New-York daily tribune., 1844-08-30
THE TR IIsU f: F..
The American si,,sca, Convention.

CoTeSpo: deGce of lhe irlbufe-
BosTo2. Aug. D. lSH.
The Addess OF MIR. Kirk, to which referred at
'.se OF my last letter. was an admi rahe pro-
-eplete with the eloqucuce of thought
oO,'I, p,,ys,y tIr which that gentleman is SO justly
',.h,ot,d. But i, uttered sentiments somewhat
~, and which, in certain quarters may elicit sume
o.on. MIR. X proposed 10 indicate some OF The
-, dcf,rfs in Church Music the ir5i step 10
.n,oy.I Of its difficulties 90 lie; us begin, said
- .w,, the COMPOSER" lie thea referred 70 the
.m,le provisiau which is made FOR the writer OF
muse. in tie great scale ol nature. A superficial
observer. he remarked might imagine all sb!e COM
Lin,i:ons of the t~elyc sounds composing ii!e nu-
sical scale. be n; length Y,sit. exhausted. sim
nj, calculation. however, w0Did correct TINS M
nessol. Those Twelve sounds adinr, oi cour-e,
/, mere combination ot l4l different suCcsss0us.
Each of these combinations can be cared agan b,
accent nr rhy thr measure, by length, rapldlly,
.nfc. IL cato and sIaccaiu so a. 10 admit oi con-
.,rucrine many millions oi tunes. Then there lie
sluaibe ring ana unWr0Hght IN tEe musical quarry,
many forms OF exquisite melody, 10 say nothing oi
b,rm,ny This beng the case, tie thought there
was no excuse for the defects which appear in much
nj the music now used IN QHr Churches. Much OF
o.r present music, said he. has wearisome mOn0to
py, clumsy, plOdd;ng heavncss, in comparison
with what We CONCEIVE OF, and are longing 10 fud
rsa!iz.d. But that portion Of the lsctr:e, most la
nj. TO he called IN question: expressed the view that
4probahy no Uuconyer,ed man compose genu-
inc Church Music" itwould trip somewhere, like
hnore's Sacred songs.
Having spoken Sufficiently of The common defects
Of the composer, Mr. X next proceeded TO speak o.;
the OaG.NisT. He should he composer, even it
be never writes music. Whatever the composer
reeds, Is sselu most OF it Indispensable, for him.
II some oreunsts knew how keen mary Of their
bearers perceive when they have ceased TO feel
the sentiment and begin TO exercise their vanity If
thew knew how their motives run out at their fin
gers EN- IS, uto the pipes, and stream all ov.
the house, they would guard their motives in plav-
ing. skiuI player mnkes the keys tel just what
be is thinking and how he sSfeeling. Let this in-
purtant servant of the Church, continued Mr.. a.,
never forget that while he s out of sight, and hIs
face a,erted from the audience, the Organ a mir
rr 10 reflect his inward feuts To them; and when
he PLAYS thai familiar called Vanity, any oi It's
yauloos, il is recognized al aud lmmcdi"te!.
Qss.c,aed with lis own short hut cherished worlds
.Ana nat l an admir0he periormer? Admire me.
anhyuyh you f,se.t God Leaue he mercy seat
awi pratse Me Organ' THIS common defect oi
Ofsub>is Mr. H. highly depGrcaic
His crlGcisns wrre next extended 10 HE CHOIR
The Chvlr, IN hIs view, was not Ia InOhoj.oz- the
Singing, nor To the sanctuary into an exilbi'i"n
ROOM nUr Iu make children al the world, VITO sing
we'll despise the children OF Gud for Ih.ir drtecse
Staging. lts lrg'tInute spherels the guidance OF The
exercise q, slncmg. In thus connection air. N.
spose ut the Effectiveness OF our Saxon tongue, "n
account q; Us harhnrous combination ot con7onanis
He regarded ihs sUpcrnbie obstacle 10 pro-
duciug the full power OF music through the medium
OF oar iapguag-. On lhis account lie highly recon-
msndeh chanting, OF the remedies for this
difficulty.
lu suunerating the causes Of our present relative
effectiveness, f..T. X mentioned the want of proper
cultivation: the making music an end, and not the
means To an end the want ot religious sentiment IN
singers the want OF n true conception OF the sen-
ntnt; the love oi admiration
Air. Kirk's lecture listened To with profound
attention.. The Convention passed II vote OF thanks
the reverend gentleman, requesting copy Tor
publication.
After MIR. is. had finished his address, nm hour was
spent hy the Convention IN business, Hon. Z. J..
Sm,a in the Char. The standing committee pro-
posed the following question for discussion: " HdS
he introduction Of Music into the Common Schools,
MuS far, proceed benefctatl'
This quc>lio rci,rd many interesting facts and
statements. which shall give YOU iii my next let
ter. The Convention is attended 10y large
course of people, most of whom are teachers ot mu-
sic irnr abroad Nrw-Yofk aud Brooklyn have
n NJ u fiir representation. We the platform
Prot. Hastings Lucus Hart, Esq. the somewhat TO-
ted esd-r at the Allen street Cnor, vino has teen
sltcted Vice President 10 fl! the vacancy OCCASION
ed bv the resignaton of Mr. Lucas, Charles l..
Barnes the we'll known teacher OF the g Juvtn II
Orchestral" thut PLAYED sn chaTmipglt IN The Ia
h-,nncle, not long since, Gro. Andrews, Esq leader
OF the rabernscc Choir; -. +. Jones, o lhe Brain
crd Church Choir. and our Honorable Chairman.
Yours, iii haste, CAFfEKELLI.