The New York herald., 1878-07-07
Revival of the Gregorian Chant in
the Choral Services.
A RETURN TO THE OLD PATHS.
Operatc Music Condemned by the Sa-
cred Congregation OF Rites.
SUCCESS OF TIE PAULISF REFORMERS,
Important Letter from Cardinal
Martinelli.

For The past ten years movement mas oeen Ia
progress this country which was set on foot and
has been carried with undsunied zeal by the CON-
nuntty OF Catholic missionary priests known as The
Pauhsl EaInsrs whoss ehlrch and convent are sit
mated At The eorseE Of Eitty-niuth street and Ninth
avenue II This err. that promises to work a radical
reformation in the matter OF church music Contem-
porary VITA Their eA.rls there arose also IN Europe
especially in Germany and England. spirit oil dis
satisfaction with style OF church music generally
prevalent, and olciai acts OF dsapproba,ion were
from ume time promulgated by bishops who IN
Weighed the strongest Terms against the inroduc-
ton in the churches OF operate airs and the tendency
oil musicians toward what they called ascivious and
impure tone in he music performed at mass and
vespers.
In the preparation of subjects to be laid before the
Vatican Council that OF he reform Of church music
forgotten by It's parrsans and they succeeded
Obtaining the sanction OF HIS Holiness, the late Pope
Pius lX for the formation OF commission to revise
the editons oil the SCI aduae' and "Antiphonarium
Ronanum," two books which contain the chant for
mass and vespers. The work OF this commission was
aot luly completed a. the forced adjournment OF the
Couuci, but PERMISSION was given to Messrs Pustet
Co. OF Ralisbon and New York, TO complete The
work according the notation found IN the socalied
edition of Plus v. The Germans took more mod
IL their labors at reform, and, under the
celebrated DR.. Wit and Others founded society, to
which they gave the OF tho .'CncIla Vercius,
which, although proposed as primary
sbject the cultivation OF the authorized Gregorian
shant devoted itself chiefly. in Europe and also
In this country. under the presidency OF Mr..
5ngenberger, TO the composition aud use OF
pieces OF which should be free from tie objec
aonabie operatic suos and style in phraseology and
movement. The same society has also paid consider
,bc attention 10 revival of church music, called
D.lar rnni
and SO Iorth composed by that prince of churcn mu
sicans and his initators The result OF all these
blue efforts has been excommuncate the works of
Beethoven Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, endelssohn,
Cberubini Mercadaute Generals, and all that class OF
composers OF the last century and hall. who while
they have produced musical works Of the highest
Gder and oil iudisputabe mert are responsible, I'M
toubtediy. Tor the introduction in Catholic Churches
H those "profano musical concerts which the Cardi-
Protect Of Sacred Congregation OF Rites agrees
with Father Young III calling ''deiestabie"
QUESTIONS AT ISSUE
To understand the question at issue W indeed there
san be any iurtber question lace OF tho official pro-
pouncement OF the sacied congregation OF rites,
which IS given below II Is necessary to understand
mat nowhere IN the ritual ceremonial OF the Catho
lie Church is the musical department known as "the
shoirn recognized such as 1t has almost universally
prevailed In ihis county,. e., body OF male and
female singers performing the parts OF the service
assigned to them IRON organ gallery placed over
he entrance TO the church. ln point oil lact no
emalc is ever permitted by the rubrcs Of the Cstho
nc Church 10 take part IN her sacred offices. All
hcse Offices are distinctly directed to be performed
py tho celebrant his assistants and the chorus
aeuomiuated ia ecclesiastical parlinco the schoid
who are not s.thc choir" but whose place Is IN
the choir In IN choro the ceremonial ex-
presses it--that Is, IA body OF male singers-who
may be- aud boys associated togetner, vested in
surphcc, aud treated ceremonaly Just as
they all cierics IN orders, and whose place is III
me sanctuary either side of the altar This uhs
he letter and spirit OF ths ritual, ana, as Father
Young, OF the Paust congregation, assured
,ur reporter. only can DO So anu that any
siher arrangement IS merely tolerated by the
Church authorities ior the want OF means TO do better
