The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-01-15
CHURCH MUSIC.
1t Origin and Evolution Described by
George william Warren,

1t Origin and Evolution Described by
George william Warren.
In the New York Herald recently there
appeared a very interesting interview
with George William Warren, formerly
OF Troy, n. Y, on the subject of church
music. The article is reproduced below.
The part relating to Henry Squires was
was printed three weeks ago.
To Mr.. George William Warren, Mus.
Doc, lecturer on music to Columbia Col
lege, organist and director of music in
st. ThOmas's parish, the Herald owes its
Christmas carol this year.
The title of the work is "Christmas
SnOwilakes.n The music was composed
by Dr. Warren last month, and the words
Potts. assistant rector of st. Thomas's
church, foI the use of the parish Sunday
school at the coming Christmas celebra-
tion.
Among the composers of sacred music
in this country no one ranks higher than
DR.. Warren in the particular line of com
position tnat he has made his own. As
a composer of hymns, hymn anthems
and carols he Is one of the most prolific
and popular writer's in America. On last
Easter Sunday in fourteen churches of
all Protestant denominations in this city
and in Brooklyn at least one of DR.. War
ren's compositions was sung, and he is
as well known TO the church-gOers of
every large city in the Union as he is
here in the city that has been his home
for the past twenty years.
1t is over forty years since DR.. Warren
wrote his first famous work, "Rock of
Ages which maintains its wonderful
popularity even to-day, and during that
time hc has seen the most radical
changes in the musical portion of the
service of the church that have taken
place for acentury. He has witnessed
a revolution, too, in which he played a
prominent part. But | will let him tell
the story in his own way.
At certain hours of certain days in the
week DR.. Warren can be found at home,
and only at those times. The life of
music teacher, lecturer, composer, organ
| list and choir director in one of the
busiest parishes in this busy town is not
an idle one can assure you. This home
| is a handsome white stone mansion on
Forty-ninth street near Fifth avenue,
once the dwelling of John Quincy Adams
| Ward, the famous sculptor. 1t was in
the studio on the first floor that | met
DR.. Warren. Imagine room as large as
the dining-rOOm, parlOr, reception room,
| kitchen and pantry of an ordinary house
| thrown into one, high almost as two
rooms, hung with rich tapestry and can
vases, and containing a library, writ
ing desk, two grand pianos and an organ,
and you will have some idea of the most
complete musical studio in this city.
At the desk was seated the doctor, a
handsome slender man of medium height
and muscular frame. His dark brown
eyes look out from under heavy iron gray
eyebrows, and military moustache
covers fine mouth and determined chin.
"Changes in church compositions
since | have known what church music
is? That is a rather comprehensive
topic. Let me see. l first played the
organ in an Episcopal church in 1916. II
was III St. Peters church in Albany
where was born. How old was | at the
time? That would be confessing. A
musician is Just as old as he feels anC
looks, and not day older. | was
brought up by my father, who was {
hardware merchant, to follow in hi!
footsteps For seven years l work ed il
my fathers store, and during those year
| studied music during my spare hours
even composed some little pieces
trashy as most boys pieces, suppose
on bits of brown wrapping paper at TIL
. big desk in the Office. We were a musi
cal family, and | found plenty of ell
cOuragement at home, but it was not de
sired that should adopt music as pro
u fCsSiOn.
+ 'As began | first played in st. Peter
= church. The late Bishop HOratio Pot
A Al.
: zeal when | tell you that l played til
: organ for six months for nothing an
= was delighted with the opportunity
n After remaining in DR.. Potter's churc
t. a short time | took a similar post in s.
n Paul's church, where DIR. William Ingri
d ham Kip, now Bishop of California, wa
e the rector. There | remained until 1861
e when | went to Holy Trinity church i
1t Brooklyn, where DR.. Littlejohn, no
Bishop of Long Island, was the recto
y In 1870 was offered my present plaC
by the late DIR. Morgan, Rector of S
Thomas's, just as the present churc
building was completed, and have bee
here ever since.
e "When took charge of the music
St Paul's there was an old clerk VIII
2, sang bass in the choir and made the n
'e sponses for the congregation. He wa
in the habit of repeating the prayers fOJ
& or five words behind the rector, an
that method he followed in his singinl
The hymn was more like fugue with
bass ObligatO than common metr
D, We sang no re Deum, ,canticles or psalte
'e The hymns and psalms were sung [
such tunes as Dundee, and the organi
was expected TO embellish the produ
L tions by playing a fancy interlude b.
It tween the verses. Even the chants thi
., wore used were prefaced by fOurisl
There was no sheet music. All IL
i selections were chosen from a printe
e and bound collection of venerable az
and the chants were the florid doub
1t chants of the GregOrian period, then he
=, in high esteem by the Anglican churc
That was the kind of music | found
n. my choir, and it was fair sample of Il
W kind most prevalent.
x "There were two or three exception
le though, and to these exceptions Il
C. young church musician of to-day ow
| more than he probably knows. The la
ut DIR. Edward Hodges had come to Trini
ID church, this city, as Organist and chO
director in 1916. He at once bega
marked improvements in the music
the service. His choir sang Te DelH
anthems and hymns of his own compoi
&, tiOns, and later on he sent to EnglaI
for choral services and other sheet musi
Another pioneer in this new moveme
was Rev. j. Ireland Tucker, now as tn,
al the beloved rector of the church of Il
of Holy Cross in Troy. DIR. Tucker Intr
I'd duced the first choral service ever SUI
nd in this country and was an enthusiast
rh lover of the beautiful in church musi
by made his acquaintance early in n
he boyhood, and TO him, his loving intere
r. and his great talent | owe more than
any other musician such success as
as have attained. Rev. DIR. W. A. Muhle
ts berg of this city was another early work
er in this cause, and noble work he accOI
as plished.
y at took me two years TO weed out d
Ie old singers from my choir and TO inau
- urate the new movement in Albany. \
,o first experiment was with Jackson's
M De,up in +. Il was the first TIE Den
ever sung in st. Paurs, and l was l
garded as a musical prodigy after q
re service-nOt because had chosen so I'll
nd a work, not of my taste or ability as
organist, but solely because the che
was able to sing it through without
breakdown. 1t was regarded as
SO achievement. This was a staTt-a smi
IS. one, 1t is true, but nevertheless start
e. and took pains to take no backwa
We steps About this time | began to col
N. pose church music. IL was difficult al
a expensive TO procure sheet music al
ut my first compositions were written I
" my own choir. Rock of Ages was WI
NJ ten in 1919. IL was published by my G
IS, friend, William A. Pond, who Is dea
He gave me twenties copies of 1t as pa