New-York tribune., 1879-04-22
DICK DE1pETES phToTIONs.

The public has been daily reminded for some
weeks past that one of the best oi the llnaiore
Companies now entertaining the town ~ composed
entirely of church choir singers. The windows OF
saloons and cicar-shOps are decorated with duplex
Autographed advertisement Of this tUucful band,
sort of dlptych. as it were, on the upper leaf OF
which the ladies and gentlemen are singing The
divine praises, with BACKGROUND of organ pipes,
while on the lower they are dsportlng themselves
on the deck of Captain CorcOran's ship singing, we
presume. "WGre very, very good, and be it under
stood, he commands a right good crew" We are
now advised that, on the occasion OF the bencht ot
the prima donna, the company VII! add 10 the at
fractions Of the burlesque a number Of extracts
from Mozarts Twelfth Mass, sung after the man
ner customary in the Philadelphia churches. Hay-
ing gwen our theatrical audiences taste OF Mass
in the Philadelphia STYLE 1t will only remain for
the artists to return to their choir galleries and IA
vor the churches whenever the orGnist or the min
ster takes a benefit with a selection Of choice airs
from the "Pinafore." such the Bell Trio, or
"Damme it's too bad"
There is little incongruity IN the exercises OF
these choir performers, but we do not know
that they can lie very severely blamed
for confounding prayer with fun, and praise
with amusement, when so many OF the pub
lie. vigorously aided by newspapers, have habit
ually made the same bluuder. Nor have the
churches themselves kept free from blame One
has only 10 read the authorized announcements Of
the preparations for religious festivals to realize
that So far at all events the music is con
cerncd, the celebration is but too often a show,
aud the actors in it are performers. The pro-
pTamues are furnished in advance 10 the press,
with the full cast of artists. Bills of the eXer-
cises-wo were gong to say, Of the plaY-are dis
uibuted among the audience. Chqu' and hymn,
overture and march. voluntary and in,crludo, solo,
quartet. full cbosus. tho organ, the brass
band the fiddle. heard by l.rns,
as per Advertisements all arranged with due regard
for effective contrasts. At the approach OF Easier
and Christmas the journals abound with preilml-
nary announcements OF the great musical attr-c-
lions in preparation the church Of St. Verdi, the
aria that is 10 bc sung by prima donna from the
Academy If Music, and the poi-poJru Of Italian
Mass music arranged for the occasion by the dis
tngished Crglnlst and conductor. The news
payers are privately invited TO puff the perform
aucc, and the critics are requested 10 say few
good words for the artists and the director. We
sure TO find consequently in some Of the journals
compliment to tire superb rendering Of
the IacqrEGtu8" bJ the eminent soprano.
or praise of the high chest of the
costly tenor. admlring comment upon tie
popular performer who delights COagy Island with
his cornct-piayIng IN the season, and when not
otherwise employed hires himself to the church Of
the Holy Banjo The list Of engagements for the
church chors is published annually, like the cata-
logue Of the Mapleson and Strakosch companies
and the San Francisco Aiinsrels. And il is not the
fault OF the newspapers if the service Of song"
Is treatei like theatrical entertainment; singers
orgarsts directors beg for such notice, and arc dis
appointed il they do not get it.
II church music therefore IN Nev-Yorh
has become almost q lost art we have no
reason to bo astonished. How can 1t pre-
serve is religious character, purity, dignity
decOrum, when its very purpose has been
forgottcnY Once it was part, and 4 most import
ant part. of the act OF worship. To-day the choir in
a fashionable church fulfs the same function as
the band in a beer garden; ii attracts tho crowd
end 10 naturally adverJises itself accordingly.