New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-07
CHANGES IN CHURCH CHOIRS.

Music FOR wEL1.-KNOwN CONGREGATIONS
SOME PEOPLE WHO WILL BE HEARD.
The question as to the best church music is one
that has been often agtated in city, with per-
'haps the agreement among congregations that the
best music is that which is best adapted 10 the
worship Of a particular church. In New-iorK
City there are at least five different kinds OF
choirs, each of which has developed TO its fullest
extent in accordance with the services Of the par
Hcular church interested. There is, for instance
the quartet choir of solo performers OF which
leading example is that of the West Presbyterian
Church in West Forty-second-st. This choir num-
Sers among it's members ?. August Schenecker
prganist; Mrs. Alice Stoddard HOLSTER. soprano
Mrs Carl Alves contralto; William Reger. tenor
and Ericsson Bushnell. bass. who are all re-en-
gagged for another year. In marked contrast 10
this choir is that Of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian
Church the Rev. Dr. John Hal, pastor. which IS
engaged wholly for the leading Of congregational
music It is composed OF male singers. be-
sides It's new organst. William S. Wheeler. from
New-Haven, and though these singers are engaged
only for leading the congregation in hymn tunes
they are carefully selected and drilled. This choir
may stand example Of the second class. The
third class is the vested choir of men and boys
which is used in the elaborate services Of the
Protestant Episcopal Church. and of which. per-
haps the best known example is that of Trinity
Church
The fourth class of choirs is that of the mixed
Rev. DR.. Greer, rector. Among its members en-
gagged for the coming year Mrs. Theodore ].
Toedt soprano; Mrs. George Morris. contralto;
Mckenzie Gordon. tenor; Franz Remmertz, bass.
and a chorus of forty-ive men and women. vested
choir: also, ST. Thomass Protestant Episcopal
Church, the Rev DR.. John Wesley Brown rector,
with George William Warren. organist and con-
ductor; Walter c. Gale, second organist; Alfred T.
Toulmin harpst; Madame Marie Gramm, soprano;
Miss Emily Wyman contralto; John II. Van Ars-
dale tenor, and Dr. Carl Martin. basso, and dou-
bic chorus of forty-six mixed voices.
In another or fifth class OF musical organiza-
sions for church worship may be placed those
chors in which instruments in addition to the or
gan employed such as the harp. the cornet
stringed instruments in various numbers. some
times full In this latter class. many OF
the Roman Catholic churches can be found. Some
of the advanced Protestant Episcopal churches
such as that of St Mary the Virgin, in West For
1gnatiuss Church. the Rev A. Richie rector, in
West Fortieth-st.. conduct their services in the
same elaborate manner as the Roman Catholic
churches. AS significant coincidence. some Of the
make use Of an orchestra in their worship.
Close attention has been given OF late years 10
has been also placing Of greater responsibility
upon the organst More attention is now given
OF an organIst than to that of any member of the
choir. According to the prevailing custom IN the
dating from the first Sunday in May. The changes
now be heard from the choir lofts Of many metro
poitan churches The following some OF the
names OF prominent church chOirs engaged for the
coming year: Marble Collegiate Church, Fifth
and Twenty-ninth-st.. Mrs. Anna NJ Burt
Soprano Mrs Sarah y. Anderson. contralto; j. II.
Mckinley. tenor Carl f. Duff, bass; Richard T.
Sixty-second-st. and Madison-ave. Mrs. Charles
II. Clarke soprano Miss Grace Hodgkins, con-
trato James H. Metcalf. bass Charles Hubert
Clark, organst. Fifth Avenue Baptist Church. Miss
Mary II. Mansfield. soprano Miss Emma Mueller,
contralto; 5. Fisher Miller. tenor; Cementine Bo-
Church. Madison-ave and Thrty-eghth-st. Gar
rett Smith, organist; Frank r. Gilbert assistant
organist; Mrs. Carrot: Smith soprano Mrs. Clara
Poole King. contraltO Charles Hubert Clark, ten
or; Francis Fischer Powers, bass. assisted by
second quartet, and chorus of forty-five voices.
Collegiate Church. Ffth-ave and Forty-eighth-st.
Mrs Ida Scott soprano Mrs Forsman alto; Will
OF twenty-five members Madison Avenue Presby-
terrain Church. the Rev. DR.. Parxhurst pastor. Miss
Mary Willard. soprano: Miss Gertrude Stein,
tralto; Purden Robinson. bass; Henry Durham.
tenor. and II. F. Parkhurst. organist Church OF
the Divine Paternity. Fifth-ave. and Forty-ffth-
ST., A. Parsons. organlst Elizabeth c. Ganney
prano: Emma Estella Potts contralto: J. J. Hayes.
tenor, and W. y. Rowland. bass. Church OF the
Messiah. Thrty-fourth-st and Park-ave, Mrs.
George Bolt. soprano; Miss Clara +. Stutsrnan.
contralto: William Bartels tenor; George Boult.
basso and Charles w. Rogers organist All Souls
Church. Fourth-ave. and Twenteth-st, the Rev.
Theodore c. Williams, pastor: Miss Florence de
v. Boese. Miss c. Bumerberg and Miss Florence
Manchester. sopranos; Mrs. A.. Irving. Miss V. Z.
II. Welmer. George Holden and W. r. Eshlemann.
tenors; r. d. Carr H p. SANFORD and A. a.
Van Buskrk bassos; c. H. Hoyt. organist and d.
rector.