Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-05-19

| LsteH W He Willie pray OF LlSUen 10 the
choir while they perform such aud such piece
of music" but Let as pray" Let as sing ,
How vain and weak then, for a choir to sing
continually new tunes. As well might the min
lister preach in Hebrew, or pray in Latin, as
for choir to be forever singing in an unkaoacn
tune for its own glorifcation. What then is
| to be done? Disband choirs No-not So
Let them be brought to realize their proper
office. 1t is not to monopolize all the singing
but to lead in the public worship-to draw forth
the devotion, and also the vocal expression OF
the whole congregation.
| Now the difficulty lies in nutshell There
must be part for the choir to perform, and
as long as human nature remains what it is. to
perform alone. This is needed to encourage
them-at least in voluntary choirs The mo-
tive is not dsplay-but real desire to in1u-
ence others by the power of good music And
without choirs are thus indulged in what may
be termed choir pieces" they may as well
cease to exist, or at least cease to meet for the
purpose of improyement-fo Improvement
there will be none everything will remain at
dead level. Thus choir performance will be
no hindrance to devotion (for who does not
love to hear a choir sweetly chant an opening
hymn y at the same time it will be q real help
to good music
Let chors be indulged in this thing just as
we indulge in dessert OF peaches and cream
after dinner of roast beef-not as the staple
but as something we are not willing to dispense
with, and there will be no difficulty We will
hear no more of this censure against choirs.-
And just as hungry man looks despairingly
at the removal of the cloth when he knows that
nothing comes after, so can we imagine man
who has relish for music, when this move
ment of doubtful eXpediency has been achieved,
looking despairingly up into the organ loft, and
signing that with so much of music for the
million, there could not possibly have been
saved choice bit of select music for his pecu-
liar taste
| must now close this extended communica-
ton. | close not because | have rpm out of
matter, but because do not wish to tire the
patience of those who honor my remarks with
their attention. | will hint in my next at
some of the methods by which this most desi-
rable thing" congregational worship'-may
be attained
There is one fact to which alusion must be
made, amid the incessant grumblng we hear
about new tunes" We are apt to lose sight
of the fact that many of our best tunes were, a
few years ago, entirely new We cling to them
now with great tenacity; we will not give
them up but, perhaps, we forget the day
and the hour when they first saw the light, how
one said with significant shrug, New tunes
again !"
Let congregations be careful not to be quick
in censuring for many of those tunes which
carry such exquisite delight to the heart, were
few months ago to them entirely new and
let choirs also listen to word of advice. In
troduce ne,o tunes by all means introduce
them, however, gradually. Introduce them
one at a time, just as you would introduce a
number of friends to an acquaintance-not two
or three at q time-not all at time. so that
your friend would not know them again if he
were to see them the next day. Let the con-
gregation become somewhat familiar with one
tune before you sound forth the melody Of an
other
A few weeks since the lovers of music in our
village were cheered with the presence of Mr.
Bradbury the well known and accomplished
teach of vocal music. The writer of this arti-
Gle attended the exercises of the Musical Con-
vention in the morning, when especial attention
was paid to the subject of Parish Psalmody.
On one OF these mornings the whole subject of
choirs, their difficulties, their duties, their dam
gers and the relation in which they stand to
congregation came up and was discussed by
Mr.. Il. in a practical lecture which commend
ed itself at once to the sound sense and Chris
tian principle of every one who heard it, We
have no intention to flatter, but let such views
be disseminated and acted upon throughout
the country, and brighter day will dawn up
on our churches. We may refer to this subject
again but if we do not we here give in our
testimony to the great utility of these Conven-
tions when conducted by able and conscientious
men skilled in music, and not wanting id grace
to the cause of sacred music ID.
TowANDA, March 80, 1855