The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-06-26


81 od
et'e eA1l
1H lhtlt ia dsnoa.i1 .is. We
bsFs eilh the exception d tie oeakeIs
md .1sir oashoof the shakers favor
masle q some sort ID their religious rites
aad exercises bit they ate 10, al ssreell e
to the character 81 TIE musieio BE- used.
some confne themselves - The human
voice and oppose 80 instrumental aid.
othes combine the two bit arc particular
about the sort Of instruments allowed, c0n-
aning themselves 70 the organ, melodian,
the bas-viol, o. some other slow, solenn-
sounding instrument Others again have no
hesitation IN using almost every kind ofnu-
steal invention, including the cornet, the
clarionette and violin. some VIII have no
other than congregational singing, with
OF without instruments, while others have
special choirs, made up Of select singers,
some Of whom, in the rich and fashionable
churches at the North, arc paid high sal
aries equal to the opcratic and concert
stars, so-caIIed. The tendency among all
denominations Of late years has been to-
wards the use Of instrumental music and the
forming OF special choirs, paid OF unpaid.
We well recollcct when a Methodist, Con
gregationalist, or q Baptist would have been
horriiied at the use Of the organ, even, in
Church music. Now all Of these resort to
the organ OF melodian whenever they are
able TO procure one3 and cultivate choirs to
give greater regularity and beauty to sacred
melody. It is certain that the Jews used III
strumental music, and that there is nothing
in the new dispensation to forbid it. The
general conclusion is that this is all right.
But the main dispute is as to the character
Of the music TO be used.
Shall it be restricted to the slow, stately,
solemn kind, or may it be diversified with
more lively and inspiring airs, not particu-
larry composed for worship and distin-
guished as sacred in contradistinction from
profanel The many musical composers, in
the far of days Of Roman Catholic unity
and supremacy, enriched the world with
their grand, old masses, anthems and
chants. When the reformation took place,
the more simple and earnest protestants
poured forth the melody of their pious
hearts in tunes and anthems, and oratorios,
which viii live as long as civilization ex-
lists. What could be simpler, grander and
more impressive than Old Hundred, said to
have been composed by the lion hearted
Luther himselfs And so of the other no
bic melodies, which warm, sooth, or fortify
and sustain the souls Of weak and erring
mortals. But our modern progression
lists have not been satisfied with these.
At the fashionable churches in our
Northern cities; they have taken up the
favorite portions Of the Operas, and the
popular airs Of the concert room and the
street, music which has been associated
with profane words and thoughts, and this
they pour forth to their admiring audi
enccs with all the skill of science, and
with all the power and charm of cultivated
genius. It is this which has produced con-
troyersy. We occupy middle ground in
this matter. While we agree, with Wesley,
that the devil ought not to have all the
good tunes, we think there are good tunes
enough, already composed for devotional
purposes, without resorting to the operas or
concert halls to give greater variety and
effect. We hold it wrong to use in relig-
ious worship tunes, which have been COM
monty associated in our minds with light,
gay and frivolous words, not to say vulgar
and profane. Would it sound well,
before or after serious. instructive and
forcible sermon, for the choir or congrega-
ton to. strikeup Yankee Doodle or Dixiel
Yet these are excellent and very popular airs
in their proper places, quite equal in their
effect on US to any OF the strains of Don
Juan, FL Trovatore, The Barber of Seville
or Robert the Devil If people want to
hear these, let them 60 to the Opera House,
or If they delight in popular street music,
let them attend the Theater or the Negro
Minstrels. But keep these tunes out Of the
churches, for they do not tend to pious
thoughts and sober musings concerning
our conduct in this world and our prepare
ton for the next That is our judgment.
Everything in its proper place.
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