New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-28

enteIprise of the metropolitan press, as as
plaved in the reports Of prayers praises ana
oihe, popular performances at the ta'hlohao'e
churches. The indeiatieablc chronicer mas
tal,en 70 nrinting the names Of notable persons
among the congregation. very much MS hn gives
lit of the occupant, OF boxes at the Charity
Rail or cf we'll known people IN the audience at
tbe first night OF new play. Thus ne pre-
pared Yesterday a select catalogue or the ei''l-
ue1t citizens who might have been observed
among the wOrshipperS at certain service q"
Good Friday; not, as We suppose because 'ho'o
WAS ANYTHING remarkable IN their gong 10
cbu,ch. but because the presence ol so many
Gentlemen of good standing III society WAS Uh-
dcrstood 10 impqrt tone TO the proceedings.
fine field for the industrious Journalist is opened
hv tins new drparurc; and we shall expect the
urooros.iyc reporter 10 mike his devotional de-
uortmcnt rs per soual and entertaining as his
record oi private dinner parties ANA inventory
of brides uudclclotho..
To-day is devoted, in a great many OF The
newspapers, to the Qualification oI chHch
caons. The past week has rcsomdcd "i'h TIE
foot of preparation. We have been invited to
watch the accomplished oIgauisl getting 20
rethcr his eminent -o.o.sls. and arranging his
attractive and elaborate programmes. Hand
some bills of tho concert have been printed
with tine fuil distIibu. o1 OF paris names OF all
tine performers and words Of the SONGS ana
have been sent to the papers with the request
pleas. notice." They have been nouccd,
with lavish di-plag Of headlines and reckless
Drodcqhty Of ndi elves. The programme
nar.ht with impra-,ivcaess and Io"ccul'
are "wcpaud on q most orulcnt srai''' ana
viii bc "inteprct by trained chorus's ana
% soloi.i, Of supa ssiue skill Thls choir VIII
agu.tain IT, DISTINGUISHED reputation That
other Viii live evidence Of It's high musical
"a pirauous.r ! third will prove equal u '1'
"occasion" IF one church Las been so ioru-
nate rs to effect on eug1gcm. ut with tAc ceic-
brated tenor Mr.. W4ldtwus., another has SOC
culcd the services Of the popular pianist Mr.
Peascblossom. ard still auO.Lcr boasts II on
uurivancd trumpefer. or an experienced d.
rector under whosc Efficient ,upcIlnt ndence
e. The excellent and varied selections uc sure ol
Sc a Good pcrlomluce" Indeed, If We look at
tie character of some of thc pro-r mmc- We
caa hardly be supui cl 100 tho toue in which the
NEWSPAPERS speak OF chem. Al one church.
where they viii lave band, the performance
oDcns TODAY wi h an overture by hc.cl StH,
for orcsostru, organ and piano, and CLOSES with
llarcAc Htroiguc" by Coleman; AID bee
tween these lively extremes is 20 Doe q medley
composed Of Danizct'i P.lcstrGa, rIrouslNns
comnoscrs. Mozart and ST. Gregory At an
other. where the selections ARC modern, TIE
opcning anthem is TO lie accompanied on The
coruet by an amateur The march hom
"Tannhdu-er" a "ScIeIzo on tlc oGrm' see
lcct.d from McndOlssoliu; the OF r,uIc TO
Kreu'zer's opera, A \ ght in Granada ~; some
thing from Verdi; something from Dei Frey
schiitzi" movements from symphoniesj the
Bridal Chorus from Lohenguu many Of
those desolate and irIcl ious denominations
known ~ Italian musical ycspcrs these are
specimens OF Easter programmes, which do not
differ much so far as We can see, from lie sun
day concerts at The Academy Of Music. One
choir master Is 50 wei imbued with the religious
character OF The festival that be proposes to
adom the service with the lnilammatus from
Rossini's "Stabat Mater" Tomorrow, no
doubt some Of the newspapers will favor us
with criticisms upon the rendition of these
attractive programmes.
We are well aware that the clergy are not al
WAYS responsible for what is done in the organ
gallery, ana that III many cases 'heY are eXcr-
clsing an excellent influence upon the musical
service I'm their churches, making it devotional
in character, and checking the tendency toward
Inappropriate display which is the common
failing of professional choirs. If we are to
have a reform Of church music, it must come
from the clergy. Artists who play and sing for
II salary in churches whose beliefs they do not
share cannot be expected to accomplish much
IN this important work. If they hlvo tas and
culture they will improve tho quality of the
music, considered merely as music; but they
cannot make it o part of divine worship without
effective help from the chancel. That of
course, is what it ought to BET but In too many
of our churches the music only serves 10 attract
an audience, ike the band which plays on the
balcony Of the museum.