CHAPTER 3 | EDIFICATION AND ECONOMICS: THE CAREER OF LOWELL MASON 81
Mason’s Spiritual Songs, however, were intended for congregations. Their success
shows that revivalism brought fresh democratic energy into religious life.
Mason and his fellow reformer Hastings took the lead in creating a style of
hymnody that preserved some traits of the preceding generation’s ancient music
while also appealing to the taste of worshipers in their own day. In a letter of
1837, Hastings wrote with satisfaction: “Europe has no style strictly devotional that
compares at all with what we are cultivating in this country.” Mason’s Olivet
(LG 3.3), fi rst appearing in Spiritual Songs, is a setting of Ray Palmer’s text “My
Faith Looks Up to Thee” that embodies that devotional style. Its three voices are
not of equal melodic interest. Only the soprano melody has a clear profi le; the
alto mostly shadows that melody a third below, while the bass does little more
than sing the root of each chord. The harmony follows European “scientifi c”
principles at their simplest, emphasizing tonic and dominant chords. As with
ancient music, Mason’s setting poses no competition for the text and invites con-
gregational singing.
Yet the rhythm and structure of Olivet are not those of ancient music.
Instead of a bland succession of half or quarter notes, Olivet features a dotted
rhythmic motive in fi ve of its seven poetic lines. And the rhythmic pattern andLG 3.3K Lowell Mason’s Olivet, as it fi rst appeared in Spiritual Songs for Social Worship (Utica, New
Yo r k , 18 31).172028_03_063-085_r3_ko.indd 81 23/01/13 8:12 PM