Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1848-03-09
CHURCH MUSIC.

CHURCH MUSIC.
The Boston Courier says that nine-tenths of the
fashionable church music, is libel on devotion, and
ought TO be hooted from society.
Too true, but what will be done about III If there
is one thing for which willing to be taxed more
than another ii for the support OF music in our COM
mon schoos-for we hope another generation will be
able to make chua :h music what it should be-devo-
ton. not noise Cambridge Chronicle.
We would be as public-spirited neighbor in
regard to taxation for the teaching of music in conf
mon schools if the music taught there were chiefly OF
that sort that has vitality than the hummng
OF a dying locust What improvement has been made
in the singing in schools, within two or three years.
we cannot undertake say, for we have not ventur-
ed within the hearing Of since were obliged to
visit officially the schools in good city OF Cambridge
Its character Ihen was much like that which is heard
in the church or meeting house-namely, one conun-
ued drawing OF common chords
Sing-song
Dlng-dong-
String-strong
Ring-wrong-
This is the allegro style. The oaagio is like unto
it, except there is slight prolongaton ofsouni thus
Si-ng-so-ng-
Di-ng-do-ng-
&c &c.
Some singers in order TO give greater effect their
performance, introduced hitch and jerk, as thus
ST. hi--ng-so' hong
Di' hi-ng-do' hong
&c. &c.
and so on through six or eight stanzas long metre
This is generally done six times every sunday. Be-
fore this fashionable murder of hyrnn is finished,
] 81, vho
the stupidity of the choir are asleep 1t is matter
of wonder that clergymen do protest against pro-
fanation They must see that the general character
of the singing neither inspires devotion aids pr
ETY.. If choirs would sing some of the old American
misconceptions of Billings, Read, Swan, and
Holden; interminged with Old Hundred, ST. Mar
tins, Bangor, and Colchester; and the like,--tunes
which have character that impTesses itself on the
memory; and enables all the congregation 10 join in
singing they would not be obliged TO sing would
the minister be obliged preach often empty
pcws or snoring porshipsrs. A duet by bumble-bee
and musquito--the humnng of the first being the
base, and the buzzing OF the other the treble, would
hbit as much variety the greater part OF the
rel music Isacredtrash) that has been Published du
ring the last thirty years
But the good old days Of New England music have
passed away and singing masters who could compose
and teach it, are known only in history extinct
race. Professors have taken their place, and very
properly have assumed this more fashionable title;
they profess what they have not taste to appreciate,
power TO teach, nor capacity TO learn. 1t would be
difficult 10 nnu puPii &c modern "ProEessor"-or
even Professor himsslf--who could sing Billings
Majesty, Reads She. Jarne or Edson's Leaorpis..-
which once hadpower excite audience and which
iftasrfaraed would ell rleefina- hanse nuick er
than the most eloquent preacher in the country
Then, three or four pages OF Rules that could be COM
mtted to memory and reduced TO practice in three or
four evenings were all-sulhcient to bring forward
choir of singers. Now, fifty or a hundred pages OF
elements" made up of jaw breaking derivations
from Greek and Latin, and all the musical terms TO
be found in the French and Italian vocabularies clum
silly AngicIzed or Yankeefed, are to be sudied and
if the pupil, after six months or years beating of
brains, should get tolerable idea of what the PRO
fessor would be at, Though many of the pupils get
tired and disguised in less than half that me) he is
probably qualified to join in the
I ST. hing--so' hong
i Di hing--do' hong
that is so admirably adapted to excite the spirtual
ty' of congregations
i We believe it was the celebrated preacher, WHIT.
FIELD, who first adapted devotional poetry to the old
popular songs of of the Scotch and English because
as he said it was not right that the devil should have
all the good music. Ii the goodoId music could be
restored and once more form part of public worhp
we should be willing that the devil should take the
Professors" and wish him much joy of his bargain
BOs. COar.
60 WI WI H. RCU