Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-07-06
NUMBER 25.
The Music Of the Ch"rch.
BY DIR. J q HOLLAND.

In somewhat extended eullOTIil eA-
peIience. we have had many occasions TO
speak of the earthly discords that enter
into our heavenly harmonies. The qucs-
ton of Church Music refuses 10 be set
lied. There are SO many tastes to DC con.
suited in il, il is overloaded wiki theories
it presents so many difficulties OF admin.
istration in its simplest forms, That
church may be accounted happy which
can 90 on one or two years without q 70"
OF a revolution. Nothing seems to be
learned by experience, rs in other depart
ments OF human effort and enterprise
Churches pass through musical cycles.
They begin perhaps with congregational
singing; then they rise into volunteer
choir; that fades out, or rebels, and then
comes in paid qnartette OF professional
singers then volunteer chorus is added,
and then comes another revolution, and
the church goes back 10 congregational
singing, from which point ii stars on
another trip around the cycle. Over, and
| over. aud over again. there are churches
that do JUS this. are doing it now. and
promise TO do il many times more.
la the adjustment OF this ma'ter-ii i
shall ever be adjusted there are cer-
tain facts which must be taken into con-
sideration. First. that music in city
church can never hc managed as i is in q
country church. The popular singing
school in the county. where umusements
are few. is practicable thing. In the
city. where lite is tull, especially at that
season oi the Year when rehearsals aye
practicable, it is next To impossible to get
people together Tor sufficient practice. A
volunteer choir. made up from q city
congregation, Is one ol the most difficult
things To maintain that can be- imagined.
The rehearsals always come in the even.
lag when every body Is tired or engaged;
and. without rehearsals. even tO,erable
singing in not possible. Congregation
singing. without rehearsals. Is worse than
that OF the volunteer choir. /! an at
tempt is made to unite volunteer chorus
with paid quartette. it is soon ascertain
ell that the more imperiectIy trained
voices are added TO professional trained
voices, the more is the quality of the
music deprecated. though the volume OF
sound may be enlarged. The grand
practical difficulty is that all non-profe.-
sional singers i'll a city church have no
time TO practice their art together. The
business engagements OF the men, and
the social and religious engagements of
the women, are such as to render the
necessary rehearsals utterly impractic-
able.
This ought not so TO be. perhaps; but
It is 20. and i, il one of those established
facts that must be looked squarely in the
lace, in any competent handling OF the
question. Some churches have learned
that the best way for them to do is TO put
their hands in their pockets, and bring
out money enough to pay for their music
and have somebody whom they can hold
responsible for it. Undoubtedly these
churches get along with the least diff
Guilty. and have the best music. We hear
Il great deal about the congregational
singing in Mr.. Beecher's church, but Mr..
Beecher's church is entirely exceptional
in its circumstances In the first place,
1t has large and well-played organ, that
Is capable OF leading, and almost OF
drowning all the voices 10 the house. In
the second place, il has a body OF pro-
fessional singers. and. In the third place,
it gives q certain seat 10 every volunteer
singer 10 the choir, la a church where
getting seat Is difficult matter With
such leading any congregation can
sing. With such a motive. any choir can
be steadily filed and maintained Mr..
Beecher's church cannot be mentioned In
any general discussion Of the matter.
We could get along well enough II we
had not so many theories to adjust. "Let
the people praise thee. "say the advocates
of volunteer or congregational singing.
This hiring people 10 sing our praises is
very offensive TO many. The theory is
we'll enough, or would be. il the people
would sing. or would take the pains to
learn and rehearse; but they do not.
Volunteer choirs would be well enough
they would observe the conditions ne
cessary TO excellence in their perform.
ances: but they will not. There i. IN
other theory, and, for the life OF US, we
cannot see the iaw in il, viz: that IL ls
Just as Legitimate to hire band OF pro-
fessional singers to lead us In our praise.
as it is to hire band of professional men
to lead us in our prayers Circumstances
compel US to the adoption OF this theory,
whether we rebel against it or not; and
those churches that have settled down
upon it have the rare privilege OF being
at peace upon the question. Seri5ner's
Monthly.
The maddest kind OF woman is one
who spends hall hour in arranging her
toilet before descending to the parlor on
the arrival OF visitor-who proves TO be
book agent.