Litchfield enquirer., 1870-12-15
Chuich Music.

It is the fashion now to "gird at" choirs and organists. They think too much oi themselves, sing too difficult music, and play ungodly tunes, we are told. Minis ters lead the crusade, denounce especially the whole system of praising God for pay, and call on their congregations to do their own singing. and save their money for the really pious who conduct matters at the chancel end of the sanctuary. But though very zealous, and singing no end of origi. nal melodies out of their pulpits. the clergy need a little scientific aid. TLis they get from class of musicians who levy music as Rislnark leYies war and -nhn ~~drrtaBe t to make Babel harmonious in "twelve les sons, or whereabouts. Chief among these We reckon the tremendous Tourjee, who led the tremendous transforms at the tre mendous Jubilee in tremendous Boston. The T. T. thus defined his position" at Hartford lately:
 Upon the subject of the organization of choirs should consist of at least 6 score, and more if possible Quartette singing is not by any means choir singing, and solo singing is far from being universal praise There is a strange inconsisten- cy in hearing single voice sing verse like this
 From all that dwell below the skies,
 a Let the Creators praise arise
 + l Let the Redeemer's name be sung
 Through every land by every tongue. On the subject of organ-playng Mir. T. said that atenees rather than an opportunity to display his own abilities or those of his instrument. "Bril- liant veuntaries, long nterludes. and the intro duction of frivolous airs should be avoided as st conflict with the spirit of Gods house. The oper- atic airs that are sung by qualtette choirs. and the changes that have been made in many of our best hymns. were also condemned. Only thOse tunes should be used that come within the com pass of all voices. As fer the order of a church service, the speaker would have, first soft quiet voluntary, then the Lords prayer by the people, the recitation of the creed, selection of scrip lures, a devotional piece by the choir, hymn by all the people, a short sermon, another hymn, short prayer and the benediction, with no volun- tary at the close.
 To tue obloquy heaped on choirs and organists, from pulpit and press, some touchy chorister now and then replies. He usually makes the absurd claim that it takes nearly as much practice and more natural ability to sing than to preach-that If congregations choose to copy the eco- nnmical nraetice of the primitive church will do their own preaching as we'll as their own singing. Organists never re. ply In all our editorial researches. we nave never known them spoken we'll of as class, and we have never known ono. not even the gentleman who with manifest propriety played "Shoo Fly" at a Meri. den wedding, attempt to defend himself With the greatest diffidence, therefore. we venture, in their behalf and in opposition to MT. Touriee and the clergy. the follow. ing plan of popular "service"
 l. VOLUNTARY. Orooa
 Something in the "still 80 Gently '"'''
 OCT mo Stealing" style
 7. PRAYER IN ZAMPA Cboir.
 rerhars as effective as most public
 services m of tue Kind Out otZampa
 Nss.. Minister.
 Ovass,r. !. .nELIIeaEux. LIe,Ilx Organ
 menus from Mozart. MendelssoRn.
 anu the rest of the Germans: Rossi
 m, Beiiini, Verdi, and the Great Ita,-
 iSn Masters tposltlvely no Offenbach)
 Q. CUJUs ANIMAL so,o
 From Rossini's S,abat Mater. 6. MIDNIGHT BELLS o,,n,,o,,e
 From Martha (sacred words). '''e B. WEDDING MARCH, or HALLRIuJ.H
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