Many of the Chants in this collection have been transposed to a lower key; and the traditional endings of some, the alto or tenor of the last line, have been altered so that those voices have two half-notes, instead of a dotted half followed by a quarter. In pointing the words, the intention has been to preserve the sense, and to make the accent, and the stress laid upon certain syllables, come as in reading aloud. Owing to the arbitrary structure of the chant-form, however, that result cannot always be attained.

Book of Chants, Arthur Foote, 1893

Suggestions on Chanting

     Chanting, to be useful in the service of the sanctuary, should be reverent and in accordance with the best tradition. The following suggestions will be found of value. A chant consists of two parts, the long note called the Reciting Note, and the Cadence. All the words of the verse are to be sung to the pitch indicated by the first note, up to the short line dividing the verse into sections; a momentary dwelling is to be made on the italicized syllable just before the line. This is called the dwelling syllable. The words up to this point are not to be hurried, neither taken too deliberately, but at about the same rate of succession as used in ordinary reading.

     It is not possible to beat time in a chant, except as suggested in the next paragraph, which will enable the chorister in the course of a short period to secure uniformity.

     Taking the syllables set to the notes in the cadence at about the natural rate of movement, beat one to each half-note. With this as a unit of measure, hold the italicized syllable or word, the dwelling syllable, and any syllables or words that may come between it and the dividing line, two beats, each equal to the beat given to one half-note in the cadence.

     It will be found that a little practice will bring about even chanting, all the singers being enabled to keep together.

     A stop should be made after all marks of punctuation, as in reading, unless the syllable or word before the mark of punctuation is italicized.

The Sunday School Hymnal, Sunday-school Board of the Reformed Church, 1899

O God, the Father in Heaven…

Lord, have mercy upon us…

Return unto Thy rest, O my soul…

We praise Thee, O god; we acknowledge…