and bee luse OF the great difficulties OF changing old
customs. The common popular mistake made even py
the muscay educated, saId the reverend father, Is
that musical concert is regular part oil the Chusch
service. Ii may surprise many readers that women
allowed by the laws oil The Catholic Church 10
tirg IN church. this point Father Young referred
10 Corinthians, XIV 81 anu added tnat tho rubrios
would be iouud strict conformity 10 the apostolic
precepts. Ii appears that Rossini III VAN soiicheu
ibe Popo to grant permission ior the employ oil
iemae voices the production of some OF ms compo
srtions. The female voice being ruled out by htur
gical ,yIIent that the greater part OF the mu
SIC composed by the great masters OF modern times
and almost all of what nas been composed by their
ieeue mIators for use CAthoiic sirvico would
impossible oil least decent performances but
,ur maaern music OF any Kind MS sucn is according
FaLuer Youngs strict doctrine, out OF place IN the
tturgca Offices OF the Catholic church. bec1use IT'S
obaty anu artistic form are contrary 10 the turgcai
dea spirit, which shoad be that OF prayer, while
he expression OF music, as We commonly know II,
terminates IN the dcleclation OF the imagination
Plain chant or, Us 1t Is sometimes called, Grogoran
chant contendS Is the only true liturgical melody,
ana beng sucn Is the oaly melody whicn has ever
peen recognized the Official expression oil the
prayers anthems, aud 20 forth appointed 10 DC sung
Ia the public services OF the Catholic Church. Not
one line music, called can be found IN any oi her
htrrgicai books. Ihere Is not now ana there never
was phrase OF otter MELODY but chant printed
Ia lnose books Use the chant said The father, anu
you got prayer out OF The souls OF the people at
mass aDd vespers as the church Intends Uso music
ana you VIII, II tue music be good, give the audience
pleasant TccTes:lon, aud II u be bad you VIII STIR up
smoiions ana ssbtiments when are auything but do
FOuouaL
When rcminncd that tuuslcal asses are sung in tho
churches Rome, ana that all the word to the
sexune Chapel 10 nesr the sOnderiul "Misereresn
,usg there IN holy week, he contented himself with
cautiously replying mat he CAD not stuIy politics.
,nat N was MS business 10 study chant to oversee tt
performance IN ms cnurcn ana 10 promote It's use
elsewhere by all legitimate meaus as he was COM
nanded by his superior, Father Hecker. After a
tn,n he remarked tnHt he did not presume TO sat In
Judgment upon those Sho made use of music IN
church either constantly or occasionally, tor winch,
doubtless, they mad wise and prudent reasons OF their
own Inc character OF music 10 DC sung IN church.
be added Is not question OF individual taste. IL Is
not to be judged oil Oy what The prcst likes or what
the organirt likes, nor even by what the people IKE
Inc church never permits the taste or iaucy OF
tuoviduas 10 tampcr With her preccpts, laws or DIS
ripnue Beng aked II his principles would not rule
out The music OF Pacstrina he rcped-nrst, that hs
music is now Tar more obsolete Than PLAIN chant,
ana second that us the melodies OF mas sublime com.
positions were based upon the scales OF the ancient
scceslascal modes the tOnaiiy OF TIE chant s stlll
apparent and the impressions produced Dy nearing
thcln are al precisely the Same as are gwen by
MAN cha ut properly harmOnIzod AID rendered "As a
ct said the Father, Laughing, 1--WE once brought out
harmon zed plain cnant-'Gioria 10 Excesis'-and
was ai,erwafd hgnly comphmentcd Tor tho excel
ie.tslyle In which my choir sang That piece OF Pal.
.strina'"
ABSURD OBJECTIONS CHANT.
slt has been matter Oi great surprise to me-" he
md rn ilxu Cd ll4l a IN "a
All, M we're even professors, to whom the
uot,tton even OF Chant. wnich my liltle chOr
hters ten years OF age, eau read 81 signt
vas lxo the aipna5el Of the unknow Il language aud
.no we're wholly ignorant OF the modaty Ui tue
rnant To say nothing Of Its rhythm. | remember
taki with one OF these professors oil music, wnc
had been called upon 10 accompany PLAN chant ioi
mauv wears IN the church o which ne was Organis
Tie only difference TO TINS good man between the hrs
snd fourth modes was that lac played the melody o.
one m ID minor and the other IN MINOR When
,evrosenteu 20 un that the scale OF the diu