New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-18
SACRED MUSIC.

ExrR, WORK MUSICAL AGLNCiEs -Cn5r on
sINGINo IN TIiH LFADISG CuuhCnEs on HIS
C,ry--pRoIEsrANr MUSIC MORE EArE%sltE THAN
CATHOLIC.
Underlying the abslTusc question as TO the
most dc sbic forms ~ church music lts quality OK ona
actcr and the OF Its introduction INTO the SGT
yces are numei lca's OF interest INC sha'l's Ph"
by churches in NcwYork In the aggregate ere INT III
OF the amounts devoted TO the purpose elsewhere
and this fact together with the great number OF suse's
rc,uired 70 III the vacancies which occI. aniH ser es
70 attract yoas.s from far and near, anxious 10 al
themselves Of the opportunity Tor musical WS''"c"on
and advancement which the Sunday income frh"cis
able II Is impossible TO draw line showing p'eoiSo'
what must bc the qualifications OF singer III order 10
become "A saaricd choir member FaToiit1'h anu 'ie
different requirements OF the several denominations com
ncae the aucStion although In many cases, the iat'er
appear rot 10 IN iucncc the amount OF salary III won"
he natural 10 suppose that the salary receive" Wy ~
Thursy OF Dr. Chapins church for singing 'hree II! hnS
an opcn,ue anthem and "a voluntary during service
woud be about equal 10 that received Dy tne average
yer who follows the "Vene," Tc Deun,' ""iora'
JuiIae responses hymns. and ofertory OF the Eps-
copal seryice that the quality and quantity perhaps
would about balance; yet Miss Thursby receives salary
Of 81 800 an amount only exceeded BY one Other churcn
soprano III the city
The choir wear begins May and III most Protestant
churches the engagements arc made for one year from
that date contracts being signed by the singers for the
stipulated amounts For three months previous I" TINS
time trials take place before the music committees Of the
churches wherein vacancies are eXpectcd Inc time Va
these trials is soon noscd abroad and the appointed
day the church contains score or more OF apphch's
each surrounded by group OF supporters To te singer
graduated fIor OF town choir 1t becomes mat
ter Of short breath and to stand mp before
that uninusical music committee and sing the " ave
Maria" which had been carefully practced for the
occasion In few this ordeal determines the
nuestion of years soonrn in the city, with its opport
mites for Improvement
These trials numerous, and II unsuccessful IN one
instance the candidate is offered other chances OF sue
cess through that mercfu dispensation which SHOWS u
one committee the very beauties of voice they were seek
Ing after the singer has met with repeated dsappont
ment elsewhere As the first day of May approaches
sucn advertisements as the following appear;
tenor of pleasing presence, fine NIL rohn-t
yooe 'aTiHs c ia sir@s p"ston from MAJ l. so
objection 10 short distance into he country.
Asa general thing however the supply of good voices
ia fv me, nv the demand and very few of the fsyortes
fail to make an engagement. The annual income 81
choir singer il considerably increased through payment
for cxra services funerals and the like the fee Tor the
LATTER bcing in the principal churches $40 for each ne
Der of the quartet and for the orsanist The latter re-
ceyes further compensation for furnishing music Il,
weddings.
The choir too Is refuge for the unsuccessful artist
IT, After Il of European instruction at an annual
cxncnsc Of 500 or Oa0 majority OF these singers re-
turn receive benefit and finally drift INFO the choirs
while fame itself TO the applause OF the Local con-
cert ROOM Madame RudcrsdOr:f mas published rrcetya
let ter disoouraging the tendency to lavish expenditure ON
voices which mover repay IT, naturally good voice,
il Is claimed requires little thorough training to serve
every purpose OF choir SINGING or 10 H"ih "'''"bc SUI
Until recently the musicbroker reaped h"ntiihi
harvest nv means OF a scheme now rapidly going out Of
vogue Il WAS the plan hy which churches that were nm
willing TO the trouble and arnoyanlc attending
the select on OF choir could place tie Nation set
apart for music the hands of agent who then sup
pcd the SINGERS, paving such prices rs could he bar
gained for and calling the balance lis coDmis-iOn Dis
covering that S3O0or %i00 paid in this manner woud
do ter service In securing more efficient SINGERS or Dy
remaining their own treasures, the churches are ADM
doning the system Of ch"irfarmnG by outside persons
and il raii ths wholesale nltt1Oh OF supplying c"oT9
viii soon disappear.
