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

from whose works the Trinity choir makes
its selections.
ga steady, solid, musical progression"
he said, sis to be observed in the church
music of this city For several years past
the quality of the music produced at the
churches has been improving. | speak
now, Of course, from the point of view of
the musical artist, not considering for the
moment the exact religious element in the
music. This has not resulted so much
from the financial inducement to the sing
ers as from solid demand for superior
work on the part of the audiences. This
has been created by the competition which
necessarily exists between different church
choirs, and by the unconscious musical
education of the public by travelling and
by listening to secular musical entertain
ments. Not only has there been steady
improvement in regard to artistic quality
of the music sung in church choirs, but
during the last decade, at least, there has
been tendency to draw away from the
older masters and to take up those who,
although not less devotional, are more mod
ern. There are some musicians who stand
aghast at this apparent desertion of the
classical masters, but they forget that the
great masters of to-day viii in all probable
ity be looked upon as the classical masters
century from this time, and that, as a
matter of fact, there are many compare
lively unknown composers to-day who by
reason of their ability to draw for inspira-
ton upon the masterpieces of the past, are
able to compose music which is worthy to
rank side by side with many of the famous
compositions which are reverenced by the
public and the critics together. English
and American compositions are extensively
sung at present. The works of Warren
and Gilchrist, both native Americans, are
particularly popular, Although the COM
positions Of Wagner are not drawn upon
very much for church singing, the inhu-
ence of this composer is so widespread
upon other writer's that much Of the
church music to-day is colored by his pc
culiar methods
Grace Church is distinct remove toward
the Protestant idea. The essential Roman
Catholic idea is the Gregorian choir. The
essential Protestant idea is chorus Of
mixed voices in ''fgured' or part music.
The best choirs are those which combine
one of these ideas with more or less of the
other. The complete choir is that which
embodies both of them fully, at the cathe-
dral. One of the famous choirs of the
city is at Grace Church, where Mr.. S. P.
Warren has been for many years the di-
rector.
awe number thirty, all told,' said Mr..
Warren at the close of little rehearsal.
"Our quartet of soloists comprises Miss Ida
w. Huhbell, soprano; Miss A. Foresman,
contralto; Mr.. Geo. Simpson, tenor; and DIR.
c. E. Martin, bass. There have been no
important changes in our choir for several
years, speaking from the point of view Of a
musician. OF course, members of the
chorus have come and gone; we have lost
some whom we missed and have received
others whom we were glad to welcome, but
the general body has been substantially the
same. We sing what may be the high-class
church music. The continuance of my
singers and myself speaks for the har-
mony of our relations. am frequently
overwhelmed with applications for place
in the choir, but we seldom have vacan-
cies, Applications are almost invariably
made in person. The days when musi-
cal agencies existed to supply choir
masters with vocal talent have long since
passed by in this city; l do not think
that there is singers musical agency at
present in New York, at least none which
deals with choir singers. Almost every
applicant for place in a choir knows
enough to bring to the organist recon-
mendation from some we'll known teacher
in the city There is about an equal sup
ply of the different voices, and they com
mald practically the same salary. This
applies only to competent soloists. In the
general choir and chorus the sopranos are
most easy to obtain, and basses next in
order"
A popular variation from the Protestant
idea is that of the quartet or quintet with
out chorus or chancel choir. A great ex-
ample of this form is found at Westminster
Presbyterian Church DIR. Paxten's), where
Mr.. Peter Schneider is organist and direc-
tor. Henrietta Beebe is the soprano. IF
any soloist in the city gets more than ST.
500 salary it is Miss Beebe. She is widely
known in the East upon the concert stage.
Mrs. Barron Anderson is the alto, Chris
tian Fyiisch is one of the greatest tenors in
the city. DIR. Danforth is basso st. Bar
is another great example of the
quartet choir. Henry Warren is the or
ganist and director, Miss Ella Earle soprano,
Miss Hattie Clapper alto, Mr.. Theodore
Toedt tenor, Franz Remmertz bass. At
St. BartholomeW's there is good chorus to
the quartet.
The Jewish churches have set form of
choir. In theory it is the full choir, but
for the chancel choir of boys, as exemplif-
ed in the cathedral, a ''cantor" is substitut-
ed for the responses and chants. The
general choir also is often double or triple
quartet, not divided into solo, quartet and
chorus. The finest example of the Jewish
choral organization in this country is at
Temple Emanuel, Fifth avenue and Forty
third street. Mr.. A. Davis is organist.
The sopranos are Misses Hirsch and
Trichet; altos, Miss Wichs and Mrs. Hills;
tenors, Christian Fritsch and Mr.. Silber-
nagel; baritone, Trueman; basso, Geo.
Prehn. The cantor is Mr. Ruben. The
music is taken from all schools, and words
of the Jewish faith are substituted where
the originals are in conflict. A great deal
Of music of the Viennese composers is
used at the temple. Vienna is famous for
It's temples, and has produced many great