Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-11-04
COMMUNICATED.

| au an humble appreciator of musc-sacred
and secular especially the former. In my
Youth it was thought, by those who knew. that
had some taste 10 this line. | never owned
TO but little of the scientific. am low special
ly on Church Music. Have you listened to The
vocal and instrumental performances IN our
churches at this perod2 If so. can you appre
ciatc the elaborate scientific skill displayed? Ii
YOU can, |, for one, am FREQ to say that can
not. 1t may be we'll for those who have at
tanned to great skill by long study of music, as
a science, 10 display the fine notes the ascent
from the lowest to the highest key-wlth all
the variations and hourishes that bewider the
car and disturb tho nerves OF the ordinary lis
toner, but, the adaptation oil music, vocal and
Instrumental, to the worship OF the Most High,
is matter, 10 my humble opinion, not TO be
decided strictly by art. Should not he sound
sometimes, at least. bear relation TO &c ;cnseI
The true question is, Mr.. Editor, can we all
ioin the pealDg anthems that swell the uots
of praise? Shall We be able, nay, shall we be
permitted to join our cheerful songs while we
surround the throne? think not. PLATA rcn'
pie when they go to church expect''n fact tney
arIentIy desire, to join 10 the singing. This
does rot require skill, but little sym 2athy
perhaps limited amount Of taste, is all that
| "a needed; the whole influence should be spoD.
taneous; that sympathy Of which speak
abides ia most human hearts. When scientific
DISPLAYS arc made sympathy is expelled there
is no accord, Where iI"O.d Hundred, ''llun-
dec ::Brattle Street, "Cranbrook,' Den.
mark" "Giles," &c, &C., in which all could
| juin, old aud youag,in days gone by-and there
were some good singers then, and performers
too The TACT is Church Music, now days, is
far beyond the appreciation OF common PEG.
ple." Are the songs oil praise to the Most
| High TO be so restricted that only skiIliul vo-
calists and scientific performers can participate!
Can none others send up their notes OF praise
| Can not an humble note from lu'I gratelus
heart pass from the sanctuary to the throne On
| High ? Shall the songs OF praise DC lm!tcu 10
the choir, like the music at the theatre Is con.
fined to the orchestra? Shall tho main body OF
the great congregation sit silent, with hymn
books inverted lying on their laps! In Snort
nv opinion OF Church Music at the present
dav is that it is very lily adapted to its rur'
noses No humble worshipcr Of God can ap.
proach Ole Bull "Feux Temps "Pagsannnl,
n.Jcnnv Lind" or their scientific wandcrings.
| LET me ak. are not the Psalms and hymns
songs OF praise, 10 other words, arc they not
nrayers in soft, sweet, humble poetry? or so
| intended to be-. Has the music ct the churches
become 50 rgidly scientific, that we mus: be
accom- plisbed in art before we can &c humble III
heart? Shall we sing our praises by rule re
| parlless of the concord of sweet SOUNDS Gan
| It be possible, that We must sing that great
grand, old, sublime, immortal Before Jeho-
yah ) awful throne to the strict rules CT the
opcra?' Ii SO, let me, for one, seek the groves
which we're God first temples, and there let
me Join in chorus with the birds III nature $ gen
uine songs Of praise my be called rude, Old
fogy, or whatever else may suit the scientific
to designate me, but, sha!! still claim that |
can enjoy the sound of the fall Of waters and
the song OF birds, and hills TINT cch3 to the
distant herds aye, more, | can stand on the
sea shore, and be cnraptured with
! "The flashing brine, the spray, and the tenn
pests roar. " ASTloUARf.