The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-16

CHURCH MUSIC IN THE METROPOLIS

CHURCH MUSIC IN THE METROPOLIS
The Instrumental, Choral and Solo Music In
the Fashionable and Popular Churches
Reports from Fifteen Churches OF the
Leading Denominations, Including the RO-
man Catholic Cathedral or st. Patrick's.
Trinity, Grace, Calvary, st. PauI's fAIeth0-
Dist, st. Stephens. st. Xavier, DR.. Cha
pins Madison Street Free Chapel, st.
Georges, Churches or the Messiah, or As
cension, Incarnation, and DIR. AIcxandler's,
&C., &C., DO.
We present annexed account, gathered by our
reporters yesterday Of the in which the musi
cal portion Of the services performed at the principal
metropolitan churches We have endeAvored 70 give to
each denomination equal attention, and believe that
nearly all are represented
TRINITY CHURCH.
Henry Stephen Cutler the acting orgaust and music
director in place OF Dr. Hodges who goes Europe
account Of III health. Mr. Cutler has been for several
years organist at the Church Of the Advent Boston,
which post he has recently resigned The choir a. Trinity
Church large and efficient antiphonal choir consisting
q eight men (tenors and basses), and sixteen boys
(trebes and altos( The singers have recently been
moved from the organ loft and occupy stalls in the
cbance This is in The right direction and pre-
sents only rreguarty want OF the surpce for
the singers. This matter s however, under consdera.
ZION py tne rector and s accomplishment rests with his
decision.
The clergy Of the parish are almost unanimous in favor
of eurpices, and It s believed that many, IL not ma
jorty, OF the vestrymen are with them In opinion.
The music Of Trinity church is confined almost exclu
svely TO the English cathedral school, The choir aud
organ about 100 feet asunder no, whsandpg which
mere generally perfect unity OF performance between
me two Inc choir is composed exclusively Of aud
ooys several OF the latter have fine voices. The princ
nal solo boys are Masters Robjohn, Brown and Ogyie
The aIst mentioned has not, PERHAPS for his age his
equal in this city reader Of music both vocal ana in
ornamental He arrived in this country from London
lew months SINCE and was direct4 engaged Trinity
ne ooys Oh ane CHOIR are all saafed and receive from
appropriated for the music ia about % 600 per annuu
The music for yesterday Sunday morning as fol-
lows:-Venite, Psalms for the day Te Deun and Jubate
(Rogers in d., and an anthem.
GRACE CHURCH.
Grace church may be ranked with Trinity It's Golfers
are fu ts pews command high rents and its attendants
are supposed TO be from among wealthies citizens
It's music has long been celebrated without intending
any dspnragmen TO the services or those who
the congregation 1t may stated that many Of the uews
are vacated after the of the morning music is
concluded The organ is an excellent one and the same
that was in the old church. has been recently altered
under the direction Of the accomplished orgaust and
director Of the choir, Mr. George washburne Morgan It
has three banks Of keys thirty stops and the medals
arranged on new and convenient plan suggested by Mr.
Morgan IL is fine instrument, and much i'm proved nv
twenty years USE and the excellent which is taken
Vi IT, BESIDES Mr. Morgan, the choir consists Of Mrs.
bodstem the principal Soprano Miss Demarest the CON
Halto; Mr. simpson, tenor, and Mr.. Smith, bass The
music forms very attractive feature of the ceremonies
About ten O'Clock the congregation begins TO flock in
brown the incompatible sexton greets the front pews
wh graceful bend OF bis porty frame and usners in
se DhcA pews with graduated benignity evincng great
discernment The church soon comfortable filed and
M taylor the pastor, appears in his sacerdota robes
me opening chaunt ID promptly enced The Doctor
finishes his prayer and the choir again strikes M the
hne soprano voice Of Mrs. Bodsen 1who has sung here
over twelve years) filling the edice with it's sweet me-
lody, while the admirable execution of Mr. Moroan
each voice in the choir TO obtain its lust prominence Then
sne services OF the morning have fairly commenced The
tot mellow ngbt streams through the stained glass win
COWS The congregation gener ally adjust for
cooraeie position to hear the services until they are
the place is heavenly and under it's sofenng nanenc
could rot be at all surprising that people s5opId FORGE
sne laus and imagine themselves in the region of bliss
Ape seiectons LOT yesterdays morning service were
cbauns arranged by Mr. Morgan the Gloria patria from
beethoven; Jubilati from Webers Masses a psalm and
hymn, arranged from De Freyschutz-bu. comnonly
nsed IN orthodox churches-not excepting the Presbyte
RAM and much harmonious than some of the nsgro
melodies frequently sung the Methodist churches In
no aer aooh the ordinary Episcopal service was sung
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.
