New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-29
CHOIR CHANGES.


TINES AND DESIRE FOR LESS ELABORATE
MUSIC TIE CAUsEs-CONTESTS FOR VACANT
POSITIONS PRESENT MEMBERSHIP on THE
CHoIRs.
Probably ut no time since New-YOrk became
the center of high salaries in church choirs have there
been so many changes there will be during the year
begnringMay IL is matter OF very little dltncuity
to determine the reason for the falling on OK musi-
cal appropriation. and the consequent changes In the
membership OF chors. Tie primary cause Is the hard
times" Again. the arguments in favor OF volunteer or
congregational singing have determined several churches
10 dispense with quartet OF saared singers altogether
These causes have thrown ont OF employment large
number singers including many OF tho faVorites, VINO
have given up their situations rather than submit 10
reduction OF salary. But their places have been 10
great extent, filed with singers or those whose
lack OF reputation makes polite TO accept such salaries
IA may be offered, and the consequence Is that many
singers who have been prominently before the church
going public have been obliged at the last minute to ac
cent much salaries than heretofore or leave Their
positions
Although few committees are yet holding out, in the
hope OF securing Titiens Mario at the low figures
induced by the large supply the majority OF the positions
are filed, and the sound Of the musical ro has
ceased. As illustration OF the Music Committees
work. take the tros which have just broken up at the
Rev. DIR. Chapins Church, at Fifth-aye and forty
st. and to which the greatest publicity has been gwen
Inc position OF soprano, maze ny VIC ohS"s0
ment at Broadway Tabernacle OF Miss Thursby was
eagerly sought and about so singers succeeded
in obtaining the opportunity for practical trial In
the church. The announcement OF the nrst
evenings test was answered by crowded house, aud
when the request made that all those desiring TO
take part the contest should from the Docy 10
the gallery Of the church. nearly the entire congregation
arose. rolls OF music marched To the rapid beat
ings Of their hearts to the seats above For three
the panorama Of sopranos passed over the musical
disk with enervacd organist and two alternating
blow boys in the background. Angels ever bright aud
fair appeared be the favOrite selection, and when IL
came to the words take. take me-" which were de-
yered with all the pahos demanded by the text 1t a
peared direct and touching appeal to the hearts and
pockets of the committee Soon after IL p. H. fresh
orchestra was substituted and it nearly midnight
before the contest adjourned until another evening
The expenditures for church music for this year. have
been reduced, general rule, onethird, ana IN many
cases onehak from last years schedule. whether thls
reduction be permanent thing remains to be seem
The result viii be watched with much interest by those
whose principal revenue is thus curailed The number
OF such persons very great. At Mr. Wardwcs agency,
the applicants FOR situations reached nearly 700 succnt
to supply 30 churches with chOirs and single adVe
tscmeut and BASES responded to by about
100 persons The general reduction OF salaries with the
Introduction OF less elaborate music, has not
been accomplished without more less internal
strife nlarge congregations there appears always to be
difference OF opinion on the question Of church music
and II stated that the present move for low prices
with consequent selection in many cases ofless prom
inent singers has been brought about without mch
debate In church where the question came up the
voung members finding they about to lose their
choir swept board Of the Music Committee tue mem
beers o. which had served Tor year., ana Ior,heo .
unanimous committee to sustain the musical prestige OF
the church The majority o changes from choir 10 con-
gregational singing aud the adoption OF the Noueer
system are made in the Presbyterian. Baptist ana
churches other than Protestant Episcopal IN llc alt,
while the rcduct OF salaries has been Ell, ctcG music
PLAYS too important part % admit OF pieeentor an
aided except by tie congregation INC principal ehou
changes ale az follows;
IN PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
AT Trinity Church the changes been very few it
being the policy OF the corporation to make them as
seldou possible Tie style OF the music and the man.
in which it presented will be altered IN no material
points. Arthur H. Messcr, a. heretofore, VIII ne the
or,,ui,t and musical director with Henry Carter
soclte organis The choir comprises ID treble aito
Al ST. Panl's Chapel AZ broadway and vesey-st. the
music rendered oy double quartet OF mixed voices
This Is departure from the usual afrahSeth oI voices
I'm Tie Trinity ChaUels being the only place where
chauce choir not employed The choir Is as follows
Decau-soprano, Rebccca :. Cook contrat0, Cecilia A.
