Litchfield enquirer., 1870-01-20

nixed favorites, and communicated with i've hundred choir-leaders in various parts of the country, asking each to names very few of the tunes which, in this vicinity might be oonsidered favorites. These tunes were then weeded down, and the residuum published; but as the recognized "fami!iars" numbered nearly thousand of which probably not more than one hun drsd would be recognized by the attend ants of any individual church in this coun- try, 1t will be seen how difficult it is to de- eide what is really standard old tune. That which to the ears of one congrega- tion may be entirely familiar, will sound steangs to the congregation in the next street. Often, too, people will hear for the first time tune the melody of which happens to hit their fancy. and they, will think it is an old favorits. An instance occurs to us: clergyman in this city, who is always an advocate of ffamiliar,psalmody, was onee much pleased with the tune which his choir sang to the words -.
 Children of the Heavenly King"
 ''I have always liked that tune to those words, said he to the organist, 'sand I hope you will let it be sung frequently. " The organist did not explain to him that the tune was an original composition, only a few days old. which had never before been sung in any church, or by any choir.
 With few words about individual sing CTS, these rambling notes will close. So- pranos of average ability are plenty, but 6rst-class ones are scarce. and can com mana salaries of thousand. and some times fifteen hundred dollars year. Church ''committee men" often have pet sopranos whom they urge upon organists; and in this way inferior singers frequently hold positions far above the real standard of their ability. The soprano of choir is it's most important member, and is usually thoroughly alive to the fact. The contral- to singers, less essential and less preten- tious, receive salaries ranging from one hundred to five hundred dollars; and, in the case of few 0rtistes, six or eight hun dred dollars, or even thousand are paid. and command fancy prices. Several in this city get twelve hundred dollars year, about half dozen get thousand, and the prices then range downward, to that step for amateur volunteer which is marked by stipend of hundred dollars 6 year. In view of the scarcity of tenor voices, no av- craze singer-by which is meant not an artist, but 8 young man who can read with decent fecility, can fill his.part in quartet, or take the occasional soles which an or dinary church service requires ought to be paid less than five hundred dollars, though they often sing for less. Bases and baritones labor under the disadvan- tage being drug in the market. Four hundred dollars 8 year is large salary for 8 basso of average ability, while tenor of equal skill would get half as much again, or often twice as much. >=e.l ----. -is3s t
 Church music at the present time does very much to fill the pews. Indeed, in some churches, it is the attraction, and the clergyman himself knows it. too. A prop osition has been seriously entertained in this city, to open fashionable church on speculation, employ the best operatic ar lists, introduce great deal of singing, and engage notod preachers to fill the pulpit alternately, precisely after the manner of Q theatrical enterprise. But it is not en- tirely in modern times that music has been a leading attraction in our churches. Olsr- gymen and ell lerly church h-goers may blind themselves to the facts, but the facts re- main. Young people at church are drawn thither by desire to hear the music or to see each other. It was 60 in the days of Pepys; for the diary of that veracious wor- thy contains this entry, now over two hun- dred years old: li ,1-a 7TlH9I 1--s
 s.'April 21, 1667.-To Hackney church, where very full, and found difficulty to get pews. That which chiefly went to see was the young girls. whereof great store, very pretty; and also the organ, which is handsome and tunes the psalms, and plays with the people which is mighty pretty"
 And later, this same minute chronicler thus reports: -9-s@ is119HtrE lo aoGe
 5..April 28.--To Pntney church, where I saw the girls, few of which pretty. Here @ good sermon and much company and singing; but I sleepy and little out of or der at my hat falling through hole be- hind the pulpit, which. however. after ser mon, with . stick and the help of . clerk. I got up again. n."-App. Journal. 4-'t