Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1875-06-24

out, or robels and then comes in paid quar-
tottc of professional singers; then volunteer
chorus is added, then comes another revolution,
and the church goes back TO congregational
singing from 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 1t now, and promise to 40 1T many times
more.
In the adjustment of this matter-if it shall
ever be adiusted-there are certain facts which
must DO taken into consideration. First, that
music in city church can never be managed rs
il is in a country church. The popular singing
school in the country, where anusements are
few, il Il practicable thing. In the city, where
life is full, especially at that season of the year
when rehearsals practicable. it is next to I'M
possible to get people together for sntiicient
practice. volunteer choir, made up from a
city congregation, il one of the most difficult
things to maintain that can be imagined. The
rehearaals always come IN the evening, when
every body is tired or engaged and, without re-
hearsais, even tolerable singing is not possible.
Congregational singing without rehearsals IL
worse than that OF the volunteer choir. Ii an
attempt is made to uaite volunteer chorus with
a paid quartette, it is soon ascertained that the
more imperfectly trained voices are added to pro-
OCCASIONALLY trained voices, The more ID the quail
~ of the music appreciated, though the vol
nme .of sound may be enlarged. The grand
practical dliliculty il that all non-professional
singers in city church have no time to practice
their art together. The business engagements
of tie men. and the social and religious engage
ments Of the women, are such az to render tho
necessary rohearsas utterly impracticable.
Tins ought not so to be, perhaps but IL is so,
and 1t il one of those established facts that
must be looked squarely in the face, in any COM
petent handling of the question. some churches
have learned that tine best way for them to
do is TO put their hands IN their pocket, and
bring out money enough to pay for their music,
aud have somebody they CAL hold responsible
for it. Undoubtedly these churches get along
with the least difficulty and have the best music.
We hear n great deal about tho congregational
singing in Mr.. Beecher's church, but MIR. Beech
srs church is entirely exceptional in its
circumstances. IN the first place. 1t has large
and we'll played organ, that ID capable of leading,
and almost Of drowning, all the voices of the
house In the second place, it has body OF
professional singers, and, in the third place, II
gives certain seat to every volunteer singer in
the choir, in church where getting seat is u
diilicult matter. With such q leading, any con-
gregaton can sing. With such motive, any
Choir can be steadily filled and maintained. Mr..
Beeehers church cannot be mentioned in any
general discussion of the matter.
We could get along well enough if We had
not so many theories to adjust. LET the PEG
pie praise thee say the advocates of yolun'
teCr, or congregational singing. This hiring
people 20 sing our praises ID very. offensive t.
many. Tho theory is well enough, or would
be, II the people would sing on would take
the pains TO learn and rehealse but they dc
not. Volunteer choirs would be vol enough
if they wouid observe tho conditions necessary
to excellence in their performances but they
| will not There IL another theory and, for the
| life of us, we cannot see the faw in it, viz.
| tlat 1t Is just Legitimate to hire band OF
| professional singers to lead us III our praise
! as it is to hire a bald OF professional men tC
| lead lis in our prayers. Circumstances compe
us to the adoption of this theory, whether
we rebel against 1t or not and those churches
that have settled down upon it have the rar,
privilege of being at peace upon the question. -
| Dy. j. q. Hu'iWd ScrtbEer fer Jtmt.