The Preface, which is too long to quote in full, concludes with the following remarks. “If this Ode contributes in the least to lessen our false taste in admiring that foreign Musick now so much in vogue, and to recall the ancient British spirit, together with the ancient British harmony, I shall not think the pains I employed on the composition entirely flung away on my countrymen. This Ode, I am sensible, is not without faults; though I cannot help thinking it far superior to the odes of Johnny Dryden, Joe Addison, Sawney Pope, Nick Rowe, little Kit Smart, etc, etc, etc, or of any that have written, or shall write on St. Cecilia’s day.” “I have strictly adhered to the rule of making _the sound echo to the sense_.” AN ODE ON SAINT CECILIA’S DAY. OVERTURE. _Recitative._ Be dumb, be dumb, ye inharmonious Sounds, And Musick, that th’ astonish’d Ear with Discord wounds: No more let common Rhymes profane the Day. _Grand Chorus._ Grac’d with divine Cecilia’s Name; Let solemn Hymns this awful Feast proclaim, And heav’nly Notes conspire to raise the heavn’ly Lay. _Recitative._ The meaner melody we scorn, Which vulgar instruments afford; Shrill flute, sharp fiddle, bellowing horn, Rumbling Bassoon, or tinkling Harpischord. _Air._ In strains more exalted the Salt-box shall join, And Clattering, and Battering, and Clapping combine; With a Rap and a Tap while the hollow Side sounds, Up and down leaps the Flap, and with Rattling rebounds. _Recitative._ Strike, strike the soft Judaic Harp, Soft and sharp, By Teeth coercive in firm Durance kept, And lightly by the volant Finger swept. _Air._ Buzzing twangs the Iron Lyre, Shrilly Thrilling, Trembling, trilling, Whizzing with the wavering wire. A GRAND SYMPHONY. _Accompanied with Marrow Bones and Cleavers._ _Air._ Hark, how the Banging Marrow-Bones Make Clanging Cleavers ring, With a Ding Dong, Ding Dong, Ding Dong, Ding Dong, Ding Dong, Ding Dong, Ding Dong, Ding. Raise your uplifted arms on high; In long-prolonged tones Let Cleavers sound A merry merry round By Banging Marrow-Bones. _Full Chorus_ (Repeat the above verse.) _Recitative_ Cease lighter Numbers: Hither bring The undulating String Stretch’d out, and to the tumid Bladder In amity harmonious bound; Then deeper swell the notes and sadder, And let the hoarse Base slowly solemn sound. _Air._ With dead, dull, doleful Hums, With mournful moans, And grievous groans, The sober Hurdy-Gurdy thrums. PART II. _Recitative._