Title page
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Beethoven tune
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The New Carmina was designed to supplement Mason's Carmina Sacra, which had appeared first in 1841. As stated in its title, the book features tunes of European composers (Beethoven, Cherubini, Handel, Josef and Michael Haydn, among others) adapted by Mason to sacred texts. Codas added to the psalms and hymns to create new interest in their performance also are prominent in the collection. In the preface Mason writes:

Although they are called codas, yet they are not designed for the close, merely, but may be introduced before the first stanzas of a hymn, as may be appropriate. In the singing school and choir meetings, they may always be sung, but in public worship the propriety of singing them must depend upon the circumstances of the occasion, hymn, etc.

The two features of this collection, codas and tunes of European composers adapted to sacred texts, are shown in the illustrations.