The New York herald., 1868-02-10
THE CHURCHES YESTERDAY.
The Musical Services Ia Our Prin-
cipal Temples.
Sermons by Archbishop mcclosksy, Rev. Henry
Ward Bcecher and Rev. Or. kdamA


CnUhtu MOSsCs
~~-~~-~~>~~~~~~~~~~e
lie Importance und Prosress-FauFts Of OaT
Choirs.
From The earliest period OF religious worship music
has been the highest and hoes expression Of homage
OF the creature to the Creator is the natural
OF all the srts TO man. for every thought every passion
every desire Of the human 10 expressed in tones
which cannot be misunderstood In their purport. The
universe ID grand orchestra ever breathing forth the
praises of the Most High In the gentle whisper Of the
balmy breeze In the ceasing hum OF the insect
world In the warbna Of the feathsed songsters Of the
grove in the mighty voice Of the ssepless In the
awful tones Of the thunder the rustng leaves tho
babbling brook and the resslsss sweep Of shs huri
and above ALL the terrible nutterngs Of the
volcano and earthquake Nature chants forth csaseess
Ts Deuns 10 heaven, aud unites with the millions
Of archangels thaa sing before the dread throne
Of the Eternal. Hence tho nobest form Of
music Isl whom it is devoted specially to the
service Of religion and is heard In the church
From the days Of PalestTina and Orlando di Lasso
in the sixteenth century. when church music nrst
emerged from chaotic and rude elements and acquired
life and form, down 10 the present day, tho greatest
works Of the divine art have been consecraed to the
service of the Church. The OF Scarot:i, Bach,
Handel Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Chsrubni, Weber,
Asioli Mercadante, Pacni, General, Niu, Mandanio
and Barbier figure most conspcuously in church music
There is not o sentiment OF religion whlchis not ex
pressed again and again the works OF those great
Yet how seldom they heard in the churches Of this
city, and how often the names Of vsrd Donixetti
Rossini and Ofenbach substituted for theirs Music in
church should rodect religious feeling, whether be
joy, sadness. fear longing gratitude awe. love or devo
ton. To make It q vehicle for the mere display OF an
organsts technique sopranos stock Of goriture,
roulsdss and cadepzas tsnors acquaintance with tho
language OF love expressed by such gentle.
Alfredo, Manrico vasco d CANA,
or basso's Mspb!s,ophean vocsllzatlon, is
insult to religion and to the intelligence OF the
hearers. Let what is purely operate musc be confined
proper sphere-the footlightsand let organsts
DO compelled make selections for divine from
the proper source 0rgansts often complain OF the
interference Of the pastor OF the church IN matters
relating to the choir This interference Is occasionally
obstacle the progress
aud improvement OF church music But on tho other
hand at must be borne in mind that the mere ao, OF
man being skilled musician Ia BY means sufficient 10
constitute MIN authority upon church music nasmuch
to excel In the latter must have not only mind
that can enter into the spirit OF the services, but nice
appreciation OF language, which is seldom acquired
without some little classical training, an advantage
which comparatively few or2anists possess The Office
Of the choir oy no means vcarous. They are not TO
sing Tor to tho congregation, but assist the clergy
in eadin tho worship the congregation. Obviously
therefore, the direction Of the choir devolves upon the
clergyman and the organst has no authority but such
as is depuled him. Tor It not unfrequentiy happens
| that the Office of cholrmaster is assigned TO him.
Strictly speaking therefore the ORGANISMS DUTY Is
ability which will give him ample scope Tor the devel.
opment Of any latent talent and TO say tha, man
really good accompa nist is slight praise h indeed,
IL be not synonymous With saying mat he n good or.
ganist."
musician professionally speaking knows al least what
kind OF music suitable for the spirit OF the
he be not able 10 distinguish between what sacred aud
what proans In the musical services Of his church
he Is ignorant OF OF the necessary qualifications
OF the ministry 1t is ismentable fact that church
music IN this city does NOS receive the attention from
pastors and congregations tha, s duo 10 H. We SEQ
magnificent temple displaying In every feature the
stately organ well calculated TO ill that temple with
tones Of grateful homage TO the Most High. The pedal
Of an organ Ia ntly called the voice Of submity, and
beneath the touch OF an experienced player the
noble instrument brcatnes forth prayer and alteration
in such tones other ins,rumen, express Why
Lui" and "Le Sabre de Mon P6re, which belong only
10 the fooslightsf The rst evi them against which We
have 10 complain s the voiunaries played by many OF
organists Then the choir seldom consists Of more
'ssS as;ss as%s E y?.es' saH psVt
| and efficient chorus might be sslscted. Who would
think OF attempting oratoro opera with single vocal
quartet Yet church music should receive the same
| attention. Among American composers the names OF
Perring, J. A. Thomas, Bristow and kogoniha the
most widely known IN such pieces OF church music as
moets anthems, DC. But as for tho graudes, Of all
church music, the mass, there few, II any
above mediocrlty. The European masters however,
have left us sufficient gems this line and would be
| we'll for the orgausts TO use them.
| 81. Stephens Roman Catholic Church.
| St Stephens Roman Catholic church enjoys a well
deserved reputation for the excellence OF the muscsl
services performed there: and addition It's own
/ congregation many persons OF other denomin nations
regularly attend AZ high mass Sundays attracted by
the style which, from time time the best sacred
works Of Haydn Mozart and Weber rendered. yos-
terday Mr.. James Cauldeid, who has succeeded hr.
! william Berge, presided the organ, assisted by
| Madame DE Lussfp, soprano; Madame Arshuiz, alto;
| Mr. Kuck tenor Sir Eaunn.sn bas.o aud i volunteer
No 3, called the Imperial macs, and accounted ono
OF the creates, Of tnai masters works, together
| ber's mass In q. Az tho ofer;ory Ncrcadsute's 9
'salve Maria" as soprano solo was sung
norid solo In the Ryrie with much effect websr's Be-
aedlct,,s solo quartet was given with admirable
precision and the second movement In the Sdnctis
spirited ,so,csat Was also well performed Although
Caufied has but recently taken charge OF the
sno INC @ solos ana eoaGs'sa PgiSs sss Az ~, rendered
mass tina. gentleman displayed much ability. Az
aftsrpece Bests arrangement Of tho Coronation March,
from "Ie Prophetic with pedal obligsto bcauii.
fully played and showed 30 advantage the fol- compass
Of the organ. which now one Of The mos. powerful ia
this city.
St. Francis Navier's.
The beautiful church OF the Jesuit fathers In Sixteenth
street has always maintained high reputation in IT'S
musical ssrviccs and thss is likelihood Of any retro
gression in the quality Of that department, at present
The quantity OF material 10. however, limited. The
choir 10 single quartet, consisting Of Mrs. Psuscb,
soprano; Mrs. Holzhausen, alto; Mr. Langenbsch,
tenor, and Mr.. Traeger The orgsnist Is Mr. Max
Braun The masses generally suns 81 this church
those OF Nozars Haydn Weber, Nercadants Cherubni,
Ross and Cstaani; one Of the last mentioned com.
poscrs masses was sung yesterday. Cerutti, Rossini
and others furnish the figured vsspers which are scca
sionaily produced.
~. Paurs Methodist Episcopal Church.
I. is an unfortunate thing for the members OF the
Methodist persuasion that the pecularos Of their de-
voiiona exercises ignore, u they do not forbid any
hing like su elaborate musical service In connection
With their sabbath wossbip. Thus 70 . lover OF ART
churches IN which they eongresate offer but little In
duosmcnt 10 visitor or 70 others except inspired with