The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-12-25
NEW YORK BOY CHOIRS.
MOST OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCHES
NOW EMPLOY THEM. Il

MOST OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCHES
NOW EMPLOY THEM
Enough Boys Are Hard to Secure Count
| less Rehearsals Necessary Before tho
Trained Choir Is Ready to Sing Ao-
ceptably-German Boys Preferred.
Boy choirs are now an established
feature of worship in a majority of Epis-
copal churches in this city; but few
members Of congregations have any
knowledge of the work of the choir be-
yond that gained as listeners. The search
for singers, the teachers rehearsals and
the many hindrances to the successful
maintenance of a vested choir are all out
of sight.
Before the existence of general de-
mand for boys with good voices, an or
ganist was often besieged by applicants
and had only to make his choice. How
different the conditions are today every
organist, with the possible exception of
those of Trinity parish, can attest. Trim
ity has at command the parish schools
from which, much after the English sys-
tenn, the choirmaster may select his
voices and maintain supplementary
choir.
Not SO fortunate, however, are most
choirmasters. They are obliged to de-
pend on such sources as advertisements
In the newspapers, both English and
German; the Sunday schools of the par
ish and the public schools, and the offer
OF commission to any boy securing a
satisfactory chorister. The first named
is perhaps the most successful method,
and many good voices have been OBJ
tanned by it; but no one of the above is
sure method Of recuperating the ever
changing personnel of the choir, and
many organists probably appreciate the
feelings Of the choirmaster of one of the
largest Episcopal churches in New York,
who, when asked in what manner he
provided for vacancies in his choir, re-
piled that he ''trusted to luck"
CHOIR SCHOOLS.
IF church services demanded a daily
choral services choir schools such as ex-
ist abroad would be necessary, and
those interested hope that in time such
institutions will be maintained in this
country.
The lack of material for solo voices
has prompted the organists of sozae
prominent churches, such as St. Georges,
St. Mary the Virgins, All Angels, and
St. Ignatius', to employ female voices in
this capacity, and even as auxiliary
chorus singers, and the future will
doubtless see many other churches COM
PEELED to adopt this expedient, which
can certainly be defended on musical if
not on ecclesiastical grounds
The most successful choirs in New
York number about thirty-fve voices,
VIZ, sixteen trebles, five altos, seven
tenors and eight bassos, and although
authorities differ somewhat the best re-
suits appear to be obtained when the
parts are divided in about this proper
ton.
Voices vary greatly in quality and
carrying power, which makes it difficult
to give definite law covering every
case, but some adult voices are a neces-
sity. 81.
The number of rehearsals varies &C.
cording to the style of music rendered
and the ability of the choir to read
music readily. In few churches are the
rehearsals for boys less frequent than
twice weekly, and in many cases indi-
vidual lessons are given in addition.
Many listeners express wonder at the
facility with which the little choristers
render fiorid passages; but except in
rare instances these results are accom-
plished by hard and patient labor on the
part of both instructor and pupil.
GERMAN BOYS IN DEMAND.
Boys Of German parentage are greatly
In demand, they seeming to possess bet
ter voices than American lads, and in ad-
dition a musical instinct, which is a
great help to proficiency in their art.
Boys are available for choir work be-
tween the ages of and 49, At an
earlier age than 9 they do not possess
sufficient intelligence to be of service,
and except in rare cases their voices do
not last after the sixteenth year.
For a time before their voices arc en-
tirely lost boys are sometimes available
for the alto parts-the upper register
being useless this is great injustice
to the chorister, as the value of his voice
in after years is by this course seriously
deprecated.
Boys voices have two registers, the
thick" and chin" In the first the
vocal chords vibrate in their whole thick
ness and in the latter only the thin edges
of the chords are employed.
The sweet, birdlike quality of the
trained chorister is due to the use of the
higher register or head tones rather than
to constant practice, as is generally sup
posed.
An unframed boy will sing naturally
in the thick register, producing a hard,
disagreeable zone, and his voice will
wear out long before the allotted period.
In addition to the flute like timbre
when the thin register is employed, the
compass of the voice is extended up to
G and A above the staff without effort,
notes which would be impossible for the
unframed boy to deliver.
In nearly all the surpliced choirs bows