The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-08-27
Musical Ohit-Ohat.--No. s,
Church Music, as Three: fold System.

ny WALTER STEELE.
Mr.. EDlToR: trust that your nu-
mcrous readers will reruse this num-
Der carefully, as it treats of ancient
customs, and will try to bring it down
to the present nge.
In reviewing the history Of Church
music, we find that during the various
ages of the Church three distinct styles
of music have been developed that
peculiar to the clergy that peculiar
to the choir !; and that peculiar to the
people.
Music by the people: This is the
oldest style Of music in the Christian
Church. For the first three hundred
years after Christ there was no other
than this; the singing of the primitive
Christians was congregational, all ta-
king part in it. About the year $50,
the first change occurrcd-that of re-
sponsivc singing. The people, how
ever, still bore part III this music,
which thus maintained it's congrega-
tional character.
Music Of the choir: Choir music
was first introduced into the Church III
the fourth century. At this period u
distinct class Of persons was first ap-
pointed to take charge Of this part Of
public service. Through the choir,
however, and through an instrumental
style Of performance afterward intro
duccd, great musical abuse seems to
have crcpt into the Church, and finally
the music Of the theatre was bodily
transferred to the Church, which ac-
cordingly became the scene Of great
theatrical pomp and display. TO such
an extent was this the case, that it
brought down the severe ccnsurc Of
Jerome and the Abbot Pambo Of
Egypt.
Music Of the clergy: Last in tho
chain Of changes, the music of the
clergy was introduced into the Church.
| Unfortunately, however, this new rca-
turc involved n violent wrestling of all
music from the people.
The entire monopoly by the clergy
of Church music continued until the
era Of the reformation when Luther
restored, MS the cup to the mouth, SO
congregational music to the lips Of the
people.
In our modern Church, the choir
has most all the sny-music is made
by it, and God worshppcd by it.
The office Of the choir has vet to be
definitely determined and understood.
While We do not object to few mem
hers of a church forming themselves
together as band of singers, filling
the position Of leading or pitching the
keynote that all might follow. yet we
object to choir TO undertake to wor-
ship God for us-no soul, surely, can
worship for another soul. No set
apart body Of persons can do the wor-
ship for the rest Of church assembly.
In worship, each individual soul must
appear before its Maker, and itself
perform its own act Of homage. An
entirely unmeaninS thing is worship
by proxy.
| ~ lctSlDlc arrangements
for church | hold to be, q pastor and
u pulpit, m organ and an organist cor
n mclodeOn.) With this arrangement,
all joining in the singing, and thereby
praise God, but do not let us hinder
and thwart devotion by making it the
responsibility of few whose only
reatizev responsibility is the music.
|
Ten THOUSAND HUMAN BEINGS FOR
AN OLD BrCKET.-About seven hun.
drcd years ago there was country in
Europe called Modena, and another
country lying beside it called Bologna.
Some soldiers belonging to the State
of Modena took bucket from q we'll
in the State Of Bologna and carried it
away. The old bucket was Of no
value and might have been replaced
by n few cents; and it is said the SOL
dicrs carried it away in mere fun and
frolic. But the people of Bologna
took it. as a great insult. They de
clarcd war against Modcna, and had
long and bloody conflict about it..
More than ten thousand human beings
were butchcrcd because Of the old
| bnckef.-4ngc} Of Peace,