Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-05-19
rats-and in avoiding Scylla let us not fall into


Our object should be not so much to fritter
away proper taste for music till there is nc
substance and sweetness in it, but to seek to in
troduce everywhere an appreciation of good
music. 1t is not necessary that it should be
shorn of its undoubted claims to make it accep-
table with the many, and if we may venture
our opinion, the true secret of ultimate success
IN this good work. is not to bring dolcn music
to the level of the people, but to bring up the
people to the standard of good music This
can be done. 1t is, we are convinced. the true
policy. Let another course be pursued. and
what will be the consequence? Assume that
all are now fully qualified to sing, and that
there is no further need Of the services of our
cholrs, and is it not apparent, that music must
remain year in and year out at the same low
level, and this sudden enthusiasm die of very
weakness, Let us not be misunderstood We
are not dccrying music for the million. Only
while it is sought to be rendered popular, let
not the claims of pure and proper taste be sac
rlhced, or the reformation, if such it can be
called, will be but temporary. 1t is in this as
it is in other sciences. There should be an adap-
tatlOn to all there should be ample provision
for proficiency, and abundant scope and en-
couragement furnished for those who are like
ly to excel For instance, in mathematics we
would have every scholar acquainted with its
elements-at the same time, we cannot expect
every individual to master all its difficulties
This were absurd. But while there is some
thing for all to learn, there is abundant encour-
agement for those who aim at being masters.
There mnst be this encouragement for the fcac,
while the claims Of the many are not neglected; /;
otherwise there will be but little emulation,
little desire to make advancement, and the
science itself Whatsoever it is) must suffer at
the hands of its friends Now what can be
more calculated to foster a correct musical
taste-to lead out 4, c. to cultivate the capa-
bilities of the young, than the presence in a
congregation of good choir, who meet togeth-
er and practice together The musical talents
of congregation are TINS brought to act in
concert-and certainly, " in union there is
strength"
But the choir will not sing old tunes
they have music of their own" We not not
pretend to write a syllable in extenuaton of
many of these manifest evils. But have choirs
been found to be incorrigible? We think not
/ We think that if the proper means are used,
the evil will soon be remedied Only let us
give them fair trial, and tell them in spirit
Of kindness that we would like to see this thing
|
no doubt of the result The members of choirs
are not new species of animal They have,
we think, hearts and cOnsciences.
1t is too true that the performance in many
of our churches is a mere performance-th
we might as well give shilling or two and at
tend a regular artistic display This is all to-
/ tally wrong But let US seek to remedy what
is wrong in the right way, otherwise the rene
| Hy no hon fbo IL,
have endeayorcd to show are the true coeser-
rators of musical taste They have their place,
only let them thoroughly understand their du-
ties. 1t is not their place to do all the sing
ing, and no chOrister (if he is q man of sense
would say it is. 1t is their peculiar province
to 6c0d, and a church may as we'll attempt to
get along without ministers, or an army with
ont captains, or Sunday school without a
band of faithful persons skilled in teaching, as
a congregation to do without its band of sing
ers. All should be taught to join IN the public
worship; but surely there must be some quail
lied to lead. Thus two most desirable ends are
reached-the union of all voices in sacred song :
and adequate provision for skill and excellence
and proficiency. And so far from it being the
fact, in our humble Judgment, that " the choir
system does not encourge the timid to perse-
out the latent capabilities of tho young, to
furnish a motive for exertion, and stimulus
to continued effort. As a general rule, what
is not worth the striving for is not worth the
keeping.
But the tunes The tunes When will
our choir sing something that we can under
stand z" This is the language that is heard
from thousand lips 1t expresses sad def
ciency-and choirs if they are wise, should be
alive and adequate to the facts of the case, and
we believe they are adequate to the emergen-
cy-at least we see no reason why they cannot
be. This call for congregational music is a
good sign. 1t shows that the people are wax
ing up to the real value of music as a part of
the public worship of God 1t evidences the
fact that there is a growing appreciation Of the
Importance of this branch of public education
Only let singers und choristers discern the signs
of the times, prove themselves adequate to
their task, and lead in this movement, and all
will be right. We have no fears of the result,
when discerning and conscientious men are at
the helm If either of these attributes are want
ing, we have.
We are not in favor of disbandng choirs
simply because they love to sing what nobody
else can. At times this must be the case
This was the case in the Jewish Church, where
persons skilled in music were expressly appon-
ted by God to conduct His praises, while the
vast assembly joined in the full chorus. We
cannot improve upon Divine Wisdom. Nor are
we willing to dispense with the well-sung an
them, the plaintive duet, or the seulstirring
solos, And on the other hand we cannot dis
pense with the grand old chorals like Old Hun
dred, which seems to make the congregation
lift up their hearts in praise, and open their
mouths with one consent, music or no music
We should not wish to deprive the congrega-
tion of their part in the worship of our common
God. They naturally crave it. They are dull
and disannointed if everything is artistic and