, 1870-06-19
CONGREGATIONAL SINGING


A0 Experiment IN SCo1IAnds
4 writer in the London Choir thus DISCUSSES
the snblect Of congregational singing:
1.-THE great pToblsm which faces reIiglonists
Of every creed il, bow to iudnce the people IS
= whole to raisa their voices in the se. nee Of
song, and to unto heart,1y, ind yet with the
understanding IN tho psalns aud hymns and
spiritual songs uhicA form 80 important part
Various are the methods adopted to secure
this result+ The Eornanist bor1ows from th,,
theatre and the concert toom the most ear
catching melodies, and wcds them to
the hymns OF Newman or Of Faben- Tho
1htuaiiet, IN the English Church, puts forth
tho Gregorisn tone IS the most suceessfuI mu-
steal formula Tor inducing congregational sing
ing. The Low Churchn,an, willie uttering q
cannot un1te, invites them to join in Jaekson's
7e Dtzsn, in F, or IN that most melancholy in
PRODUCTION to Dzyine service, Il will alise.'
The Dlssentez, unfetteEed By tradition, aud
not unfrequensIy more catholic than ali, takes
things new aud old. securing in very many
chapeia = closcr approximation to tha peoples
song than any church, Roman or English, can
hoaat Of And get, practically, all fal alike;
and it Is, utter Ill. but miserable apology for
heattiuc-s ut which ne arrive in any one Of tho
cascs ehare mentioned Ths question thus
a1ises whether crcongregationAla singing is inpos-
tible of attainment; whether it Is one Of thoso
frtious which clerical enthusiasts and musical
ireamers foudly porsuaae themselves to bu
A4k4AA AtaE4t% OAt Alf-A Ii l13Ilf,
youd Us and ahore III, and only to bo arrived
At under totally different conditions ~ to
musical education from those which govoxu us
At the present sime. To this many nf our
readers will, At fzst Fight. be inclined to an
swcr With = strong Affirmative; and we a1o not
prepared to deny th4t in 70 doing their grounds
| are strong. At tho ea1ue time, although look
ing st things IL they are. the prospect il far
fEcm cheering; and admitting that where any
thing approaching to general singing, even in
rRn Sri II NftA nal tu3 7ft
| nero noisy shout. We are inclined to aEgoe
| with the view that something far higher tAau
We have yet attained IL within our gr.sll, and
that, too, with nothing more than fair and
| hoEcst use Of existing neans-
- nut as tho mere advocacy OF this duty Is
insufficient unless some practical plan il pro
vidc4l for uniting the peopie IL general effort
I worthy to fuldl it, without Which the nero en-
thnsiasm steatca By an earnest se1mou On tho
subject will soon pass away, or at the best re-
suit III few solitary aud scattered endeavurs,
We are glad to have the opportunity Of calling
| attention tn ! scheme which il beng tried with
SUCCESS in Scotland. Recognising the duty OF
congregational singing as incumbent upon Ill
Christians, some Of the loyers OF music in
Aberdeen 1ecently rct on foot = series OF great
choE-l gatherings open to all persons without
distinction as to creed, except the agreement
I On tho great fundamental truths enumerated
il Tho hymns ana anthems sung.at the pEset!se.
| 1t these meetings monster chuir Of twelyn
hundred voices, isslldinE members Of tito cpn-
| g1lG1tions Of all :!:.. churches and chapels in
| tho town and its Vicinity, hzs assembled for
| romo weeks; anu, AZ rraof llat not the
slightest ill-feellng has ensuad from tho vary
iie faith OF tho co1isters, re may mention
that upward of thirty OF the clergy aud Of tue
ministers Of tho various denominations have
| taken part in tho proceedings. For those WHO
were unable to join the choir, admission has
been provided at = nominal sum. and tha
l proceeds Lave been given to the funds OF tho
\ loyal hGlmaEy. The hymns, chanta. and an
lhEmt, With the music for each evening, have
! teen provided ! week in aivance, in order tc
/ give time for home practice; and from
glance =. the programmes and music shtets
: | We are inclined to think that the choice h1,
3 | been wiscly nadc Tho majority OF tho nun
l beru have consisted OF hymn tnnes aud chant
| OF popular character, many from uyup
Ancient and Modern finding their WAY to III,
: front; but casy anthems Lnve not been omit
i | ted, and some OF the fne old tunes from til,
+ Scotch and Engli-h rsaltr1s have served to Civ,
+ tote to tAs selection The effect Of the larg,
!; mass OF voices may be easily iuagiuel: AMI ",
can ecarcely feel surprised At the statemen
| that, although tho number Of the choir was t,
have been limited to 1000. it Was spee,lll
found uecrssary 10 enlarge it to 1,:ay0D. TIL
l success Of the movement has, OF couree, bee!
: largely due 10 the ability and tact Of the di
rector, who has hecu outire1y unassistea by Il
!, organ accompaniment Out Of ten piece
: | sung at each practice the Hhols audience hav
been invited TO join in tso; but at the san
: time It must net DO imagined that tho choi
: ! itself has been composed OF chorislers, for III
: majority Of the members hase rsally beon sc
lected from ordinary congregations