The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-05-24
The Music of the Church,

In q somewhat extended editorial eXpe-
riencc we bave had many occasions to speak
Of the earthly discords that enter into our
heavenly harmonies. The question OF church
music refuses to be settled. There are so
many tastes TO be consulted in it, it is so
complicated with economical questions, it is
so overloaded with theorieS,it presents SO
many difficulties of administration in its
SIMPLEST forms, that a church may be account.
ell happy which can 60 on one or two years
without row or revolution. Nothing
seems TO be learned by experience, rs in
other departments of human effort aud en-
terprise. Churches pass through musical
cycles They begin, perhaps, with congre-
gatioDal singing; then they rise into voiun-
teer choir. That fades out or rebels, and
then CONES in paid quartette of protcs-
sional singers; then Il volunteer chorus is
added; then comes another revolution, and
the church goes back to congregational sing
ing, frosn which point it starts on another
trip around the cycle. Over and over, and
over again, there are churches that do just
this, are doing it now, and promise TO 10 it
many tisneS more.
In the adjustment OF this matter, if it shall
ever be adjusted, there are certain facts
which must be taken into consideration.
First, that music in city church can never
he managed rs 1t is in country church.
The popular siDging-scheol in the country,
where amusemcntS arc few, is a practicable
thing. III the city, where life is full, eSpe-
cialiy at that season Of the year when rehcar
sails are practicable, it is next to impossible
to get people together for sufficient practice.
A volunteer choir, made up from city
cousacgation, is one of the most diff
fcust things to maiDtain that can DC
imagined. The reheaEssis always come
in the evening, when every body is
tired or engaged; and without rehcarsals
even tolerahle singing is not possible. Con-
greSaional singing, without rehearsals, is
worse than that Of the volunteer choir Ii
an attempts made to unite d volunteer cho.
rus with paid quarletle it is soon ascer-
tanned that the more inpercctly trained
voices are added to professionally trained
voices tbe nore is the quality of the music
deprecated, though the volume Of sound
may be enlarged. The grand, practical diff.
Guilty Is thlteli non.proleSSional singers in Il
city church have no time to practice their art
together. The business engagements Of the
men ana the social and religious engagements
OF the women ere such as to render the ne
cessary rehearssts utterly impracticable.
;, Ahis ought not SO TO be, perhaps; but it
Ii ~, ana 1t Is one CT those established facts
so". NUS. DC tooEed squarelg in the face, in
shy competent handling of the question,
Some churches have learned lbat TIE best
way Tor them 10 do is to put their bands in
Their pockets and bring out money cough
10 pay FOR their music. and have somebody
whom they can hold responsible for it. On.
doubleday these churches get along With the
least difficulty, and have the best music.
We bear great deal about The nerega.
tional singing in Mr.. Beeeher's church,
but Mr.. Beecher's church is entire-
" exceptional In its circumstances.
In the first place, it has large
and well.played organ, that is capable of
leading, and almost of drowning, all the
voices in ths house. In the second place, 1t
bias body OF professional singers; and, in
LIE third place, it gives certain seat to
every volunteer singer in The choir, In
;hgreb where getting seat is difficult mat.
er, Wllb such lending. any congregation
aa sing, With such motive, any choir
On be steadily filled and maintained. Mr..