Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1857-12-25
Congregational Singing.

There is a spirited controversy now going
on through the religious press, In relation
to the proprieiy OF introducing consrcsa.
tional singing into our churches. tap
pears that change in tIrsportion Of divine
worship has been adopted In many large
and influential congregations. in different
parts OF the country. After reading the ar
gymcnts pro and con and adding 10 them
our limited observations Ne to the matters
involved IN the controversy, We are inclined
to favor congregational singing with certain
notifications. Sacred music j. a most i'm.
p1rthnt and essential part Of divine worship
GOOD singing atchurch j. ileavcu-iusVirius,
hut from very poor singing, such a. We
sometimes hear ut our churches, good lord
deliver Us. hot when We speak Of poor
singing, We do not always mean that music
which cones from unculliatei lp. and
voices. Tor We have frequently heard singing
Of this character. which, while il lacked az.
tistic Skin. wa. lull Of genuine d,ron1H.
We ha,i sometime, attended what are
called fashionable churches, and sometimes
churchc, not quite 81, fashionable, where we
were actually di.gustei with tho music. In
these cases, the galrrlc. would be occupied
by three, ioir or half dozeu persons, who
take the whole responsibility OF conducting
thi' portion ~ the worship. Tho choirs
were made up o. professional singers, expert
IN lhc business, who sing By " bar, crotch.
ct and quaycrs," and lor 10 they sing?
Like troupe of struggling 'crcnlicr'.
Their performances consist Of muscular
mouthuc-. explosive, bowling tones hid
con. contoriion. 1l the face wriscl.ug of
,hc BODY decorating the house OF God hy
rude attempts At aT.ius the wild antics of
an Italian opera. And these acrI.rsious
performances are called part Of drirs rar-
chip. Hut these r'am, performer. are not
Away, found In fashionable churches, they
sometimes render night and even day hide
Gus by creeping into choir., otbarv.-r very
respectable Herr, they generally calculate
@, astoni.h common folks" hy showing
,hcm what cHi,,l, ,I,aiui SINGER. can do.
" 10 hear thrm, ypa would J,il.,. au as,
was prnsticinr rotations.
We have oOcn heard poor .inE.us-loor
from tlc uuculii,atal taste ol those comT5-
sing toe choir w. nn 60 an This very
comfortably But chi, fashionable, extra,
hon.pirr singing {, 600 much Tor us alto
rs,hor Bot ,hc question returns, is IL
practicable ior rlai, ougrs CATION 90 .ius2
We would not dispense with we'll trained
choir, by any means. We would have one
lu every church. W. would hare h1u uur,
lead aiT 90 chi, devotional exercise, and then
lo, such OF the congregation, as 0a0 ing,
join them Il singing isa prtof divine
worship, why exclude thc whole rongrrga
ton from participating In it. This is a
question more EASILY asked than answered.
IN order % have c''' congregational sung
ins' "r must lear" our children 20 sing
wan '''m 'o '.' exercise when young.
Adult. should al., pas .1mo attention 90
this accomplishment II may bs .ail that
some persons have no Nr i'r music AMI
cannot lear" '' ''"s. very "u'' '''h PR
SONS are sometimes found hui 'h''' are exc
captions % 'he general rule. lowell Ma
''n LAY, i.at any person who can al'..n-
culsh between tNr sound Of q church hr.l
nni Che mild tones D, the Breathing Lutte,
can study music successfully.
In order tamtroIurs congregational sIuS.
ing, another thing must Doe done. The PR.
son WHO select, iac mosic mu'tmnko it COM
form - glrcum'uncr'. Many OF t.n nod
rru 'uu.-, now "a vogue 900 our cho.r., 'rr
mi.rully pl.r thing, They have neither
-l.r,,. .rr.f..tv If, ,t.rn-..,I.r.9r..rpI
,-..u... -
o." MUCOUS ''''''''' '''"'''.'''s "''".' 90
taa books, "aceiIrnial', Ju',.s though %
choir would NOT from necessity sufficiently
,l...T ., I,...rU. ,,itf.ut I.ir.. ...,,,,..I.
l.i 90 max. iI'W. tNl- ana llshl1hANi'
-, - mt q. s,,, AMI ,i,r,, of,
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