Kemble ; tenor, George Oswald O'Relly bass John
Palmer. CantOrcs-Soprano, ssbrinl Dor3 c1nir.lto;
Orela ID. Martin tenor. Charles torster oass Ld"ard
At ST. Johns Chapel varickst. the death OF Charles
which III ed by Geo f. I1leune formerly orgihst
OF the Anthem Memorial Church III Ntst rory eIt"s.
the position filed BY /. W. TAuTsch OF Trinity Cuich
same character heretofore, the strength OF the choir
ming about ttG sanf ,onea 10 oreaniSt and d,
rector OF music Triuity Cuape, in Fithst., near
Broadway and there nothing to noe IN regard TO any
Aitr TWO Years absence at the Church Of the Holy
Trinity samuel f. Warren returns 20 Grace Church ana
is ie intention TO make the music prominent feature
the services, under his fOrner ieadeisAp FROM
tne choir at ne iloy Trinity nc brings Mr. sost; ana
been successfully filled by Mrs. kstehan ana Nine.
Brisn9l has been seenfed by MIS- h i co9t gG
Miss Anna DrasIii tenor, Geo. simpson; BASS Aaoph
Al the Church OF the Holy Trinity, Fortysecondst.
mud ,asun-ayc, there Will be complete cnahge IN Tue
musical system. Since It's organization, the choir i'll
cIndng Nine salyott Mrs. Davidson, and Mr. Sohst TO-
rcth,r with large Chorus, has De. under TIE uIccoh
al : = Warren Joseph H. Guild. NJ. Warrcn's former
assistant Will be the oggnnst while the cilor consisting
OF volunteer singers only, VIII be td ny Mr. PERKINS,
who will take charge of the social meetings as pre-
centor The absence OF Nj Warren probably VIII not III
lerfrre with the organ concerts Wth when hs name mas
been associaed fof tbs last two strong desire
has expressed TO the effect that they be continued
each although there appears "a determination 20
place the concerts upon somewhat more popular OASIS;
AT the Church OF the incarnation, ~ hadsoi-aNe aud
Thlty fh-st. entire change as taken place. not SO
much from economy 1t Is lntlmat'i rs desire or i.ss
elaborate music. The church LAS been prominent among
making music especially and The present expert,
To be tried III answer To request rou tnoso VI
tAc congregation desiring less ambition III Tue osan Ht'
The choir follows soprano Miss Harding; conrdo
Miss Me,er; tenor Mr. Harvey; bass, f. e. bourne; or
Al 81 MARKS Church. at Stuyvesant-st and Second.
ave. during the coming year, the music viii DC rendered
by double quartet under the direction OF tue Organist
Ar. Beam,S. Df. HIS, whose lhe aplN'iH az tcuot III
the first quartet, Will JOIN, III lew weeks, Tie cOr at
the Dutch Reformed Church NJ Fitth-aNe aud Forty
cghth-st The membership OF the choir Is as follows:
First quartet-soprano, Madame Dowland; eontraito
Miss Jennie DcHcrson; tenor, Dr. Arthur l. hlls;
bass Ouo ID. Lehman. Second quartct-SOprdIO, Miss
Rachel samueIs contra0, Miss Gcrue Emanuel tenor,
Col Ward; bass, Horace HowanI; oreuiSt VILLAIN L.
Beanes. 80, 80
There has been complete revolution AT the Church or
the AtOnement AT Madson-ayc. aud Twenty -eishtlst
Miss itOsburgh comes trOm MI Br!stugs C!iuu "A 1ch
Church, ana lie cOng-o and tenor nom Tue Ihuich o
the incarnation; Ihe choir is made up as follows SO,
pranu, Miss Ida kOsbu n; eonlruto, MIS- htlssell
Tenor, Frank Guild; bass, f. Nelson ior suDsututej;