Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-05-13
The Concert CT Church Music.

hEssEs EDIToRs:-Will you permit IN inter
ested 'looker ON to call attention to the public
performance of church music in the Second
Presbyterian Church tonight, by the Musical
Conyentiom Hymns, psalms, chants and an
themS, such as are commonly used in the Servi-
ces OF public worship, have formed the princi-
pie practice of the Convention during its ses.
SiOns, but from the manifest impropriety of in
Producing such music in an ordinary concert, 10
church music was introduced into the perform.
anceS in Washington Hall, but the performance
tc-night has been carefully prepared to give u
perfect example of the manner IN which the
rions styles of church music should be sung;
and from the impossibility of singing such music
effectively in the hall, the Second Presbyterian
Church las been obtained for the purpose.
1t must be self evident to every rejecting
mind that if singing is introduced into public
worship at all, it ought to be performed correct
~, that is, in such manner as to have an APP
prnpriatc meaning, and produce n proper effect.
In other words, it ought TO be performed accor-
ding to the laws which nature has given in
reference to singing, for God is the author of
thuse laws, and he has 10 where given perinis-
sion to violate them, or set them aside in cee-
hratirg his praise, any more than he has
thOriZed the violation Of the laws of grammar or
rlocutiun, III the other portions of divine service.
Professors of music are, of course, compelled TO
make themselves acquainted with the laws which
govern singing, and especially such Of them as
make CnurCn music tneif peculiar STUDY, are lile
proper judges of the appropriate manner Of
performing church music in church; and no
reasonable person can doubt that ought TO
regard their advice and ms ruc:iOn, in regard 10
the performance Of church music, rather than
the within of those who know little or nothing
about it.
In his instructions to the members Of the
Musical Convention, Prof. johnson has sought
to impnrt knowledge of the manner in which
educated professors of music think church mu-
sic ought to be performed. lie holds that, in
addition to singing in time, choirS ought to cul-
tivate purity OF tone, distinctness of articulation
aud heartfelt expression. That they ought to
feel and perSonate the words precisely in the
same manner that the clergyman in the EPiScO-
| pal church feels the words he utters when he
reads the service and that choir does not sing
perfect, unless they succeed III impreSsing the
sentiments of the words they singing upon
those who listen to them.
The concert tonight, will be exempliiica.
ton OF Prof Johnson's system of singing the
various styles of church music, and in my OPT
Mon, will be one Ofthe most interesting musical
performances ever given in Wheeling.
| Richmond, Washington, Baltimore and lto-
chester papers, speak in the highest terms OF
| the church music concerts given by Prof john
| sons Musical Convention in those places.
| For one do hope, that our church nembers
and ull others who are interested in this beauti-
full exercise will see to it that the Second Church
| is filled to its utmost capacity.