St. Cloud Democrat., 1861-01-10
St. Cloud Music,

- St, Cloud Music:
! sorrytha our criticism Oh nntb tie Dediqa,
.ation music has given serious offence to the.
choir, SO serious that some of their friends
talk of libel suit; and they have conclu-
ded togiveS up the concert.which The ey we're
to give for the benefit of the Seminary
We are surprised to find that they had ex-
pected any other kind of notice than that
We gave them, for We attended ne~of their.
rehearsals and freely expressed our opinion
Of their selections by advising them to re-
serve the Opening Anthem to be sung at
their concert, as comic song Of the Lord
Lovol stamp. A piece" 8 of minor music for
such an occasion when, grandeur and power
are wanted, if ever, was simply absurd
Both that and the air selected for the Ded-
lcatory hymn were better calculated to ex-
the sentiments Of love-sick girl or half:
drowned kitten than oxultation and thank
fulness for grand achievement.
The fact that any six people undertook
to do the singing on such an occasion,
when twenty trained singers could as easi-
ly have been obtained, is sufficient evidence
of egotism and love Of display iu the un-
dcrta akers. If any evidence were wanted
that it was display, and not giving plea
sure to the audience which was the object,
it is furnished in the fact that they who
could have sung fifty pieces, would sing
nothing on the call Of the President of the
meeting. They were not ready for exhi-
bition on any but three pieces, and SO
could not sing:
We talk Of this particular choir: now,
because they showed of before so large an
audience of strangers and the subject is
up, not that they differ from any other six
Of the sweet singers of Israel in St. Cloud
The unsancti6ed musicians can always
combine, and bring in from the church and
the world, sufficient talent to produce the
result of superb music; but let any of the
pious take charge; and the thing becomes
desperately exclusive. So, that, as gen.
eral thing our church music is burlesque'
The Catholic and Episcopal churches have
good music because it is matter of gener-
al church regulation and not left to the
whims Of whoever may have the little,
brief authority of chorister. The Cum
berlaud Presbyterian is respectable from
its total absence of pretcnsion, and the
feeling that it is intended to aid and ex-
press devotional feeling; but the music in
the Baptist church, where the scientific
singers most do congregate, has been a
succession Owe will not say msusical,
Tut no:eical gymnastics, ever since We came
to St. Cloud and if there is any law to
prohibit Sunday exhibitions it ought to
come urder it. We make it point not
to 90 into the house until the first two ex-
hibitions arc over, for we regard them as
desecration of the Sabbath =; and only sit
through the last to avoid leaving before
the benediction. To our mind it CONVEYS
no more idea of worship than the perform
ance Of a set of negro minstrels. There is
such an evident straining after something
new and strange and stunniug-such a
jealous fear that any Of the congregation
should "sing unto the Lord" according to
his command that we calculate they intend
making monopoly Of the business in the
Promised Land.
In the Methodist Church, congregation
al singing has been made ridiculous by a
leader who takes pains to pitch his tunes
four notes above any ordinary voice, then
gets on his tip toes, stretches his neck,
shuts his eyes, and strains out falsetto in
his efforts to get up to the higher tones -
We have demonstrated privately until we
are tired, disliking to say anything public
"; but this Dedication singi6cation was
the feather which broke the camel's back
We shall try the power Of the press on the
squeaking evil; and our G sharps and B
fats had better hold an indignation mee-
ting, after which, the libel suit will be in
order. They shall not lack prcvocation to
terrible wrath, if honest public criticism
can furnish it.
I'VE owe +. T.add for tho host hrnon