The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-04-03

,bus presented of country village
3 choir, either in England or the United States,
uo presume few persons will question. The
original may be often seen. The fierce dis
wdwhich too frequently prevails among the
a ems and daughters ofhnmongis almost pro-
II rbiul
rILLAGE RIS TIERS;
\ Or, the Hallelujah Chorus.
AUgm string is a troublesome article to
monagetwo pigs in a string are more trouble
some sill, TO degree, perhaps, i'll proper
lion 10 the squares oftheir distances ram
in ahalter is also proverbial for obstinacy,-
mules are celebrated for their pertinacity and
lonkeys for their stupidity; but all the pigs,
rams, mules and asses in the world put to-
acther, would be more easily managed than
accompany ofsingers in village church. A.
bout four miles from Loppington there is n
village called Snatcham. The living is but
SMALL and the rector resides and performs
his duty without the aid of curate. You
cannot imagine milder and more gentle
creature than this excellent clergymeE. lie
is quite picture, either for pen or pencil.
fIeisnot more than five feet four il, ches in
height, somewhat stout, but not very robust;
he Is nearly seventy years of age-perhaps
quite, by this time; his face is free from all
wrinkles either of care or age; his voice is
slender bat musical with meekness The
practical principle Of his demeanor has al
ways been-alything for quiet life He
would not speak harsh word, think an I'M
ENthought to or ofany human being; but
4 Iris now and then tempted to think that
4 den the Apostle Paul recommended the
Christians to live peaceably with all men, he
mt in the saving clause "if possible" with
particular reference to village choristers
Snatcham choir is said TO be the best in the
country; such at least is the opinion of the
choristers themselves; and lie must he n bold
man who should say 10 the contrary. They
are no doubt very sincere when they say that
they never heard any better than themselves;
for, 20 Judge from their singing. you would
not imagine that they had ever heard any one
else. Snatcham church does not boast an
organ, and it is wei it does not, for if it did,
The whole choir would insist upon playing on
ital at once; but instead of an organ, it has
lnnd ofmIsic, which h rs been gradually IN
creasing for some years past. 1t commenc-
Cd about thirty five years ago, with pitch
ppe, which was presently superseded bya
flute. 1t was soon found, however, that the
dnlcet notes ola single flute were quite lost
amid the chaos ofsounds produced by the vo-
cal efforts of the choir; so Il second flute was
added by way of reinforcement; but all the
flutes in the world would he no mate II for the
double bass voice of Martin Grnbb, the
Snatcham butcher, under whose burly weight
and hurry mrly notes the whole music gal
lery Temhed and shook. To give pun, rem
cy 1.-THE instrumental department, therefore, Il
hautbOv was added; but the vocalists felt it
point OF honor to outScreanI the instruments,
ana The miscellaneous voice of James GRIPPE,
ne nIIIers son, who sang tenor, treble, or
@nnter tenor. Just as it happened, was put
into requisition for extra duty to match the
anboy. James GRIPPE could sing very loud
mthc louder he sang, the more you heard
that kind of noise that is produced by singing
through comb. 1t used to be said of him
TINT he sang as ifhe had studied music in a
mill during a high wind. To the two flutes
and the hautboy were added two clarionets,
Mcause two ofGripe's younger brothers were
growing up, and had fancy for music.
Young Gruhh, the son of the butcher began
soon to exhibit musical talents, and accom-
panied his father at home on the vioIoncello.
which instrument, with the leave ofthe rec
tor, was added to the church and in very
short time time too short, | believe, for
The perfection ofthe performance.
The rector, dear good man, never refused
ms leave to any thing, especially to what the
singers asked; they might have had leave to
introduce wagon and eight horses, if they
had asked-but still the rector did not like il !:
md every time he was called upon to chris
len a child for one of his Pensioners, he
iremhled lest the young one should have n
t'irh for music, and introduce into the gallery
some new musical abomination. 1t was next
discovered that only one bass to so many treb-
'e Instruments was not fair play, so to the vi
"'ohceAo was added a bassoon, and to the
naSsoon serpent. What next?-nothng
l'ore at present; but ifthe movement party
Io'"h us ascendancy, trianges and kettle
o ur9ins may be expected. The present state
U, 0hatcham choir is as follows: In the first
pace there is Martin Grubb, the butcher, Il
S S.out robust man of about fifty years ofage
having round head and a red face, with
s"ong, straight, thick brownish gray hair
Ioli'Oed over his forehead, and reaching te
MS very eyebrows. He is the Oldest, the
Mealthlest, d the most influential man in the
r rro'r' lie sings bass, and is said to be the
mae ana soul of the party, though there are nc
s Leat symptoms ooflife and soul in his face
I Mnich Is about as full ofexpression as bull
,UchS liver. Then there is young Martin
u.uoo, who is bit ola dandy, with black
,urllhg hair, and whisSers of the same pat
nrn, pale face, thin lips, long chin, and shor
Tosei his instrument is the voloncelo. jaime:
urlpe is leader of the treble voices, with oc
eaSonal digressions, as above noticed. And
III addition to the two younger Gripes, Alb
@lom and Peter, who play the two clarion
Wis, there are OnesiPhorus Bang. the shoe
Tpg . who plays the second flute; Cornelius
IKE IKE the tobacco pipe maker, who plays tn,
bp oI Alexander Rodolpho Crabbe, tn,
user ,%! who plays the hautboy; Gregory PlusI
me tailor, who plays the serpent, togethe
with divers others, men, boys, and girls, win
make axe up the whole band.