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DARWALL'S 148TH
John Darwall's music for Psalm 148 (perhaps best known as "Rejoice the Lord is King" is in common usage today. It was composed and sung at the inauguration for a new organ at Walsall parish church, as reported in an 1800 issue of Gentleman's Magazine:
"In Whit week, 1773, some anthems were performed by the Walsall singers in the Parish Church. Admittance that day was paid for, and the organ was opened by Dr. Alcock, of Lichfield, who then declared that it was a good instrument. And on the next Sunday afternoon, it was first played by Mr. Balam, our then organist (who was blind, and had been a pupil of the celebrated Stanley). The first psalm was part of the 30th, New Version, 'Uxbridge' tune; and Mr. Darwall, our vicar (who was himself a musical man), preached a sermon from Psalm cl: 'Praise Him with stringed instruments and organs.' In this discourse the preacher, among other things, recommended psalm-tunes in quicker time than was common; as, he said, "six verses might be sung in the same space of time that four generally are." After the sermon the entire 148th Psalm, New Version, was sung, to a new tune of the vicar's composing; and the whole concluded with appropriate prayer and blessing."