Litchfield enquirer., 1878-12-05
Music at All Souls Church New York City. .-

The services at All Souls Church are simple, interesting and homelike in character. They are marked by directness, sympathy and ear. nestness, each exercise fitting into place as g useful and indispensable auxiliary in the co. herent whole. The choir naturally holds a very important place in such a system, and in this instance seems we'll fitted, in material and calibre, for sympathetic and an intelligent discharge of the duty devolving upon it. The music is under the immediate direction of the organist, Mir. c. F. Daniels, who is well known in his profession as a thorough and talented artist. In critical as we'll as profes- sion requirements he has an enviable reputa- tien and appears to be one of those who are not contented with anything short of genuine intimacy with the soul of muslc The organ, at which he presides, came originally from the nanufactory of Richard M. Ferris. and has since been somewhat remodelled to suit more modern exigencies. Although old it is appar- ently valuable and trustworthy instrument. Certainly in Mir. Daniels hands it is made to sing it's own praises with no uncertain melody, as if it recognized the touch of an artist
 The members of the quartette choir are Mrs. J. K. Barton, soprano Miss Josie Bell, con- tralto Mir. N. B. Wood tenor, and A. E. Stoddard, bass. Judging from single ordi- nary service, the choir is compact, well bal anced and capable of excellent work. The selections rendered were sufficiently varied to test it's capacity, which indicated happy combination of power, sweetness and expres- sion. Mrs. Barton has beautiful bell-like voice, rich, resonant and limpid, which has not an uncertain note in it's register. If there is anything wanting it is that clearly defined sympathetic quality So essential in the ren- dition of sacred music. Some such restriction may qualify the merits of Miss Bells contralto, xxyIHi ic e; enb ol ed, a little unequal in the upper notes and sus- ceptible of higher cultivation. MT. Wood is a robust tenor. careful and sensitive, with a method in which vigor sometimes threatens very nearly to get the better of taste. The excess is by no means eXtravagant and might have been incident to cold. If not, a little training with the curb would presumably effect good results. MT. Stoddard's bass is too well known to need critical analysis here. It is powerful, mellow and flexible, admirably sustained in the low notes, and finely adapted to church music 4a t. E The organ voluntary on the occasion under consideration was Gondolied from Liszt's symphonic poem, 'sTasso." It was admirably played and sustained throughout with clear intelligence and large capacity. One or two exceptionally fine stops were introduced with artistic effect. The opening selection for the choir was Praise Thou the Lord" spirited anthem by Hauptnann, which was rendered with fine force and fervor. The tempo was particularly good and the crescendo rounded out nobly, the voices blending in. almost per feet unison, The scripture lesson was follow ed by brief sentence, neat and appropriate. composed by the erganist Then came a hymn, the singing of which, to familiar tune, seemed a trifie tame and mechanical This was doubtless owing to the smallness of the congregation, which is supposed to i0in in the hymns as rule. The traditional 'beggarly array has as depressing an influence on the church choir as on thecOncert singer or operat- ic artist
 After the prayer came an unaccompanied quartette, ''The Lord is Nigh" by Sullivan. No fault could be reasonably found with the interpretation of this, which was impassioned, tender, and delicately shaded with devotional feeling. Unsupported by the organ the sever al singers developed fresh resources of voice and method, and bore the scrutiny of close at tention very well indeed. It would be wise to introduce selections of this kind often where there are quartette chcirs, as they give impe- tus to the singers and afford refreshing con- trast. The services concluded with a second hymn, which was sung more impressively than the first l
 Mir. Daniels has been organist at this church for seven years. Messrs Wood and Stoddard have sung with the choir four years, Miss Bell has been connected with it two years and Miss Barton one year. The choir has many valu- able MSS. pieces which are its exclusive prop erty. My Faith Looks Up to Thee, {" charm ing composition by Goldbock, has been num- bered among it's cholcest renditions, and it's repertory otherwise is of wide range and sub- stantial worth. on.e