Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-01-30
Music and suusIcaI conventions.


Editor R,ttIand Herald: - Noticing
a call for another musical convention at
Poultney, it leads me to look at the past
conventions and at the object sought to
be attained in their establishment in this
county. The first musical convention
holden in in this county was about 1874,
at Castleton, conducted by w. c. Ben
ton and L. 5. Rust. Then the choirs
of the various churches came together as
choirs, sang their own music, conducted
by their own leader. After this, the
convention would come together as
grand chorus under the direction of a
chosen leader.
The second was holden year later at
Pittsford, under the control of of Mr..
Benton. Even to-day, l can hear the
tones of those noble old anthems, as
they came from different choirs Lord
of all Power and Might, as sung by the
Rutland choir; can hear the echo of the
voice of Miss Cook, now Mrs. ID. L.
Green, or the sweet, warbling voice of
Harriet Andrews. on the anthem
plunged in a Gulf of Dark Despair,
as sung by the Castleton choir; or, per-
haps, the exquisite execution of Solo
mons and Pease on the organ. There
were present-Rachel Sanderson, Judge
June and Milo June of Brandon; DR..
Cooke, D. L. Green of Rutland F. Par
ker, B. w. Burt, Albert TOmlinsOn of
Castleton, and many others. These
conventions stimulated a desire in
the various choirs to improve
in church music. Some would excel in
one thing and others in another thing.
They came together to compare notes,
to take nothing from choir, but to add
something to it, and the standard of sa-
cred or church music then began to i'm
prove.
The third was held at CastletOn, under
the charge of Mr.. Benton.
The fourth at Rutland, under Mr. Ba-
ker, when the distinctive trait of choir
singing was dispensed with.
From this time conventions were hold
en- in many tows in the county, by such
men as Woodbury., Bradbury, Perkins,
and host of others, but they have fail
ed to produce that improvement in
church music, that the choir con-
ventions did, although it is very pleasant
to get together in a convention and sing
music that you will never see or hear
again, with professional singers. yet it
fails to produce the beneficial effect that
q choir convention will. Rutland coun-
ty, twenty years ago, had the best church
singing of any county in the State, but
she has given every thing up to these
conventions, and the rudiments of mu-
sic, the foundation upon which we must
rear the superstructure, have been neg
lected, and our singing has become sec
ond rate. am glad the old fashioned
singing school has been started again,
and that the young will be taught what
melody is, so that they can then try and
produce it. How good it would sound
to-day, to hear that old Easter anthem,
with such tenor as came from J. b. Hill
lard, or Milo June, or, Jerusalem my
Glorious Home, with Harriet Andrews
treble: or the sweet notes OF the solemn
organ, with Palmer, Pease or Solomon,
at its Key board. Those days are past,
but let us try and select the good of
them, and present to those who furnish
US music at the present day, and see if
we cannot help them to place, at least
sacred song where it was twenty-five
years ago. Let us have in our sanctua-
ries, music adapted to the sanctuary.
Then after the words of a solemn dis
course, the minds of the hearers will not
be carried to some new opera, but rather
be drawn ''near to God.
LOVER OF SACRED SONG