The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-01
Custer Music In the Churches.

The great festival Of the Resurrection is
particularly welcome to organists, as it gives
them an unlimited field to display their
abilities and to test the qualities of their
singers The divine art is most appropriate
in chanting the praises of the King of Kings,
and the tones Of the organ and the voices of
the choir bear with them power OF attraction
greater than that Of even the most eloquent
preacher. In the grand old cathedrals of
Europe the musical services occupy the most
prominent position in the celebration of Easter
in the churches, and all available talent is
engaged to do honor to the festival Of fes-
rivals. Ia the leading churches in this city
the Importance of music as an element Of
worship on this occasion has been long recog-
nized. Yesterday. despite the inclement
weather, the attractive announcements of the
principal organists brought large congrega-
tons to many of the churches, and held them
there also. although the rain beat pitilessly
outside, and no opportunity offered itself to
display the usual spring fashions. Indeed, as
far as fashions were concerned, they might be
summed up in two articles, waterproof cloaks
and umbrellas. In the Catholic churches the
music was unusually brilliant. Beethoven,
Haydn, Mozart, Gounod and Lambillotte,
with score of lesser composers, were
represented by their choicest works,
and every choir of Importance was
strengthened by chorus and orchestra
The Episcopal churches, headed by ''Od
Trinity" were no less jealous in the musical
celebration of the great festival, and all the
other denominations We'd with each other in
doing honor to the event which has proved to
be the cornerstone of Christianity. Among
the programmes of music for this occasion
there are some singular features. and the most
striking is the selection of Rossnis 'tStabat
Mater by few organiss as appropriate
music for Easter. As well might reoniem
be sung at q wedding as any portion of the
work of the Swan OF Pcsaro on the feast Of
the Resurrection. Another feature in the
churches is the introduction OF orchestral
performers. II is an innovation that should
be severely rebuked by every pastor, as it
robs all the music of its religious character.
and, judging from the calibre of the members
of each orchestra, reduces the Easter music
to the level Of Saengeriest in beer garden.
The organ is sufficient for church at all
times, and other instruments should be en-
tirely excluded. II an orchestra playing
in church were only hall as good as an
orchestra in Philharmonic concert there
would be little reason to complain, but fdlers
Laru al In
rule, a nuisance to any musical ear. The
music of Easter is joyous in the highest de-
gree and the exultant "Halleujah - is the
most frequent exclamation in the service.
But the organ and the voice are sufficient to
give full expression to the feelings of the most
enthusiastic follower of the Gospel.
The EARTHQUAKE has again seized on the
vtals of the Golden State, entailing the usual
dreful effects of that great spasm of nature.
Towns and settlements have been overturned,
one hundred persons have been injured and
thirty killed. A chasm thirty-fv miles in
length and varying in width from few inches
to forty feet, has been opened, and terror and
dsmay are the portion of the settlers. A new
volcano is rumored to have broken out in full
activity. The locality Of this last visitation
appears mainly to be confined to the southern
part of the great basin or valley lying between
the Sierra Nevada and the Coast Range Noun
tains, near the point where the ranges are
| linked by Mount San Bernardno. 1t is o
matter of present congratulation that the earth.
quake did not extend further north, in the
rich and thicky settled basin we have referred
to, running north and south, which Is known
| as the San Joaquin Valley,