This fashionable church was well attended bv an nm
town congregation The service was opened by the fine
organ playing Benedictus composed by the orpanist
MI Edward Howe Jr., and accompanied by the choir in
"hcn Mr. e. r. Atherton is the tenor, Mr.. j. R. Taomas
bass, the soprano and contrato by ladies' whose rich
voices Glled the church with their melody. After the
from Handels Messiah the beautiful sonrano Sn, d
quartee 'Come unto Hin, >" which was executed in an a.
.s'ic manner Then followed the Gloria Pabri. alter
which Dr. Osgood eced the twenty eighth HYMN Of their
coiecuon Christ 10 the midst of His people beginning
On the FIRST Christian Sabbath eve
When his disciples met
performed by the full choir and Joined nv tho conoroo
on In conclusion the organ and choir assisted by the
congregation, performed the " Hymn of DISMISSAL ~
II 81 wi nv
me organ was built by Mr. Hook of Boston, some nipe
fsen years ago. but was entirely remodelled by Mr.
is quite large and beautiful instrument Il has twenty
IS yepp sna the portion technically called the swe
Vi so'era well known pieces of music.
ASCENSION CHURCH.
The singing at the Ascension church (Eoscon,n cor
ner OF Fifth avenue and Tenth street. s conducted bv
saared quarette chor-saaries ranging from 5000 10
s4co Inc voices are all clear and full parts wei,
paanced, and we could see but grand fautthat was
lack OF steadness in movement which we consider yerv
essential TO produce good effect upon audience None
Of the choir have been opera singers The music yes.er
Jay morning selected for the hymns was familiar church
tunes, IN which the whole congregation participated
seemingly :. with spirit and understanding Thew have
church collection Of hymns with notes arranged com
piled for the use Of congregations by COMMITTEES for that
purpose from the House of Bishops Mr. g. Miller prs
sided at the finely toned organ; and although there was
nothing in the pieces performed that would uv test hs
merits, we should judge be was at home in it. ''
Inc OILY chance we had TO test the different voices WINS
curing te singing Of the chants in the morning prayer
Inc nrst-"o, come let us sing unto the Lord - So.
could have been made much more impressive simply bv
each voice speaking the words at the same instant
There seemed to be disposition to see which should
speak the word first OF their euunciaon we can speak
favorsby, which is more than say Of all cnoirs
we have listened to. The first hymn-"Wh glory clad.
with sneneth arrayed-was sung to Stonea I'D y one Of
Sanley's composition; and that well the secOndWe
give immortal prase-applied to of Oar Wells pieces
vas sung by the congregation in connection with the
choir and the spirit entered into BY all bore evidence
Of true worship There piece or anthem sung:
we were therefore unable 10 form any opinion az To the
ability Of tho choir in that style Of music or how lie
congregation would appreciate it. ~
ST. PAuL's METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
s. Pauls Methodist Episcopal church. on the corner Of
Twenty second street and Fourth avenue ia comp,ra
lively lew structure, the spire of which is not yet COM
peted 1t has been just year open for Divine wor
ship This church has magnificent organ, built bv Jar
din, organ builder Of White and Centre strees
The organist Of st Paus quite youth not much over
fourteen years odMaster Walter johnson The choir ia