The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-12-25
Church Music.
MIR. EDITOR:

DO nuCI DnlSItpTtstllluilOii, SD llluCll HIS
chevious distortion, that looks very like will
full and malicious lying has been circulated
concerning the paper on church music, that
l read week ago, that in self defense | am
obliged to ask you to give space in your
valuable paper for its publication
AnyOne-eYen q child can see that there
is absolutely nothing personal IN the article,
and do not care to have ''some scandal
monger, gossip gabber," misrepresent me in
the community in which ! live, or circulate
reports to the effect that | have berated in
public, people whom regard as my friends.
STANLEY L. PARllILI.
CHURCH MUSIC, FROM THE STANDPOINT
OF THE PEW.
1t is with some embarrassment that ]
venture to respond to this branch of this
subject 1t would seem more in keeping if
some pillar of the church, whose life of SER
vice gives him license to speak on any of its
forms and customs, shOnld talk concerning
so important branch of its worship as the
song service, rather than some younger
occupant of the pew who has not been under
fire long enough or uninterruptedly enough
to become thoroughly seasoned. In fact
think | should not have Yentured into it at
all but for the fact that my experience has
made me in some degree familiar with at
least two sides of this triangular discussion,
| so with feeling of regret for the pew, that
its cause shall not be more ably champion
! ed, and an apology to the deacons, young
| and old, official and unofficial, if L have
usurped any of their privileges, l venture
to offer the little that | have TO say on this
subject.
Any criticism on church music from the
standpoint of the pew will strike most
musicians as ridiculous assumption, much
| as though some newer of wood and drawer
of water should attempt TO give advice and
| instruction to some astronomer on the rela-
ton and movements of the planets; and in
deed If ii was the purpose of this discussion
to attempt any criticism or offer any sugges-
tiOns on the rendering of church music
simply from a musical standpoint. only with
regard to musical laws and musical science
L should be dumb as an oyster and hold my
peace concerning things on which l am
sadly ignorant, leaving the discussion to
some person who was on easy and familiar
terms with thOrOugh-base, harmony, coun-
terpoint and phrasing, to some student who
could distinguish between sonata and a
symphony, nocturn and gavote. But
that is a branch of the subject that intend
to let severely alone; that is beyond the
capacity of the pew as an average and some
thing it cares but little about. We are
simply to deal with church music as part
of church worship, not as a musical science.
and propose to speak of ii with reference to
what seems to us to be desirable and In
harmony with the worshipfnl idea.
In the first place what are church services
held for and why are people supposed to
attend them? For these things at least:
To get into accord with the will OF God.
To worship Him and acknowledge Him.
To receive instruction concerning His
word and the truths, written or unwritten,
of Christianity, and by meeting together to
strengthen the ties of brotherly love and
good fellowship that is the basis of all
organized Christian effort. If this be so,
any influences that lead to this end are to be
welcomed, and those things that promoie il
to the highest degree must be considered
best, and of all these none is more potent
than the charm of song.
Simple melody is wonderful in its effect
united with harmony il is increased many
fold, and when melody and harmony are
united in expressing some noble thought OF
aspiration, when the musical expression is
IN perfect sympathy with the poetic idea eX.
pressed in words, it becomes one of the
strongest influences i'm moving the hearts OF
men. This Is undoubtedly granted by al
people who believe in church music at all
Our only point of difference is in the manner
and kind of song service that is best.
As a rule those religious meetings are bes
in which the greatest percentage of people
take part. The song service of church is
no exception. Nothing delights me more
than to he in congregation that sings well
and heartily, and be one of them so far az
my scant musical requirements will allow.
SO, from the standpoint of my pew l have
no hesitancy in saying that the best music
that church can have is that form known
as congregational singing. Very well, how
are we going to get it? Here are three
elements that enter into the questionable
pew, the choir and the pulpit
First, the pew. The great body of church
worshipers who could have any arrangement
they desire if they insist upon it.
Second, the choir. What is II? Simply
few of the pews chosen to assist the greater
body i'll its singing-that Is all, nothing
more. Its capacity should be simply that OF
help and encouragement, remember that.
Lastly the pulpit, and this is the most i'm.
portant factor of the three for it is the head
of church worship and is supposed to have
the ordering and directing of its details.
Now why is ii that we have so little hearty
congregational singing III our churches? No
because the people who attend church can
nol SHY, lOr nearly everyone can JOIN In
hymn. 1t is because the matter has drifteC
into the hands of the choirs. The pew ha:
become somewhat apathetic and rather thar
make an effort lets matters drift. and the
pulpit with many matters and details to lool
after, prefers to let an arrangement thai
seems reasonably satisfactory stand as i
finds it, rather than create some disturbance
by asserting itself.
ChOirs are necessarily very like congrega
tons; they like to sing themselves, and car
sing with better effect when other people arr
quiet. hence the very natural tendency o
any choir to absorb to itself more than its
due share of the service, and so 1t easily
drifts into show pieces chants, anthems
duets and solos. Music that as music /:
sometimes very nice, but as worship is GER
tainly very often passive, IL not entirely
negative. To test the truth of this assertion
for yourself, analyze your thoughts ant
emotions when you hear tie average anthem
rendered by the average choir. Have yor
ever tried 1t? How does 1t impress you.
Unless the choir is an unusually good one
you are uneasy for fear they will breal
down In the midst Of II. If your musica