The Chorale Book for England (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781937236601)

Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878) translated German hymns and poems of worship into English and published them in the two volumes of Lyra Germanica, the first volume-called "Series I"-in 1853, and "Series II" in 1858. Then in 1862, from the two volumes of Lyra Germanica, and also other sources, 200 hymns were published in The Chorale Book for England with "the fine old German chorales to which they are sung in their own country by vast congregations" (Winkworth's words in her Preface to Series II of Lyra Germanica, describing The Chorale Book for England then in preparation). Her translations of German hymns and verse into English are remarkably fine, a treasure chest of gems. William Sterndale Bennett (1816-1875), for so long very obscure, sadly and inappropriately so, was a true colleague and friend of Mendelssohn, a very finely gifted composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher. He was the most important English composer of the 19th century before Arthur Sullivan and Edward Elgar. (William Henry Havergal was primarily a church musician, Bennett primarily a concert musician.) After Bennett began to prepare the German hymn scores for The Chorale Book for England, Otto Goldschmidt wrote to him and very much wanted to help in this. Goldschmidt (1829-1907) was a German pianist and composer who had studied under Mendelssohn at Leipzig. Bennett and Goldschmidt were among the finest musicians in England in their time.