Morning journal and courier., 1891-05-04
MUSIC AT THE CHURCHES.

MUSIC AT THE CHURCHES. Interesting Features of the Services | Yesterday and other Notes of Inter- | est.
 Yesterday being the first Sunday in May the various new choirs in various of the churches sang for the first time under their respective terms of service, and special interest attached therefore to the services in many of the churches yester- day. The pouring rain in the morning, however, caused slin attendance in most cases. The changes in the different choirs have been hitherto mentioned in detail and, as rule, the churches able to pay well for vocal talent are well supplied with good singers. The old favorites are near l ly all retained in their old positions. The Church of the Redeemer congregations yes terday were much pleased with their new quartette and chorus choir, and the chief | quartette, consisting of Mrs. Sanford, Miss Hope Lewis, Albert York and MT. Stevens of Yale, gave fine satisfac- | ton. The pastor, Rev. Dr. Phil | lips, at the morning service preached l as usual 8 very able sermon, the leading | thought of which was regarding the ten 1 dency toward Christian unity. The ser mon was listened to with close attention throughout, except during the temporary distraction caused by the ringing of the | fire bells for fire close to the mercantile section of the city, which so diverted the | thoughts of number of prominent mer- l in the center of the city that they lost much, to their regret, of the thread of the sermon.
 l St. Marys R. c. church has persuaded l it's very efficient director of music, ex-Sen- ator J. D. Plunkett, to consent to serve in that capacity for another year, and Pro- lessor Schwickardi will also serve as organ ist. The chorus choir is composed as fol- lows: Sopranos, Misses Mary B. Kivlan, Kiernan, Riley and Vanderwelen, and Mrs. Howard; altos, Madam Oertel and the Misses Lynch, Crotty, Smith and Brothers: tenors, Messrs. Donhan, Walk CT. Carroll. Leonard and Schneider; bas- SOS, David Callahan, William Graf, John E. Murray and MT. Kennedy. Yesterday at 1O:3O a season of forty hours adoration was begun and the yesper service was ! omitted. Madam Oertel and Miss Sullivan receive very complimentary notice in yesterdays New York Herald's Connecti- l cut correspondence which says:
 Since Madame Oertels arrival here she has | been the solo contralto of St. Mary's Cathedral and has sung in many concerts. Her voice is of 1 phenomenal range with compass Of three octaves from to c. The quality is very rich and full and added to this she is a splendid act ! ress. She will play the part of Little Buttercup in the opera. Josephine is to be sung by Miss Mary Sullivan, young lady who has delicious l and Considerable power She is the leading so- prano in St. Nary's Cathedral.
 At Humphrey street Congregational church much interest centered in the music, the church's new organist, Mir. Canada, late of Grace M. E. church, offici- ating for the first time there as musical director and Miss Scranton for the first time under her engagement for the year as efficient chorus choir of fifteen voices, which includes good quartette.
 Benjamin Harwood, who sings as Rack straw in Pinafore this week, oficiated at Center church yesterday as the new tenor, taking the place of George Bradley, who has gone to Trinity.
 The revolution in musical affairs at the United church went into effect yesterday, Congregational singing led by MT. Potter, as precentor, taking the place of the sing ing by quartette and MT. Merwin presid- ing at the organ. The singing last eve ming especially, gave good satisfaction and was much enjoyed, despite recent secret
 lamentations of some and open lamenta
 tions of others who opposed giving up the old quartette choir, though finding nc fault with the excellent work done by SC able precentor as MT. Potter. On the
 whole the change was considered an i'm l provement and many were enthusiastic il 1 the case.
 Professor Chandler's volunteer choir O.
 twenty voices at College street churcl ! vii 1oJx E, most of the selections rendered.
 At Cavalry Baptist fine singing contin ues to be feature of the preaching ser } vices, as the old choir remains, with tht substitute of one good tenor for another } c. H. Metcalf succeeding MT. Heinig.
 The music at St. Paul's church for tn past year has given SO much unmixe' ! satisfaction that the continuing of tn . same regime for another year was a fore
 gone conclusion.
 The new singing of Dwight Place churcl
 choir, Miss Wheatley, soprano and Mis-
 Sophie L. Northrop, contralto, sung yer, acceptably. Both came from the Corne
 church, Meriden.
 At Howard avenue Congregations ) church Professor s. K. Beach will serve al 7 musical director for still another year, hi work giving much satisf faction. At thi church Miss Thompson now sings, vic Miss Ava Johnson, who has gone to th West Haven Congregational church. Arthur L. Bristol, who oficiated al Grace P. E. church, Fair Haven, began his duties as organist at St. Johns Episcopa church yesterday. Charles H. Johnson o. Seymour began as organist at Grace church.
 Professor Bonney and his vested choil
 at St. Thomas remains another year having given thorough satisfaction. A volunteer choir of fifteen voices, H Wetherell Draper, directing now admirably
 assists the congregation singing at thu Church of the Messiah.
 At Trinity M E. church Professor En sign continues as musical director and or ganist, the plan of having congregations singing, with Professor Ensign in charge having so firm foot hold that no chang was ever thought of.
 F. E. Featherstone now leads choir O. ten at Hope Baptist church.
 Miss Maggie Burke of Fair Haven ha, given such complete sati sfaction as organis of the Sacred Heart church that her re-en gagement if possible was immedi ately de cided upon when the subject of fixing upon the music for another year came up She decided to remain, despite other of fers most flattering to this talented young lady from other places. Leading singer of the chorus choir at this church art Aessrs. Nugent and Lauten bach ant Misses Moran, Farrell and Healy.
 The singing of Master Edward Baker was the feature of the music at Trinity church last evening. He is a member of the boy choir in the Church of the Hea venly Rest, New York, and considered one of the finest boy sopranos in tha city.
 l WestvilIe.
 Marcus Shumway of Westville, . moulder aged 62, was fou nd dead in bee Saturday morning, having expired during