American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-11-18
For the Lancaster Gazette.


For the mere purpose Of ths best sp ci.
mems, Of artistic perIormsnee Of vocal mn
sic, ] grsnt. that properly arranged oboirs
Of select singers. Is what We want But
the worship Of God. Ehirh is the special
object OF religious assemblies, should prO
csed equaIly. from every hssrt. 0Od can.
not bs worship. d BY proxy. With equal
Ipropriety, might select persons Be set =.
part. and. paid, II need be, to make the
prayers, and petitions for the congregation.
or TO hear and digest the ssrmons. read the
scriptures. DC. Ii is the equal privilege
and duty ofeVery one, TO bear his fall
part, 10 the public wOrshiy Of his Maker;
50 far as ssiugiDg and prayers are concerned.
We must. in this connection, be allowe!
10 repeat. that we are conlidsnt. that what
We have said in our remarks on choirs. as
regards their unwilisgness to have tn.
congregation join in the singing. and OF
the d-p-ndrncs Of the congrpgatioa upon
the choir. by which, singing in the ron-
grsGation, is suffered to die out, il true.
almost always, as every one who will give
the subject proper attention, will admit. to
the fullest ext-nt. The style Of music. ses
lsctsd by ehoirs. is not always the bes Z
daptsd for devotional purposes Much Of
il, would, with slight yariarious, suit the
OPERA. much better than the church. The
vast increase, both OF hooks and new com. i.
positions. designed or church use besides
heing as theg are, at least great portion
of them. quite unsui,rd to that purpose, has
left far behind, most OF the substantial de-
votional old church music. that was com
.possd and sung, whAn The heart had more
to do with r~li zion. than the head, an ne
fore the world movsd as fast as it does
now. A great portion Of the music used
now. 10 mary choirs. is simply good opera
music. "slightIy Saobathizei. to suit the
occasion" | think II will I've conceded
by every observer. that ths religious inter.
esis Of the churches where con yrpgarional
singing alone is practiced, is entirely great.
er, than where the formallties Of choir
singing are observed.
Strictly correct singing in the congrega-
itlon,. even 10 the observance Of all the
mnuIest rules Of tie gsmu is very much
to b. desired. But that this can ever BE-
attained to, by separating the choir from
the congregation. Iquestion very much. -
| am free TO say. and il has been nv priv
ilege to visit many churches. that | have
never seen it approached. The best, and
most soul-inspiring music tina have ever
listened to, has been. where the whole on
congregation have put their souls in their
voice, in one general out burst Of praise,
and alteration to thu CnistiAn's Col; gov
erned at the same time, by the rules OF
corrSrt singing.
Every mis- ellaneous congregation of
people, will have some good, and some in.
different voices. But all may be improv-
ell. Let competent masters of music be
appointed to take the lead; snd lei every
one in the house, feel themselves equally
free. to join in the song. TIE best, or
governing voices. will eventually sub luz
the unsteady ones; md ny habituaI prac
tice together, each ons will acquire conf
denae in himself; and in proportion to his
PRACTICES will his taste improve. Thu
in time, can any congregation come to sur
p'ss in sublimity, and effect, what any
choir can do
The general rules, only. of correct sing
ing need 10 Re taught the congreg CATION
II is not at all ne 'essary. that the art OF
composition. rythm, aud the transposiliou
OF kns. should be minut, ly understood,
In order to be gran. ful sin gers. All are
not to he masters in music, and cannot be
Let therefore, all b. instructed in the
art of singing; and let the whole congrpga
tion sing. Con-.