Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-01-09
THE GAZETTE.
HURspAYETENING. JANUARY 9.
olMMUNICATED.

- e.; 4 4 = GoMMuN1oA1ED.
y ~, sA =. -. :. church Music.
-.iGAs On admirer Of good emusic and believing
f7n its In highest style, to the
sixlsoorship Of God to the accomplishment Of much
goods I5submit few extracts from an, article on
sS|tCshuroh, Music aiken from the Home Jour
siiaLin5sdpport of my yiewson the subject, know
ii, Ting this present time much is being said
and itteaiinssreference to Choral exercises in
some churches 81 O.
Is, .EYefy atrue Worshipper in the Church, OF
Observation-Disclosures, feels, more or less, the
Importance OF properly sustaining this depart
smentt of church service, and 1t is gratifying to
.ies how generally good music IS appreciated.
- In.the early history of our churches but lit
tile attention was paid to this important branch
,pf,worship, and it'Was performed, Tor the most
part, voluntarily by whoever chose to attach
themselves to il. The result was an absence
ofreg ularity and system, and oftentlmes the
singing bad to be omitted for want OF perform
,ers: and, under the most favorable circum
stances, the music was considered on!y a sort
of necessary adjunct to make up the service.
The time has come when the musical per
sformances must be Of high order to satisfy
the art, and the most devout worshippers are
among those who most highly appreciate the
service OF praise iu the sanctuary, SO much
improvement has been made, that 1t Is not
strange ii, In some los ances, too great lmpor-
rance lis attached to this branch, and a larger
amount expended for superior performances
til an is, perhaps, consistent or necessary IN the
proper economy of church expenses; but
every lover of the All will adult tle great ben
sefits which have resulted from the improve
ments made, and the interest now SO generally
manifested in this direction.
IL is sometimes PAINFUL 10 the extreme to a
sensitive mind to witness the cool matt ntion.
to say the least, OF cergymen in the pulpit
during the performances Of the choir.
If the clergymen do not observe becoming
interest during the praises OF the congregation,
how can they claim or expect at enti.,n du. ing
the performance of the higher functions Of the
office? The difficulty and the truth are that,
in the clerical profession, it has not been con-
sideted necessary to have any knowledge OF
music, though it forms such an important part
of divine service !; hence it not uuirequenty
occurs that hymns Of peculiar metre, and for
which, perhans there is no appropriate music,
are given out by the clergyman, and II BY
chance there, is an appropriate tune IN the
music books of the choir, he makes mudde
by saving, 'sOmit the second 8 ANA, when
the tune already selected is written double or
Tor two verses complete; in this case, it the
plumber Of verses to be sung Is uaeven the
choir must break off in the middle or otherwise
disregard the omis, ion.
There is sort of chronic habit among clergy
men which almost compels them to omit some
portion of the hymns in the best collections,
which have been often revised for the purpose
of making the whole acceptable, and the omis-
sion of single verse often Injuries greatly the
seFeetintended by the writer of tie hymn: Ii
any portion of the hymn selected is positively
Objectionable, the omission should be SO made
as to allow always an even number OF verses to-
sing, SO as to avoid confusion or discrepancy in
the performances of the choir.
The importance of some knowledge of music
on the part of clergymen is not understood
generally, and hasty selection of hymn not
adapted to the occasion has the effect to dissl-
pate the good impressions made by we'll
timed discourse; on the contrary, it the selec-
tionis good and appropriate, the effect of the
service is greatly enhanced, and cleraymen who
have cultivated musical taste can only under
stand how much depends upon providing
intelgently for the praises of their congrega-
tions, as only perfect harmony in all the service
can secure the best effects and do justice to the.
most able efforts of eloquent preachers OF the
ooanpl eEti 5..-r-