The Te Deum and Nunc Dimittis.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 30, Issue 5, 1 July 1939, Page 4

The Te Deum and Nunc Dimittis.

Suggested Rendering To Impress Meaning The Bishop of Waikato has some interesting suggestions to make m his Diocesan Magazine about these canticles. He writes: — "Lately I have had, on two or three occasions, to be present at Church where the "Te Deum" has been "murdered" by the way m which it has been sung or by the setting to which it has been sung. It is not often that the Bishop is asked to attend Morning Prayer — frequently the Vicar is away at another service m others parts of the Parish, or there is some other Service which the Bishop is asked to conduct. "I have written before about the "Te Deum" and described how it should be rendered: and when we are indebted to the labours of so eminent 1 a scholar as the late Dr. Burn, Dean of Salisbury, which have resulted m showing us the real meaning of the Hymn, I think we ought to try and say or sing it so that that meaning stands out properly. "And the 'Nunc Dimittis' at Evening Prayer. When shall we refuse to sing that choice little hymn to the "dirge-like" chants usually set for it. A dance tune to it would be much more fitting. Simeon the author had seen the Lord's Christ and, spiritually if not actually (like David before the Ark) he was just dancing with joy and delight about the Temple. We sing it just after having heard a Message of the Gospel out of the New Testament, and if we have really listened to the Message our hearts should be as full of joy as his was— and when we sing his song it should be to a really joyful tune that we do it. Will Clergy and organists please note." The proper form and suggestions given by the Bishop are appended. They do not quite agree with Sir Sydney Nicholson's arrangement. Will someone defend either arrangement against the others?