Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-03-01
PAULBLOUNT on CHURCH CHOIRs.

The organ is the principal thing in
a church, you know, because no
church can be organized without one
1t follows that the Organist is the
principal person, and ''paTsOnr is
only a corruption Of that word. Let
the organist magnify his office.
,. When the hymn is announced
let him play over the whole tune, but
in such high style Of art that no one
in the congregation can tell what
tune is going to be sung. It Twill keep
them awake and set them all to guess
ing.
3. But with all their guessing, be
sure that when the singing eOmmen-
ces each person will discover that he
made a wrong guess. Will not that
teach the people humility? Whatev-
er the tune may be, let it be one that
the congregation does not know. Let
it be a new and hard tune. For what
do people assemble, but to hear the
choir? Congregational singing'i is
the hobby Of untaught elergymen.
Teach them better.
4. Make the inteIludes long and
highly artistic, abundantly filed with
grace" notes. If the singers have
done their duty and the tune be the
right thing, they will be so tired as to
need a long rest. This will also serve
TO keep the congregation standing,
and make them glad to kneel down.
Anything to make people glad to
prayi If the Organist do not make
the interlude at least twice as long as
the tune, he will be considered lazy or
unskilled. Do not let the interlude
be at all like the tune, nor anybody
be able to tell where the interlude
leaves Oft aud the tune begins. This
will keep all the singers wide awake.
J. II the minister has preached a
solemn sermon, put up some sOloist
after the sermon, who shall screech 4
very fast composition with an up-and-
down movement. 1t will relieve the
tense nerves of the OVerwrOught peO-
pie. It will arouse their sympathies
and make them feel that it was q
shame that some one didn't help that
woman.
6. Remember that all must be done
for the glory Of the choir. 1t is alb
surd TO work in with the prayers and
sermon for harmonious religious
effect. If the minister does not work
in the prayers and singing, so much
the worse for the minister.
z. During prayers, be whispering
and turning over scores and note
books and consulting. No one Of the
saints will notice you, for they will
be hard at praying. II any Of the
congregation do not particularly de-
sire to be praying, it viii help to en-
terrain them. Keep things brisk, and
draw much attention to the choir.
The church was built and the cOngre-
CATION gathered for the choir. Mind
that; it is a fundamental principle.
S. As soon as the sermon begins 90
out of the church. If it is pleasant
weather you can have a smoke, and
get back in time for the next musical
performance. You do not come to
church to worship; you are paid so
much for singing or playing, not for
hearing sermons; or, if you are gra-
tuitOus, you have laid the cOngrega-
ton already under enough obligations
by your professional services.
%. Never let it be settled among the
singers who is chief. Let each make
himself and herself the most import
ant. - II llOL EA4uusu 70 ht6p udEluo'
ny in the singing? Why should the
singers be harmonious? It is not
regular and fashionable to have peace
in a choir. The singers owe it to
themselves to have strife about some
thing or nothing. Let everything be
done through strife and vain-glOry.-
1t will give the pastor some concern
and develop his skill in managing.
Of course they never do this in
heaven; but you are not in heaven
yet PhrCn Journal