On Hymn Writing. With a preface by Father Brocard Sewell

John GRAY

Published by [Edinburgh]: privately printed (for Alan Clodd . . . by Alan Anderson at the Tragara Press), 1977

About this Item

Red wrappers, printed paper label. Edition limited to 117 numbered copies, this copy unnumbered and inscribed by the printer, "Proof copy A.M.F. [i.e. Alex M. Frizzell] from A.A. 4.iii.77". Introduction to Saint Peter's Hymns (Cayme Press, 1925), a new collection of hymns prepared by John Gray for his Edinburgh parish, but not there published; it first appeared instead as "Hymns: A Suppressed Preface" in Blackfriars, October 1925. "Need is the hymn be reconceived as a product of art; that is, skill. Spurious origin, and really vile use of vernacular hymns, have condoned a custom of treating these poor things as a cook treats cucumber, putting off so many slices of the fruit as he needs to garnish his dish. At the end of the last century, when I was a 'Scozzese', a service we used was garnished with a 'hymn' consisting of two 'verses' of something or other. Often the latter verse was as follows: 'The lone lamp softly burns, and a wondrous silence reigns; / Only with a low still voice the Holy One complains.' . . ." Alex M. Frizzell, proprietor of the Castlelaw Press, collaborated with Anderson in 1971 on A Selection of Blocks from the Collection of John A. Birkbeck - Birkbeck being proprietor of the Rathalpin Press, Dundee. Seller Inventory # 32M100221

Bibliographic Details

Title: On Hymn Writing. With a preface by Father ...

Publisher: [Edinburgh]: privately printed (for Alan Clodd . . . by Alan Anderson at the Tragara Press)

Publication Date: 1977

Binding: Soft cover

Condition: Fine

Edition: 1st Edition