The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-07-28

salaries. But the chancel choir of boys
costs little. The Catholic and some Epis-
copal churches recruit their chancel choirs
from the orphan asylums of their churches,
and require services of the boys as part
of their duty
Most of the choir directors say that no
particular class of solo voice commands
higher salaries than others, and they also
agree that good voices of all registers are
equally hard to obtain Organist A. H.
Messiter of Trinity, however, says that
sopranos are the most valuable features of
a choir from a financial point of view.
Musically, of course, one part in harmony
is as important as another. Mr.. Messiter
says that $500 is good pay for soloist as
salaries run, and that many capable singers
are content to get much less, some salaries
being as low as $780, He thinks the sup
ply is vastly in excess of the demand, mas
much as an advertisement asking for one
singer will procure from sixty to seventy
responses. There is no reason, therefore,
why the churches should not have the very
best vocal talent at their disposal.
In this city there is room for every kind
of musical ability, as every sort of choir is
here represented. The best example of
complete church music probably in the
country is found at the cathedral. There
are two choirs there, the general church
choir of mixed voices, and the ohancel
choir. The church choir consists of
quintet and chorus, Miss Efie Stewart
has been the soprano since May 1887. She
took the place of Nine. Martins, Peru
Wan lady once under Mapleson's manage
ment Nine Martins held the place seven
years. She has now married and returned
to her home in Lima. Miss Stewart is a
Cleveland lady, well known upon the con-
cert stage of Cleveland, Chicago, and Bos-
ton. Miss Marie Groebl has recently taken
Mrs. Catherine Ford's place as alto. She
is from Baltimore, and, like Miss Stewart,
won laurels upon the concert stage before
settling here Her forte has been oratorio
music. Charles Kaiser, the tenor, is an
able musician He was for years pupil
of Stockhausen, in Frankfort. His voice
is clear, flexible, and light, materially diff
fering from that of his predecessor, Charles
Turner, who was tenor robusto in every
sense. Charles Steinback, the baritone, is
the only member of the choir who has been
in the cathedral since its dedication. He
is also the only one who engages in other
business during the week. His voice is a
high baritone and very telling. Henry
Schwicardi, the basso, was formerly known
in German opera. He has been at the
| cathedral nearly five wears
There are usually about fifty in the
chorus at the cathedral. Very few receive
salaries.
There is no end of application to sing in
this famous chorus. Mr.. w. Fl. Fletcher
is organist and director at the cathedral.
He formed the choir. Formerly he was
organist at St. Peters. The other day he
showed the writer letter from we'll
known lady. He said
''This lady has splendid voice. She
wants to join my chorus. She says that
social duties will prevent her being present
at all rehearsals, though she will always be
at services. won't have her. Eternal
vigilance is the price of admission to the
cathedral chorus. 1 can get all the good
voices want on my own terms, and those
are-business."
1t does not require distinguished, musical
knowledge to hold place in the church
chorus. A good voice and fair knowledge
of reading are sufficient. For the solOist,
though, the exactions are severe. The
singer must be able to render difficult
piece of music at sight and remember it
after one rehearsal He must not only
remember it, but be SO much at home in
the mechanical matter of notes and time as
to bend his whole soul to the proper emo
tional rendering of the music. The ground
covered by the quintet at the cathedral is
extensive. Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven,
Gounod, Rossini, Cherubini, and, in fact
all the masters of oratoria and sacred music
form the basis These are covered in all
their works The same selection is seldom
sung twice year. At vespers the very
old masters are represented. The works of
francesca Durante and Pergoese are IA
vorites. OF late the quintet has been
wooing the modern French muse, princi
pally as interpreted by Saint Saens and
Alexander Guillmant. A programme has
not been repeated, nor a selection rendered
twice, except on request, for six months.
When the extent and variety of this work
are considered, with the numerous fast
days, feasts, and special festivals celebrated
at the cathedral over and above weekly
services, and it is remembered that only
two rehearsals are held each week, some
sort of an idea can be formed of the natu-
raj gifts and education necessary for sue
cessful soloist.
Father Lammel is organist and director
of the chancel choir of fifty boys. His
duty does not involve so much musical skill
as that of Mr.. Petoher, but is infinitely
laborous. The boys are from an orphan
asylum. They know nothing of music
when he gets them, and they are very
hard to teach. Moreover, as soon as few
years practice makes boy really worth
something, his voice suddenly plunges into
a cavernous and unmusical bass, and he is
good for nothing. He is replaced by
younger boy. Thus, work as he will, the
director Of chancel choir has continually
to deal with rough and unframed material.
The chancel choir sings responses, introits
the psalms of the day, and antiphones. 1t
alternates with and relieves the principal
choir, and with it helps to form striking
whole.
This Is the ideal choir, the full choir.
But their are other kinds equally in vogue.
One is essentially Roman Catholic in origin.
This Is the choir of boys only. The music
is restricted to the Gregorian modes of one
part. 1t consists of antiphoner, introits,
responses, psalms, &c. Since the introduc-
ton of the organ, "figured masic'' has