New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-14
AnknutAN RELIGIOUS MCSLC.

4 few SUNDAYS ago tho organst Of a we'll
known church in this city which prdcs Itself on
the ultra character OF its ChurChllncsS," played
as a voluntary some airs from Ml>cagni's Cayal-
cra Ru,tcana" Few probably in the church
rccognizod the character OF the music. But even
had il been otherwise, it is not likely that there
would bavo bccn any serious objection. The
voluntary was pretty, tunciul ana scnSuo'N.
Il was emincntly calculated 70 please the average
listener, who is troubled by no iine-spun theories
As 10 the difference between religious and Sccll-
lar music; Therefore why mako any fuss about
il? And if some sicklcr for musical proprety
were disagreeablc enough to pursue the subject
further ~ likely as not he would be asked III a
tone Of tri,unph why the devil should be allowed
to monopozc all the good mllslc-a really alb
sllrd question when you come TO consider now
many kinds Of good music there may be, but
a question which nevertheless has done much
10 dcbasc and Secuarizc tho music employed IN
rel gious worship.
IL is indeed true that the musical taste of the
churches in this country is improving. But the
incident which we have rcacd-and it is only
che Of a multitude that might be rclated-indi-
Gates deplorablc misconccption of the true ideal
and character Of religious music. When organ
i>ts Of great reputation show themselves thus
willing TO pander to a vitiated public taste it is
time for the churches to pay some little attcn-
ton to this most important part OF religious wor-
ship. In point of fact, however, it is the con
gregltions rather than the organsts that need to
lie educated, and if we might whisper 1t, the
clergy also would be the better for some whole
,cme instruction on this subject Under the cir
cumStances. organsts can hardly be blamed for
providing the sort OF music that will " draw"
That is what they are there for. The thing is
not expressed in cold and brutal English but
they know perfectly well that if they fail TO
please the congregation they will have to 60
And when they find that the congregation is
blessed with the vulgar or scnSlcuS music OF the
ccmic opera or the music hall, either in all its
naked deformity, or thinly disguised by clum-
~ Encouragement" they would he very fool
ism. from their point Of view, not 10 give the
people what they want
Nevertheless. many organists and choir-m masters
have been making valiant and not entirely un-
successful efforts 10 bring about reform in this
matter. Some Of the collections of hymns in this
country deserve high praise, though even the
best Of them contain much that is meletrciOus
and unrcligious, if not irreliglous. There has
been an improvement too, in the anthems and
set pieces An effort is being made to popular
izc the old English cathedral music; but il must
be confessed that there is little probability Of this
type of music ever becoming popular in Amen-
can churches 1t is too heavy, angular and I'M
imaginative to appeal to the American tempera-
meat. \ comparatively few who feel that they
ought to like it will beiocaIly try to like it;
but the masses of American churchgoers in
stnctivcly demand something lighter and bright