Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-10
The Church Music
Best Adapted to the Service o. Praise.

The Church Music
Best Adapted to the Service o. Praise.
Many have undertaken to write ON
the proper adaptation of music to
the service OF the church. Some
have given US valuable history Of
music, as it was and is; others have
favored US with the best thoughts
on the subject Of Christian praise.
and how to accomplish the very best
results, have pointed out difficulties.
suggested remedies and given ad.
vice which, if followed, would place
the music of the church on q plane
of excellence that could be appreci-
ated by tie community. But how
few, indeed, in our churches, know
or care for the advice of one who
has bad fifty or more years of prao.
tical experience; and while the true.
lover of sacred music can never for
get the memory of Thomas Hastings,
the ignorant will never know that he
lived. The greatest obstacle that
stands in the way of having good
music in the church, is q general ig-
norauce of the language of mIsic
and the lack of knowledge of the.
simple rules of musical notation. Il
reaches from pastor to the people.
with few exceptions, and accounts
for the unsettled state of opinion il
SO important q matter and the con-
tinual changing from one style to
another, which. is often for the
worst, seldom for the better. While
the science of music is highly cult.
waited, ignorance is sbo.. in an nm
willingness to accept that which cul-
tivated, erroneously supposing that
God has given to each all the must
cal ability they need to praise him
acceptably, without labor. and ds-.
spising what may be called worldly
preparation, forgetting that we OBJ
tain no other favors in that way.
No education, no good preaching,
no nothing but singing and praying.
come in that easy of. hand mannsr;
but fear the prayers of self concsit-
ed ignorance are seldom answered.
It seems to be overlooked that mus
sic has attained a high state Ct pei-.
fiction; that musicians. like teach-
ers, or artists, or lawyers, are, pro-
perly speaking. the visible legiti-
mate opponents of the art or profae-
sion. If;not the only ones who have
a right to sing the praises of God,
they certainly know best how it.
should be done, at least from q mu-
steal point of view. It is proper.
however. that every church should
determine for itself what kind Of
music they will have, if thought ex-
pedient that all, learned and un-
learned. shall have q voice in 30 inn
portant q matter. BY their fruits
shall ye know them"
1t is true that the less real musical
knowledge there is in a eongrega-
ton, the more they are attached to
congregational singing. and congrs-
gational singing. it must be admit
ed, is the very best, if all are oompe-
tent who take part, having taken
reasonable pains to qualify them
selves. But alas! it is not SO, and
the singing in most of our churches
only betrsys ignorance, perchance
OF earnest worshipers.
Sometimes, for want of must IL
education, grave mistakes are made
in the selection OF an organ, organ
ist and chorister. If there are any
uneducated in music on the board Of
trustees, they are likely to be On the
music committee, for having no mu.s
sic in their souls they have NO con-
science in the matter and are likely
to be more oonceited and, of course,
self-willed. If they want choEis-
ter, other than musical ability often
regulates the choice. as acquaintance.
etc. The trouble 10 ignorance. The
remedy is simple, but hard for Sons
to digest. Let the men. and women
too, in your churches, who under
stand plain church music and can
read it intslligibly, and none others.
determine all about the music. and
you will have the best mns;c you de-
serve and you will all be able to ape
preciate it.
Much difference OF opinion pre-.
walls as to the best style of singing
to produce the best devotional feel
ing, whether quartette, choir or con-
gregational. The subject is too vast
for present discussion. I have heard
q quartstte, or even a solo, that
would melt the heart and draw tears
from the eyes of Sympathy, better
than any other style; while the glo-
~ or hallalujah Of a well-balanced
choir will produce feeling OF revey-
ence unattainable in any other way
to others. Congregational singing
is the least perfect FROM causes ssli.
evident. 1t is sometimes simply dis &
gushing to those who would be able
to appreciate the others. But per
lection consists in the combination )
OF the whole: an organ for power
and upon which to rely as correct
basis, a quartette for expression, .
choir to direct and control, and Z
congregation willing and able to 70.
spond,
In the hope that we shall yet on.
ter state OF better musical knowl.
edge, increased musical taste and
forbearanee towards one another