Morning journal and courier., 1892-12-23

nounces Profane and Theatrical
Music.
From the Tablet
Our own columns were lately occupied
by some correspondence on the important
subject Of church music, as also were those
of some of our catholic contemporaries.
The question has been taken up In an au-
thoritstive manner by the archbishop of
Cos. His grace's pronouncement seems SO
generally. important that we venture to
quote the following summary of 1t from
our contemporary, The Bombay Catholic
Examiner.
The archbishop in the first place up
holds the Gregorian chant as the proper
ecclesiastical chant, and characterizss as
disloyalty to the church any attempt to
criicise or oppose its use and culture. But
let us hear the archbishop's own instruct
i've words; "It Is necessary that we call the
attention especially of the parish priests to
the general abuses regarding sacred music,
that important element of the liturgy, in
order to eItirpste them. The only proper
music of the church Is that chant which.
on account of its plainness. gravity and
other excellent qualities. is best fitted TO
give due expression to the praises of God
and to raise In the hearts Of the faithful
genuine sentiments of devotion and re-
ligion." After contrasting the heavenly
effort of this kind of music on ST. Angus
tine with the worldly distractions produced
by the modern fashionable church music
he exclaims with Indignation, 'fHow far
from the proper scope and object of sacred
music are most of the figured competitions,
whether vocal or instrumental, we hear In
our churchesl
"The introduction of those worldly airs
and harmonies which are In no relation
arbitrary trsnspositions, omissions, and
lengthy repetitlons of. words; those -four
ishes and turbulent instrumental accom-
paniments totally disproportloned to the
voices, are some of the general faults of
our church music, all of which fall under
the censure of the Pontifcsl DEGREES. They
prolong beyond all reasonable measure the
divinesservice; they distract the faithful,
drawing their attention from the Holy Sac
rifice, the preaching, and the edifyiug
ritual of the church; they detsin unduly
the course of the sacred functions; they
give occasion not only for people to go in
and out during the time of the service, as
If to take rest or to talk outside and disturb
tAc otAACArI oaN aRfCSA ODAl gubt
for benediotion and the procession of the
blessed sacrament, or stay away altogether
all this on account of those prolonged
musical performances, which make one be-
lisve that the music was not to serve but
to do domineer over the divine worship.
Music is, indeed. an important, but not the
principal part of the service, and If 1t does
not keep to its proper object IL would be
better TO exclude il altogether"
L -. Il = s-s T.
eficaciously the"Presidents of fesstsn and
the choir directors that sn music which Is
too long, which ssvors of operstic and
worldly tunes, which contains . mutilsted
text and disgusting repe:itions must be
absolutely bsnished from the churches. IL
an organ is wanting and an orchestra Is to
be used, ,stringed instruments ought to pre-
vail; no penetrating and heavy brass in
struments are allowed; the vocal portions
are to be supported by so many voices as
not to be drowned by the noise of the in
EtrumentB.