Originally published on August 20, 2020.

In looking at music to include in the 200th service originally planned for May 31st, I wanted to look at American composers from 1820. Who was in Boston at the time? What sort of music was happening in the churches in 1820? I knew that there were singing schools to teach people to read music and sing. The singing schools also used mostly original music called “shape-note” which went along with the music education. Shape-note music was called that because instead of only oval note-heads there were also diamonds, triangles and squares. Each shape corresponded to a musical syllable (e.g. mi-fa-sol-la). People used the syllables first to learn the tunes before using the words. Was shape-note music sung at the Cathedral in 1820? Absolutely not.

I looked at the order of consecration from 1820 and the music included in the service of consecration. After the order for consecration and a complete service of Morning Prayer, the first musical offering was by George F. Handel. After the Litany, Communion and a sermon, the last listed piece was by Handel as well. One of the hymn tunes (Christmas) was by Handel, too. The other listed hymn was Old Hundredth which came over on the Mayflower but started life in Geneva. The Jubilate was sung to a chant by Dr. George K. Jackson who was born in England but lived the last twenty-five years of his life in America. In other words, none of the composers were born in America.

In 1820, as noted in the Vestry minutes, music was important to the congregation because of its role in attracting pew holders to help pay off the debt. The architectural debate between neo-classical and Anglican gothic styles was decided in favor of the former, but as far as music was concerned, Anglican music as heard in England was the order of the day. In fact, the first infant baptized at St. Paul’s Church was the daughter of Matthew S. Parker, an early founder of the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston.

Here’s a list of music heard at the Order of Consecration, June 20, 1820 with orchestra and chorus

• “The Great Jehovah is our aweful theme” (from the oratorio Joshua) by G. F. Handel (1685-1756)

• Jubilate Deo, a chant by Dr. George K. Jackson (1745-1822)

• Hymn: “I’ll wash my hands in innocence,” (sung to the hymn tune Christmas by G. F. Handel.) We still sing the hymn tune Christmas but to the words “Awake my soul, stretch every nerve” #546 in the hymnal. The name of the tune in the hymnal is Siroë after the opera of the same name by Handel.

• Hymn: “With one consent let all the earth to God their cheerful voices raise,”sung to (Old Hundredth.) We still sing Old Hundredth for the Doxology, #380 in the hymnal.

• Choruses from the Dettingen Te Deum by G. F. Handel o We praise Thee, O God

  • All the earth doth worship Thee

  • To Thee all Angels cry aloud

  • To Thee, cherubim and seraphim

  • The glorious company of the Apostles praise Thee

- Louise Mundinger

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