Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-10
Musical Convention .

The Musical Convention was opened by Prof
Woodbury. in short explanatory address. He
stated that the object Of the convention was to
create greater interest on the subject Of music,
both in the city and the surrounding country, which
would be represented by delegates. And, as the
convention originated In the Choir Association"
the main object would be the preparation and dis
cussion of church music, though at the same time
secular music would receive large share Of atten
ton. At sgy sei ~ sqsi asiFE
He then spoke Of the different kinds of music
known as church music in different countries. We
understand church music to be psalm tunes mo.
tetts sentences, anthems, &c. In Italy, the land
Of song, the best productions Of the old masters,
performed in the best manner, are heard in church.
England uses the old chorals, such as /" Winches-
ter" "St Pauls" and others of that class. But
in France is heard, not only the masses Of Bethoo-
ven, Hayden, Mozart, and other great artists, but
also the best music from the last new OPERA and
often the service is performed by opera singers,
and the audiences beforehand advertised of the
subject. What he meant by the term church mu-
sic was the kind Of music used in religious service.
He spoke of the style Of music now in use
among choirs Some think it light but he did not;
still he entirely disapproved of the trashy :" Jim
Grow" style that seemed to be trying to obtain
ioothold in the community; he thought 1t wrong
to introduce such music into religious service, and
would not use it in his own choir, nor give it place
in his books. He did not disapprove Of the old
continental tunes that were still retained on ac-
count Of the associations connected with them,
as well as their own inherent excellencei they
could be used with certain styles OF words, and
the old people who had loved them i'll their youth
would start with pleasure when they heard the
choir singing tune that would recall much that
good and holy though long since past But
new tunes should not be Of this kind; they had
not the holy associations Of the old and only serve
to distract the attention from solemn subjects.
The course he proposed to pursue was, to devote
one-third Of the time to psalms, one7third to an
ems, sentences, &c, and the rest to secular
music, glees, ballads, and madngals. A8
Professor Woodbury. made a few remarks ex-
planatory of the course he intended to pursue. He
knew that some particular system was expected of
him, but he followed no systematic delivered no
lectures; but his instructions consisted more of
the social conversation than the formal lesson
His remarks would be suggested by the spur Of the
moment--the exigences of the case. Where he
saw fault he should point it out, and in order to
find the faults, he should make the convention
practice music with him, and he should make
such remarks either before or after singing as he
would to his own choir.
He also spoke Of the idea that some entertain,
that the practice of secular music causes dsrel 1
ish for sacred. This he could not subscribe to-
there is fascination about gees and ballads that
charms for awhile but in the end they satiate the
richfnlness and harmony Of our fine old anthems
The audience was then invited TO take the front
seats, and were arranged-the tenor behind the
soprano, and the bass back Of tho alto--ready for
action The book used was the late publication
by Professor Woodbury. " The Oythara," a con-
tinuation of the "Dulciner" and, so far as we
could Judge at the slight view we had Of it-a
worthy follower.
The principal faults he noticed was thinness
Of tone on the part Of the base and tenor, and in
decision and backwardness in the soprano. The
custom Of keeping time with surges Of the voice,
when "holding on" dotted hafnote, was initiated
by him in so ludicrous manner 1t will hardly be
repeated He also noticed with great particularly
the frequency Of giving too much stress and time
TO dotted quarter note when It precedes an
eighth note, aud the subtraction Of that time from
the eighth, so that the sound rendered is double
dotted quarter, aud sixteenth, or even a thirty
second note. Chest and head tones received but
little comment as notice was given Of a lecture on
the cultivation Of the voice" at the earliest prac
ticable period. t.aL
Two simple tunes and ono anthem were sung by
the convention many times, till at last they seemed
to be performed satisfactorily. aN III
The lecture was closed with beautiful ballad
by the Professor, who accompanied himself on the
piano.