New-York tribune., 1878-04-13
TIE CHoIRs OF THE COMING YEAR.

FIRST CHANTING IN NNEW-YORk-CHolR ChAN"i-0
IL THE LAST THREE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. fo'
NEXT YEAR As ARRANGED OR PROPOSED.
Connected with the music in the Reformed
Duch and Protestant Episcopal churches III thls cS e
many curious facts not generally known event 10 'o
most interested in such matters The first Dutch Wor-
shippers assembled in the loft OF horse MILL abou' ne
wear 1918 In 1888, the first church upon Mahh''t"n
Island was LuIt OF this church Everardus boH"l""o
was the first clergyman. There are in tnls cy se'cI
comics OF the Dutch hymn-boOk used at that tme Inc
psalms unsteady arranged bound with the Bibe'
and constituted about one-half Of the volume. Ap-a
when too long TO be sung comfortably at one standing
was divided-the portion cut being designated
"pause" At that day grace was always sung DeIore'
aud thanksgiving after meal music Tor the pr'
pose being provided in the hymn-DOOk In l604' "heh
New-Amsterdam became New-York, through tue sur
render Of the Dutch the British, the services IN he
church were divided Dominic Bogardus preached %
portion Of the day. leaving the church for the Engsh IN
The afternoon and thus English prayers hrst ead
in NewYor and from these services sprans the pash
OF old Trinity, thirty years later
The Garden Street Church was built in 1903. Beneath
the pulpit stood the "foresinger," precentor This
persons duties were He an ecciesiast-
cal lack Observation-Disclosures, deacon, comforter
ofthe sick - he opened the services in church by reading
Scripture texts the Commandments and Psalm, lead
ing the congregation in singing the latter No authe-
tc account can be found descriptive of the way in which
he spent his spare time In 1877 musical event OF great
Importance took place. The Garden Street CIurch was
presented by Governor William Burnett with an organ
the first instrument put up in NewYOrk City. small
loft was added to the building and the eonsStoy pro-
eeeded 10 draw up most astonishing contract with an
organist. Hendrick NJ Koch organist, and he was
informed, many pages of contract, OF the way III
which the organ must be played His salary was sl9O
The terms stipulated that Mr. Koch must teach his art to
the blower This TO cover the possible absence OF
A. IA, nisfF Frc bis st Mt am time
Thus the Dutch church in this city was established
many years before William Ill granted charter Of in
corporation for the establishment of Protestant Epls
cOpa church here. In 1897, on the same spot where
now stands third building Of the name, was erected
the first Trinity Church In this first church there was
no organ least trace Of one can be found in any
record 1t been claimed that there was an instru
ment there but the most dgent search fails to estab
lsh the fact Records of the church give list OF organ
lists dating back TO the time when the building was
erected, but the first names appear TO be con-
nected with the position Of precentor. 1t is
difficult to imagine the Episcopal service with chanting
left out The singing of two hymns, led by precentor,
constituted the only break in the reading of prayers and
preaching by the Rev. Mr. vesey the first rector of the
parish In 1909 the famous Charity School" was es-
tabshed aud the children first took part in the singing,
but it not until after the enarging OF the building IN
1897 that thought Of organ appears TO have been
entertained In 1740, instrument built by one
klenm, or PnllaOelpnla puFCudSeu IOt Tue
This instrument had front Of gilt pipes, twenty-sx
stops-en in the great organ and six in the swell organ
and three banks OF keys The cost was about
$4,000. The charity children, ranged on elevated
seats upon either side OF the organ, became the
Grst regular choir Of Trinity Church. On festival
days an anthem sung This was such an unusual
musical luxury however, that special announcement Of
the fact was always given 1t not until 1902 that
the Te Deum was sung in New-York. Mr.. Tuckey, the
leader desired all persons lads Of years DID,
well all other persons Of good repute" that had
good voices and willing to join the company, to
be speedy in their application and Subscription Pub;
contributions the purpose be taken in
by Mr.. Game Mr.. Weyman, and the printer" OF The
Gasette.
st. Georges, as Chapel Of Ease" TO Trinity, was
erected Beekmanst. in 1882 and in 1866, ST. PauPs
on Broadway About this time Trinity w wanted new
was destroyed by fire. In 177S the church rebuilt
brought from England. Chanting in NewYOrk was
first introduced in ST. Georges i'll 1870 This consisted
Venite only but the controversy over the change
was so bitter that on morning of the first perform
ance vestryman left his and the church. Chant
fact that in every wherein change occurred in the
musical services of Trinity the departure was first made
by one 81 the daughter Churches hndg w way later TO
Returning to the Dutch sa Church the ,t building
1731 There to have been organ in this build
ing until after the resumption of services at the close OF
the Revolution Probably the first instrument built for
the edce erected by Geib This Gelb be desig
mated best as the son Of OIL" Geib who established
been called the pioneer OF oreanDuders In the United
States yet u appears that hIenm oa pre-
preached in English 70 Dutch congregation was de-
vered in this church, but the singing was continued in
the old Dutch melody In 1882 the plecentOr teft his
time-hOnOred position beneath the pulpit and took his
place in the organ loft where joined by volunteers from
the congregations he formed the first choir IN the Dutch
Church history Of this city. When this innovation took
place, the old members Of the society thought that the
end OF all things good had On the evening OF Au-
gust H. 1874 the building ceased to he place OF
In the lower part of Fifth-ave stands to
old-time principles; 1t Is church without an organ
Many ago, when the building erected, il was
provided that no instrument ever should be heard
passed away but has been faithfully kept-ths legacy
OF Puritansm which dubbed the organ an ungodly
kist OF whistles
NEw-YoRK CHoIRs FOR THE COMING YEAR.
Three years ago the chOrsingers time of harvest
During that year the churches taken whole reached
the height of expenses for music From that time there
has been O steady falling off salaries with here and
there meteorc display in favor Of some singer de-
manded by churches This year the changes
are numerous nearly every choir OF note in the city los
Ing familiar voices There 10 be occasion for
enforcing the command that those VINO can sing and VIII
not must be made TO, for Strengthened circumstances
voice OF the "trOt" has been unceasing. The
"trOt.T as before explained, Is an institution pc
culiaT 20 the modern music committee Instead ofapp,
cans singing the committee the church is opened
and the congregation and general public are invited
1t is claimed that the system IS most unfair as
only those who are unaffected by the presence Of a
whispering committee and the gossip OF the cOngrega
tiOn, say nothing OF the ordeal OF appearing before
the singers themselves, can at all DO justice to their
ability As general rule the trouble appears % be
unnecessary IN nine cases out OF ten the singer Is al
ready decided upon by majority OF the committee
some one is selected at the last moment from an en-
tirey different source. As an indication OF the number
OF singers who wait upon vacancies, 1t may be stated
that prominent church In want Of TWO voices received
800 applications In answer TO advertisements Some
the leading chOrs have not vet been fully arranged
for the coming season. The list which follows Is
plete, 50 far as II is now convenient to make It:
EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
At Trinity Church Mr. Arthur II. Messter continues as
orgaust, with Mr. Henry Carter his associate. When
The changes the chancel made at the time the
reredos added, improvements were furnished
10 apart for the clergy and choir by the build
o. u tho III tln nrd