSFOLD (O sing a song of Bethlehem, UMH #179)
KING'S LYNN (O God of earth and altar, H82 #231)
FOREST GREEN (I sing the almighty power of God, UMH #152)
5. Vaughan Williams' craftsmanship was applied to composing original
tunes, including:
RANDOLPH (God be with you till we meet again, UMH #673)
DOWN AMPNEY (Come down, O love divine, UMH, #475)
SINE NOMINE (For all the saints, UMH #711)
The latter two are generally considered among the great tunes
of the 20th century.
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