The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-11-25

OuR CHURCH CHoRs.-1t Is estimated
that In this country there are at least
10000 people who by singing assist In the
service Of Gods house, some iEr pay,
others without pay. The splendid gilt
from the Good Father Of voice makes
Il In some cases pleasure 10 the singer
10 lay the precious talent on the altar,
and IN other cases q pleasure to the hear
ara 10 nav those more fortunate than
IbsmselTes for making melody ct 10
minVle with the prayers OF the deyout.
In our city there are but few choirs paid.
Nearly all are volunteer choirs, In many
csses very Indifferent In composition.
This, we think, arises not from the want
Of talent In our midst, but from the fact
that few congregations take any Interest
in the choirs-are content Nth Whatever
kind Of music is presented, SO that 1t be
not horribly out Of tune or triiing 10
character. Within these limits the
choir does pretty much rs 1t pleases.
To some extent this Is the fault oil a
superficial musical education, or, perhaps,
latent and inactive appreciation Of
music; and ii Ia yet u problem how 70
awaken in the minds and hearts OF the
people sensibility TO what 10 best and
noblest in music. What is needed is to
call it forth by placing upon Il enoblinng
and inspiring objects. Music should
touch The heart in It's everyday joys and
grieis, and in It's Sabbath worship and
communion; work with the spell OF q
heavenly charm and the power Of O
divine Inspiration. We wish 1t were al
ways the object Of our choirs-especially
those from whom, by reason OF their
com position, we have right to expect 1t
to give good musical compositions de-
yotional in character, carefully to render
them so az to merit appreciation, and then
that the congregations would manifest
their approval Of the efforts OF the choirs
with such encouragement, as TO spul
them on to q yet higher plane.
Thinking that some Of our reader
might be interested In knowing a littl'
about some OF our choirs, We made a few
inouiries in relation. to them, and viii
give a short resume Of each, on Saturdays
until we have gone the rounds. Durinl
the past summer there were many change
in tho choirs, in some instances entirel!
reorganizing them. One OF the mos
prominent choirs in the city Is that 0
| b. Matthews, at present composed Q
Chas, ". EoG as organist, Mrs. G. !
Whitney soprano, Miss Sallie Campbell
alto, Mr.. G. Gutenberg bass. For lon
time this choir has been struggling wit
disadvantage, singing four:part musi'
with three voices, no tenor being engage
to balance the parts. Why this is &C
whether matter OF economy on tn
part OF the yestry (the choir being
paid one) or the want OF 3 tenor !
fll the place, we cannot say, but "
; submit that the music does not gain any
thing by the lack OF this very importau
part. and Unjust necessarily be a drag I
The other voices to be obliged to do will
, out, or sing the tenor part when obligato
~. In the Episcopal service more tina
any other except the Catholic, music
an essential part, and with the materls
composing the St. Matthew'S choir, wer
The lacking part equally we'll supplied
we would have reasons to expect the be-
!, class OF music to be strictly and CAREFUL
given. otthe music and It's performane
: Ia this church, rs we'll as the othe
!, churches, we shall perhaps speak at al
! other time.
! The First Presbyterian Choir is con
posed Of Mr.. W. E. Trull, organist; Mr.
) thas. W. Eoff, soprano; Miss =. Moor
alto; Mr.. A. H. Beach, tenor; Mr.. A. {
Norton, bass. This choir has been but r.
: Gently formed, but is composed Of the be!
e voices amongst our musical people. I
the credit OF this church, be it said, tn!
0 with the new pastor, an effort was mac
: to get full choir with a fair need
y success, and for the first time in a nun
Der Of years, the choir has complemel
J Of voices. We hope to speak well Of tn
g choir, after it has fairly gotten to worl
3 and trust that it will be one for othe'
y to emulate. a-