Litchfield enquirer., 1875-07-29
Choir Business"


 happens to be that phenomenon in country choirs. a good tenor, as well as an cable editor" He is consequently entitled to speak co cathcdrG on choir matters. But when. as in his last paper, he favors the new-fangled church arrangement which puts choir and organ in the front of the church, at one side of the pulpit. we are forcibly reminded of that other recent mistake of his in regard to the Beecher business,-b occasioned, no doubt, by that prevalent good nature and that amia- ble dislike of displeasing other good peO- pie, which are his chief editorial weakness es. Now it wasn't good-nature that originally made the reputation of the Winsted Herald, and although tic present editor could hardly be expected at his time of life to acquire all the ferocity of the old Herald, still rigid course of self culture and careful study of such models as the N. '. World. the N. H. Palladium, and perhaps other 'cross" papers nearer home, might effect partial reform of this grave natural defect in an otherwise e1- cellent editorial character.
 It is Rot editorial tactics, however, but choir tactics that we ''rise to explain ;" and we cannot conceive of any greater tactical blunder than that of those churches mili- tant who ''send their chors to the front |" To be sure, a choir of mature singers with an unblushing old organist at their head may be able to face the fire of a congregation in front and the dreadful cross-fire from the pulpit in flank without wavering but recruits in that position! Undoubtedly they might achieve Old Hundred in a .perfunctory sort of way, but. to attempt anything difficult would be to lead them to sure slaughter. The sweetness and beauty of choir music are to be found in its solo parts, contrasting finely with the majesty and strength of the chorus but the young singer, especially the young lady singer who attempts solo, is often pitiably embarrassed. The congregation is. for the time, her mortal enemy, and even the soldier confesses that it is much more cheerful thing to look the enemy in the back than in the face. Moreover it sometimes happens that there is a little reciprocal hostility. There may be three or four worn-o out choristers in the congre- gation who are excellent critics still. There may be dozen female singers who have never quite forgiven Heaven for al- lowing their, voices to crack, or their fel- low sinners in the congregation for dis covering the fracture. Now we insist that, while there may be sentiment in bringing minister and congregation and choir all together, it IS not ''business." Country choirs need all the advantages within their reach and this one, of being behind instead of before their audiences, is of vastly more account than people might suppose. Of course hired quartets care very little about it. They are profession als accustomed to face their audiences, and sure of their powers; but to the un- trained volunteer the position is simply an unnecessary embarrassment added to the many endorsements which are really unavoidable.
 The position has its disadvantages, too, for the organist. There are times when he must speak word storzando to the blower which it is just as we'll the minis ter shouldn't hear. Business, too, will interfere with the pleasure of listening to his pastors discourse. After the closing psalm he is planning his attack on the closing hymn. He reads it over carefully, concludes to accompany the first stanza with the full swell, then selects soft stop for the second, hesitating for fear the choir will go to pieces if left so much to themselves, and finally he wonders if the trumpet is too much out of tune for a snapping fourth stanza... Then he arran- ges his stops for hls prelude and forecasts his interludes a little. Then he turns over Judas Maccabeus for closing volun- tary. Just here the solo soprano confides to him that she k''oscs she is going to fiat that high G, and he has to ridicule the notion for few minutes (She does fiat the G about once in four times on an average, and atsCays when scared). Then he notices the first alto hopelessly DOT ing over single line of duet, wishing she were dead. yet meaning to do her duty conscientiously (altos arc conscien- tious and really. sing from duty). He knows if she puzzles over those notes five minutes longer she will break down, and persuades her to close the book, and hear the sermon. He beseeches the tenor not to come down to c, instead of D. at the end of the third line Then he ought to go behind the organ for brief season of rest before the minister's labors close and his own begin. Now all this ''business" is not edifying to congregation. Perhaps some of 1t might be done by systematic person beforehand. Perhaps some of it might be left undone altogether. Still, in choir business as in every other executive business, success only follows the closest attention to details; and attention to these