Separate from this phase Of The business IA me com
infsion agency, which plays an important and legitimate
part In supplying singers To man acquainted with me
needs OF chors the vacancies and qualifications neccs-
gary 70 III hrm vocliists especially II Stranger Dau
rally go for information ana assistance giving in return
FOR postions obtained commission Of perhaps per cent
for the 5rokcrs aid IN TIL matter The procuring of sub
sttes FOR abrntres forms also considerable part OF
the agency, work.
TRINITY CHURCH AND CHAPFrs.
TIE musical memories OF Old Trinity carried back
70 the year 1897 yci then the music English in
character and sanda the very exponent OF tie full
cnthcd,7ll service Ia the Une'i states.
The most noted chance singer in the country OF rscent
wears WAS Richard Cokcr Of Trinity Parish Church
when first brought to tue notice of Dr. Cutler then Inis-
cal director OF the choir, young t0k'r MAS singing IN
woods Mnstrcls under the name OF Master Wood Rec
ogizing the extraordinary talent of e boy then about
ten years OF sge Dr. Cutler spared no pains Ia the cult
vaion and training Of his pupils voice, and the result
Was OF the mos, narveou7y perfect voices eFer pos
sesscd By choir snEeF ,uA9 Cohrr VIZ, ~. cnor "a
boys from Trinity, under the hlnniSen"t OF Ut hilr
cnered the concert field 10 this step the yes ry oecte
and Dr. Cutler withdrew from The choir Coker Is now
studying in Paris and IL - said that his manre wore
gives promise OF future slcccss.
SUPPLIES frat worn by the trinity boys On me occ
sion 6 the visit tie Pr ace Of Wtcs, Yl"u there
an elaborate musical programme. The leading s0los on
ls Of c Rs.crmcd Gnch Al Fsye aud For
tv.egh,hst and Master Roiohn, familiar to the musical
an ulI.cu,.i III Of the hoir as been under the
direction ~ Arthur r. Heaeer orD,st. WHO receives
salary OF - 800. The cbor boys salaries range from 500
,T,,.rd ANA the tota appropriation FOR music !!eIdng
81 geo PAID Henry Carter associate organi@ II not
liz EpcIse Of an orchestra Of 81 pieces, for thr ch-f
fos tivd of the church Ihc ihus, rooms private oicos
house al New Church AMI TLamoa-sis. The musical
library OF Trinity Is Invaluable and could not be re-
placed The choir OF Trinity parish consists OF IL roble
4 alto, s tenor. and bass SINGERS.
Tie Cnapcis Of trinity Parish, although under tie con
tro Of one yrstry have independent appropriations. the
management and leadership OF the choirs having
nsct!On with one another, with a. mother chrci Each
allowed beside other appropriations 500 yearly for
the purchase of ncT mUsIr.
St PaIua, III Broadway and Nrscy-st,, IA second
in point OF age. to. Trinity Church itself. hayins
been built in 1866. Unlike the other chapes OF this
Iish The choir consists OF double quartet under the
direction OF John H. Cornell. orgais By this arrange
mynt the style oi music r. made to c-enhc in character
that adopted majority Of Protestant Episcopal
churches the choir and te salaries OF the singers
~. follows:
Orgorist John H. Cornell $1,000
AZ r.,
Alto, Amelia J.. 400
&. 'f....
Dera.i Bars John Observation-Disclosures. 400
Cantori. soprano Cecilia A. Kemble ............ 400