The Sunday herald., 1886-12-05
OUR LEADING CHOIR SINGERS.
Chat AbOut Our Prominent Church
warblers md Organists-WhO They

A SUNDAY HERALD man meeting veteran choir
singer who has sang in or been connected with
nearly every prominent church choir in town, ap-
piled the pumping apparatus, as follows:
"What is the average salary of chor-sngers?"
"Two hundred and fifty dollars for sopranos and
tenors and 5000 for cOntraltOs and basses."
What is about the highest salary paid?m
''Six hundred dollars AT one time Miss Eva
Mills received as high as $500 year"
(which churches are most liberal with their
cholrs?"
"Catholic and Episcopal pay the most. The Uni
tartan Church pays liberal salaries"
"How do salaries and talent in Washington COM
"salarles range much lower, while talent COM
pares fayoraoly. The salary OF one OF the solosts
in the Forty-second-street Church, New York City.
Or. Paxton formerly OF the New York avenue
church, pastor, is sl,s00 a year. The celebrated
quartette of st. Bartholmew's, New York, is paid
about s5, 900, and is supplemented with chorus of
thirty-dye picked and paid voices. Washington
congregations are very critical in their musical
tastes"
"Does it take much of the singers time 10 re-
nearse?"
week. For three or four weeks Immediately pre-
ceding Christmas and Easter Sunday they are held
two and three nights each week. Funerals take up
Invariably without extra compensation, whereas In
most other cities It is the rule to pay the choir for
services Of funerals"
"Aboui how many OF our choir singers have gone
on the stage?"
Mills. Mrs. McCartee, Miss Evan, Herndon Morsell,
Frank Pearson. Hamilton Adams, George Dalton,
James Fagan; Edward ~ Hon, and W While Keen, now
(which churches have the best chors, and by
whom are they composer"
''St. Matthew's Roman Catholic Church possesses
one OF the mos popular chors in the city. Mr. John
p. Lawrence here performs on fine organ Of the
modern style, which was built under the personal
direction OF the late Father White. Professor l.. e.
Cannon wleds the baton and the quartette are Mrs.
Smith, formerly Miss Zadee JonesJ Mrs. DAILY, Mr..
W. ii. Burnett, the favore tenor, and Mr.. Cannon,
bass Mrs. Nellie McCartee the former popular So
prano Of this choir, has adopted the operate stage
"Princess Ida" Company in New York. Professor
Steven Kubel Is temporarily organist during the Alb
assised % Sy weraned cSprns and the music
rendered is for the most part the standard works OF
the old masters.
congratulated on again securing the services OF 80
capable and efficient an organist and choir director
as Mrs. q. A. Pearson, under whose able leadership
the choiris making RAPID progress: Miss Harvey,
the soprano; MrsJ. T. oyster, u.ee Miss Detweiler.
gagement at Epiphany; Mr.. j. II. Kaiser Is the
bassQ. The music renderedis mostly English chora
muslc with an occasional selection from the works
of the best American composers.
''Dr. John y. Franklin. the organlst and choir
master OF 81. Pauls Church, on Twenty-third street
enjoys the distinction OF organizing the first cathe
dra or surpljced choir In the city The services are
for the most part English cathedral music occasion
his annual summer trips 10 Europe the Doctor picks
up many fine compositions at the cathedrals In Eng
land and on the Continent, which are nnely inter-
preed by his choir during the winter seasons. He
has added a novel feature IN the shape OF French
horn accompaniment, which Is ably rendered by Mr.
Oerte
has gathered together again most OF the members
of the Od choir that some years ago were the prln'
cipsl attraction on Sundays 10 strangers visiting
Washington. Miss Mollie Byrne, the soprano, il
members OF the quartetie are Mrs. Sherman, Mr.
Mcfarland, aud Mr.. j. II. Hickok. Liberal salare.
are paid the singers, and the music rendered IL
tasteful and appropriate.
"Dr. Bischod tue blind organlst mas made the
music Of the congregational Church prominent
feature. His wonderful skill on the organ II sup
plemented by fine choir, composed for the most
part of his pupils, among whom Miss Dixie Crooks
the soprano, deserves special mention. The music
rendered IL spirited and the organist aud choir are
very popular with the congregation, who patronzt
their occasional secular concerts most literally
'St. Johns Church has experimental during th'
last decade In cholrs OF every kind, including IN,
male Ociette, mixed quarette chorus, and boy choir
The present surpllCed choir was organized soIni
three years ago, cOincldent with the renodellng o
the church, by Mr. ID. B. Macleod, who was then or
ganlst. 1t is now under the direction OF Dr. u, =
Kimbau. The soprano and alto parts are taken bl
boys, the b9Eses and enors being Messts. L. J.. Sci
Dop r. peafson, 1a'nes TranK m ~, yno
now enjoying an enylable reputation az concer
tenor sololst, was member OF this ch0r when hrs
organized, and occasionally lends his services now
The rector, Rev. w, A. Leonard, H. quite talented
musician himself, and deyoteh much time and troub!
10 the Improvement OF the music.
"Dr. Gsorge Waiter the celebrated organist ha
charge OF the music at Al Souls Unitarian Church
The musical portion Of the services IL aby ren
dered by quarlette consisting OF Miss Eva Milli
the popular soprano; Mrs. ID. O. Morrison alto, an
MessTs. Wldney ana Knoop. The loyersof quartet
music, pure and simple Ind much to admire IN ih
tasteful selection of DR.. Walter az Interpreted b
this choir aud their services are in frequent demane
"Dr Gabriel II. Johnston, az the First PresDJ
tefian Church Dr. Sunderland, leads a quartet
choir OF the old style, with Miss Carrie Kidwell
soprano; MISS Nixon, alto; Mr.. VIII Way, teDO
aud himself basso Nr. Thomas Johnston Il IN
organst, aud dlsCOuTses fine music on Sundays to
large aud appreclatlye congregation, which Ofte
Includes President Cleveland aud his wife
"Trlnliy Church, on Third street, DR.. Addls0
rector, maintained a nne quartelie choir for man
years, under the able direction Of Mise Ada MoxOi
organist. Mrs. Dayton Ward, Mra. BOdnsh, Mit
LOltle Swallow. Messrs ii. O. Pearson, Hernd0
MOrsell, Frank Barnard, and ID. w. Middleton hay
been members OF this choir. me present yolunte'
choir 10 conducted BY Nf. Il. j. Whlpple, and con
posed for the most part Of young members OF II
Congregation. The nne bass voice Of Mr. LOn'
g 0ceasionay heard mere, and tue organ 49, PRESIDE
over BY Mr. JeckO.N