Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-04-25

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-
TEN, the choirmaster may select his
voices and maintain a 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
ISL and the public schools. and the offer
Of d 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 a
sure method of recuperating the ever
changing personnel Of the choir, and
many organists probably appreciate the
feelings Of the chOirmastcr Of one Of the
largest Episcopal churches ia 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 daily
choral services choir schools such as ex-
list abroad would be necessary, and
those interested hope that in tine such
institutions viii be maintained in this
country.
The lack of materia! for solo voices
has prompted the organists Of some
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 viii
doubtless see many other churches com
PEELED to adopt this ezpedient which
can certainly be defended on musical if
not on ecclesiastical grounds.
The most successful choirs in New
York number about tlirty-lve voices,
viz, sixteen trebles. five altos. seven
tenOrs and eight baasos, 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 a definite law covering every
case, but some adult voices are a neces-
sity.
The number of rehearsals varies ac-
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 ford 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 musical instinct, which is a
great help to proficiency in their art.
Boys are available for choir work be-
tween the ages of and 16 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 time before their voices are en-
tirely lost boys are sometimes available
for the alto parasitic upper register
being useless2but this is a 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 thin" In the first the
vocal chords yibrate 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 VIII sing naturally
in the thick register, producing a hard,
disagreeable tone, and his voice will
wear out long before the allotted period
In addition to the flute Ike ti1nbre
when the thin register is employed, the
compass of the voice IS extended I'D to
G and a above the staff without effort.
notes which would be impossible for the
unframed boy to deliver.
In nearly all the s1rpliced ciloi~5 boys
are paid a salary which varies from 81. so
to $40 monthly for chorus work, and
from SO to $50 month for soIoists. Elk
cephonal voices command corresponding
salaries.
A system of fines for tardiness, alb
sence and misbehavior is generally en-
forced as the most satisfactory method
of maintaining discipline, and it is prob
able that the angelic countenance Of the
average choir boy is nou1ished by tie
prospect of the salary which this course
will preserve iutact.-New York World
Preferred to Be with Papa.
IL II.