The art of music, Vol. 06 (of 14) : Choral and church music by Rossetter G. Cole

(20 User reviews)   6900
By Robert Nguyen Posted on Dec 11, 2025
In Category - World Cultures
Cole, Rossetter G. (Rossetter Gleason), 1866-1952 Cole, Rossetter G. (Rossetter Gleason), 1866-1952
English
Hey, have you heard about this old book that's basically a time capsule for church music? It's called 'The Art of Music, Vol. 6: Choral and Church Music' by Rossetter G. Cole, and it was written over a century ago. It's not a story with characters, but it holds a different kind of mystery: how did people think about and create the sacred music that filled churches before radios and streaming? This volume is one piece of a massive 14-part series trying to capture the entire world of music as it was understood in 1915. Reading it feels like listening in on a conversation from another era, full of passion for harmonies that were meant to lift the spirit. If you've ever wondered about the roots of the hymns or choral pieces you might hear, this is a fascinating, direct line to the past.
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In the plain text version Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Small caps are represented in UPPER CASE. The sign ^ represents a superscript; thus e^ represents the lower case letter “e” written immediately above the level of the previous character. The musical files for the musical examples discussed in the book have been provided by Jude Eylander. Those examples can be heard by clicking on the [Listen] tab. This is only possible in the HTML version of the book. The scores that appear in the original book have been included as “jpg” images. In some cases the scores that were used to generate the music files differ slightly from the original scores. Those differences are due to modifications that were made by the Music Transcriber during the process of creating the musical archives in order to make the music play accurately on modern musical transcribing programs. These scores are included as PNG images, and can be seen by clicking on the [PNG] tag in the HTML version of the book. Obvious punctuation and other printing errors have been corrected. New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain. * * * * * THE ART OF MUSIC The Art of Music A Comprehensive Library of Information for Music Lovers and Musicians Editor-in-Chief DANIEL GREGORY MASON Columbia University Associate Editors EDWARD B. HILL LELAND HALL Harvard University Past Professor, Univ. of Wisconsin Managing Editor CÉSAR SAERCHINGER Modern Music Society of New York In Fourteen Volumes Profusely Illustrated [Illustration] NEW YORK THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF MUSIC [Illustration: The Singing Angels] _Altar piece by Hubert and Jan van Eyck_ THE ART OF MUSIC: VOLUME SIX Choral and Church Music ROSSETTER GLEASON COLE, M.A. Introduction by FRANK DAMROSCH, Mus. Doc. Director Institute of Musical Art in the City of New York Conductor, Musical Art Society of New York, etc. [Illustration] NEW YORK THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF MUSIC Copyright, 1915, by THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF MUSIC, Inc. [All Rights Reserved] PREFATORY NOTE The field of choral and church music is so vast and the subject so inclusive that the author has felt the constant pressure of the necessity for sifting and abbreviating and condensing the voluminous material at hand in order not to go far beyond the prescribed limits of this volume. He has resolutely shut his eyes to the allurements of the many by-paths that constantly beckoned away from the historical highway he was appointed to tread; and he has endeavored to keep this object constantly in mind--to trace the development of the forces and tendencies from which have sprung the various musical forms that have gone to make up the literature of choral and church music as century followed century. In this volume, therefore, the great personalities of musical history will receive far less attention than the particular musical forms and art-tendencies that flowed from their, oft-times, combined creative activities. While a large number of choral and organ works of every class have been analyzed with much detail and a still larger number given definite classification, it is hoped that the historical summaries and the discussions of styles and periods, scattered throughout this volume, will be even more helpful to the reader in enabling him to place any given musical work in its true musical, as well as historical, perspective. It is a matter of some regret that from sheer lack of space several interesting and wholly relevant topics--such as hymnology, contemporaneous church music, the whole relation of music to the present-day church, etc.--must be left untouched. In the chapters on contemporaneous choral music, it was necessary...

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This isn't your typical book with a plot. Instead, think of it as a guided tour. Rossetter G. Cole, a respected composer and teacher in the early 1900s, acts as your expert guide through the world of sacred music. This volume is specifically focused on the music created for choirs and church services. He walks you through the different forms, the techniques composers used, and the role this music played in worship and community life a century ago.

Why You Should Read It

What grabbed me was the voice. This isn't a dry, dusty textbook. Cole writes with the warmth and conviction of someone who truly loves this subject. You get his strong opinions on what makes good church music, his insights into famous composers of the past, and a real sense of the artistic and spiritual goals behind the notes. It’s a snapshot of musical thought from a world very different from our own, which makes it incredibly interesting.

Final Verdict

This is a niche read, but a rewarding one. It's perfect for choir members, church musicians, or anyone with a deep curiosity about music history. If you enjoy old hymnals or traditional choral music, this book provides the context and commentary from its own time. It’s not for casual readers looking for a novel, but for the right person, it’s a quiet treasure.

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John Smith
9 months ago

From the very first page, the plot twists are genuinely surprising. A valuable addition to my collection.

Edward Hill
1 year ago

Recommended.

Andrew Gonzalez
2 years ago

Not bad at all.

Christopher Anderson
8 months ago

Just what I was looking for.

Donald Gonzalez
9 months ago

Perfect.

5
5 out of 5 (20 User reviews )

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