The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1895-11-02
MUSICAIe THOUGHTS

Under this head a writer In The Cour-
Ter spoke recently of the high character
of the music which marks the services
rendered in Holy Trinity church. He
contrasted the strong simplicity and
consistent tone of the semi-choral of the
old masters in use there with the sem
sational, secular. excitement raising
Gospel Hymn music used elsewhere.
1t is disappointing to people whose taste
has been educated to enjoy the highest
class of music i'm secular circles, when
they come to engage in the Hottest of
all life's duties-the public worship of
God-to find the modes of expression of
that worship weak. inferior, inconsist-
ent and unequal to the demands of the
soul-feeling.
Music is inherent i'm theorganic life
of the church because the church has a
human membership formed Of redeemed
humanity, while music is the most per-
feet of human expressions. Students
in the philosophy of art tell us that,
while other fine arts. like painting and
sculpture, are only initiative and rep
resent only the effects of certain pas
sions. music being an utterance of man
out of himself personally. carries with it
is inseparable from the sacred human
SOUL and hence is a profounder thing,
embodying in itself what the painter
and carver and architect have only
copied and wrought by what was out
side of them. This being so, church
music is an original and special trust
from God which compels a care that
cuts out frivolity, irreverance and the
secular spirit.
In precomposed set foms of worship
as in the Episcopal church, such SIM
pie and dignified language is employed
as COMFORTS with the thoughts and
feelings to be expressed. If to this Ian
guage were set music lacking the same
strong. dignified simplicity, the SYM
metry and harmony Of the functions of
worship would be destroyed and the
desired effect would be lost.
Perhaps the weakness and insipidity
of most of the so-called Gospel Hymns
is due to the fact that they were writ
ten expressly to be set to light, popular,
secular music. In this case it is plain
that the poular taste for light music
has had an influence in lowering the
dignity of the language used. and there
fore of the thought and feeling which
seek expression.
Some think music such an important
aid to worship as to call for the employ
ment of the highest musical talent.
And under certain limitations this is
true. Occasions may require an inter
probation of some portion of scripture
which only an artist can bring out A
soloist or a quartet is then required to
give the soul-feeling wrapt up in the
words, and which could not be brought
out in any other way.
But mere professionalism in the church
choir is generally the death of sincerity
in worship The interest of the wor-
shippers becomes conferred on the per-
Torrance of the singer more than upon
what is sung.
Thus all feelings of worship are dis
sipated. and what was intended to be
an aid to worship degenerates into an
oreratic performance to please an au-
dience and not to benefit a congrega-
ton of worshipers. This may explain
why We nowadays hear our church
congregations called audiences" and
their forms of worship exercises"
The people go to hear the preacher or
the choir. or both, rather than to wor-
ship Hence they become audiences"
For this reason. in part. the music
in the Episcopal church is by law plac-
ed under the immediate and sole con-
troll of the pastors. most of whom land
the pastor of Holy Trinity is a conspic-
uous example) discourage the employ
ment of professional soloists. This is
perhaps a sufficient reason. But to ii
may be added another which is that
in Lincoln. as no doubt elsewhere
there seems to exist a spirit of rivalry
among the churches as to which can
secure the best soloists. and so offer
the greatest attraction in the way of
musical programs. to say nothing of
the scramble by professionals for the
best paying places
Conspicuously in the Episcopal church
the music is principally of the school