The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-01-06

Our CHURCH CHoIRG-o Occasionally
we can stray into u church where the
choir is not hidden behind screen, or
behind green curtains, which remind
worldly minded persons like ourselves
who 20 TO see moral plays like "Unclc
Toms Cabin" and "Ten Nights Of the
drop curtain which slides down between
acts; and these green curtains are quite Il
source Of interest or Amusement 10 the
audience, who, when the curtains are first
drawn, bob their heads from side to side
quickly TO catch the first look ut who Is
in the choir, or laugh-no, smile--at the
bungling effort made Of getting one cur
tain to the middle Of the opening, by the
time the other half closes 10 that point.
At sermon time, too, it'a 80 interesting 10
see the curtain wiggle little here and
there, to see little opening made for
the sopranos brown eye to peep through,
then hear book fall, upset in the at.
tempt made by the alto to look IN the
same place, while both, doubtless,
criLiCiso the besux and the latest
hat or bonnet, or look for that ever
fresh subject Of interest, tho bride.
Where there is screen Just high
enough to hide the heads Of the singers,
its go funny TO watch feather end or a
spray OF grass or flowers Just the least bit
above the screen undulate and describe
lines Of beauty every time n note IL sung,
and II would tickle the disabilities Of i
much more Sedats person than we happen
10 be, 10 look and see the feather end
culver and shake in endeayor to recover
equipoiss, while high "wee" or sol.
emn "Whoop" greetS our ears in the clos.
ing strain, as though necessary 10 shake
the feather vigorously 10 make the note.
But whether curtains, screen or Judi.
cial looking pulpit as they have It in one
church, or the choir gallery at the back,
hides or partly hides the choir, doesn't
Il remind you Of the drill Of an
awkward squad" when they attempt
TO all step Of with one foot, and first one
and then the other Is set in motion) 10
hear the choir start voluntary or hymn
First comes the bass, who is reasonably
sure be won't be heard with bis low
"oogh"; then the alto assists with a
"myaW"; the tenor aids with weak
"eAgh," and finally the all.important so.
prAno has gotten her breath and the
party Ia under way, with the leading
voice singing, il ono could understand
the words, "Oiluy thoi kingdnm, I.o.ord,"
etc. We venture TO say there is not
choir in the city where all the parts
begin at once, and there are not success.
sive commandments Of the voices. In
an orchestra this would be unbesrable.
and but for the custom 80 universal that
we expect It, this tumbling in Of the
parts in singing would, and really does,
outrage sentative ear. In the
matter Of enunciation OF syllables
By singers, the most slovenly habits pre-
vail, and 10 hear choruses or quartettes
sung without regard to any accent on the
words or syllable rythm (eyen when, as
Is seldom, the musical rymlh iSattained,)
is the usual custom. With a little effort
on the part Of conductors or leaders,
and attention on that OF singers, most
marked improvement would be made in
this respect, and at future time we shall
more particularly dilate on these easily
remedied and yet so common faults.
We find among our Methodist brethren
in some places an intent to make the best
OF the talent they gather, and thus at
Zane.street u. Z. Church., DR.. John w.
Morris is the leader and the tenor Of the
choir, Miss Sallie Crawford organist and
alto, Mrs. G. II. Deiters and Miss Emma
Bodley sopranos, Mr.. John 7. Cowl as.
sistant tenor, Mr.. o. ]. Crawford bass.
At the Fourth Street NJ. L. Church,
Prof.. I. " Bassett is orgauist, Misses
Llde Day, Sophia Logan, Mamie Britt
and Annie Carson are sopranos; Misses
Lide Logan, Belle Miller, Missouri For
sythe, Ella Dillon and Mrs. F. W. Bas-
sett, altos; Messrs. Ed. Hobbs, jr., c. y.
Lucas, tenors; DR.. 4. II. Logan, Messr5.
+. W. Barker, s. NJ. Hamilton, baasos;
composing n decidedly good sized choir,
the largest, We believe, in the city.
Al Thomson Chapel, Mr.. c. II. Collier
leads at present the congregational sing
ing, Mrs. McGregor plays the organ In
the morning, and Mrs. Noble plays in the
evening. Unfortunately what choir there
was in the carly part Of the year, broke up
in June or July, and since then Brother
Collier has been soprano, alto, tenor and
bass, II whole choir in himself. Now why
does not Thomson have n choir, real
good choir The Island is full OF mu.
steal people, Thomson is a nice little
church, very nice people so there, and
people who can sing, too. II there VERT
half dozen energetic people in ThomsJn
like Brother Collier, there would be
good choir, for during the Wind and
weather for twelve years Brother Collier
has been trying to get up choir such as
should be, even going from house to
house coaKing and teaching for that pur.
pose. Come, good people Of Thomson,
"AriSe, ye people, and adore,
EKultlng strike the chOld;
Tia an gaIIn cloIr r..,,,nJ Al. .sa.s