The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-20
SANK EY'S SINGING.
The Important Part IL Piavs in the Meetings
at the Iippodromr.

B. other Sankey il quite well aware of
the influence Of his singing In the Iippodrome
revival. though some Of the musical critics try
to discourage him by saying that his voice is
weak In the middle register, and totally unculti-
waited. lie is very particular about the setting,
so to speak, OF the hymns which he takes for his
solos Before beginning to sing, he manages to
hush the audience into the deepest silence. and
puts II into an expectant state Of mind, and
sometimes, when about to offer one or another
of his favorite pieces, he precedes II with fer
vent Invocation, which is sure to add to its ef-
fectivcness Having thus prepared his way, and
taken his positionhe sings with an emotion that
awahos the echo Of itself in the hearts OF his
listeners. while at the same time they are faci-
mated with that quality Of lJs voice which is so
often spoken Of rs sweet"
sankey has had fifteen years experience as
sacred Minstrel and during the past Ave or six
years he has been heard 10y millions In Great
Britain and the United states We do not know
uf any other singer who has ever had such vast
udicnces. In place after place, for such length
Of time None of the great operate or concert
singers could approach him I'm this respect. As
a matter oi course his audiences. the body of
them. have not listened with critical ears but
still they have been mostly made up OF people
familiar with church music and hymnology and
It Is not unfair to say that their admiration OF
him Is creditahle to his powers.
lie has not wasted his extraordinary oprortu-
nifty for observing effects and FOR studying how
.o produce them. He knows when To take a
hyinn ~ pathO-. or jubilancy or awakening. or
lamcntation. or appeal. He sees the occasion
for an instrumental or choral accompaniment /.
and he understands pretty well how to handle a
large choir
Brother Sankey recently gave some views ne TO
the way the service Of song should be con-
Quoted at reyiyals. solo singing. In his opinion,
has received the stamp Of Divine approval;
| be guarded against, Vet IL should be introduced
wherever there l. good Christian singer who can
| irnuouucc the words so a. To- Ice understood by
| the hearers. lie referred TO one OF his hymns
| which had long been used in an ineffective way
| Ia choir and congregational singing; but since
| the audience was rivctcd 10y the force and sense
| Of the words, IL had led to the conversion OF
| many sinners In regard TO the chOirs, Brother
| Sankey holds that they should be made up of
| cody members; that they should he large; that
| they should lead but not monopolike the sing
| familiar tunes. but occasionally Introduce new
| ones. ON all these subjects lie has Ideas drawn
from his experience.
brother Moody Is fully aware Of Sankey's value
| A. a co6perator Ia the revival He gives him all
| the time that Is required lets him have his own
| way. and is always anxious to bring him into
| prominence. lie knows that thousands of peo-
| Ile are attracted to every meeting 10y the fame
| Of Sankey and that without sAnhey the revival
| operations would lose great part OF their effect
| II has often been observed that vocal singing
Of rather hearty Kind i Characteristic Of all re
| viNls. Ii played great part In the Wesleyan
revival Of last century; and IL has been said that
ful at one time than the sermons OF his brother
| John Wesley But Brother Sankey has brought
this feature into greater prominence than II evel
| had al any previous revival