The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-02-23
MINNEAPOLIS MINI, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY

church music which he found, and gath.
cred together all the legend and know.
ledge which had previously existed on
| the subject. Later tradition credited
him with the authorship OF all the eccle
! siaetical music of his Tins, and the pic
lures Of him show usually dove whisper
ing in his ear, which was the expression
OF the belief that his labors commenced
with divine inspiration He spread the
music which has ever since bsen described
by his name by founding two schools
for instructing priests and missionaries
in it, and 1t was carried to EnglaLd and
the kingdom of Charlemagne by the
missionaries taught in the Roman
| schools. It was the music OF Christian
| ity for centuries, and the possibility of
continuing the composition of music in
it's style was proved several years ago at
Rome Then chorus Of singers skilled
in the Gregorian chant sang several
pieces composed according to Law reg
ulating the grouping OF the notes dis
covered by French Bsnedictine monk,
Little Of the Gregorian Music is sung
in it's original simplicity. AtSt. Francis
Xavier's Church in West Sixteenth street,
at the Cathedral, and at st. Mary 's
Episcopal Church in Forty fifth street,
the Gregorian music is admirably and
impressively sung. But there Is tend
ency to sing the music Of later composers
at times when the musical features Of q
service are to be made Important. Mo
zarL's compositions for the vesper psalms,
as we'll as those of Gounod, Emmerich
and host Of composers much less
worthy, are generally selected, despite
the fact that half the labor expended on
Gregorian music would bring very much
more impressive results. But the fancy
stuff Of contemporary writer's seems to
appeal irresistibly to choirmastsrs, par
ticularly iu churches which have neither
the singers or the Instruments to make
any religious music serve the purpose
when it relies on any other qualities than
dignity, sincerity and simplicity to accom-.
plieh it's. results.
With the recomme dation to use such
IN usic at Palestrina and others have
written for the religi us offices, the
Congregation decree naively dlscour-
ages the most noticeable weakness in
ordinary church music III such ingenious
directionsa as these:
Since piece of part music, though 1T
may be perfect in itse.f, may through
bad execution become indecorous, it
ought to be replaced by the Gregorian
chant in the functions of the Church
when otherwise one is not sure Of happy
result. M
How many haze suffered from the
efforts of country tenor to sing the
"Senctus' from Gounod's st. Cecilia mass,
when he and the CHOIR might have sue
ceeded in singing plain chant with good
effect! Who has not heard the organist,
plainly indicated in the next rule, pull
out every stop, throw back his head. and
simply subn1erge singers, priests and
congregation in an outburst, which was
no doubt very much appreciated by the
performer himself! The preludss and
interludes are generally seized upon by
the ambitious organist as the occ aston
for Unlimited epj oyment of the display
of his powers. and what he introduces or
accompanies is likely TO be completely
overshadowed by his display. # Organ
lists and Choir Singers Gould be Persuad-
ed that it was not for their own enjoy
mont that they assist at religious services
it would render the necessity for direc
tion in the matter very much less sharp.
This is the rule about the organ1sts:
Figured music. for the organ ought
generally to be of sedate and grave
tenor as is suited to the nature Of that
instrument. The accompaniment ought
TO sustain the chant and not to drown it.
In preludes and interludes the organ
and the other instruments ought to pre-
serve sacred tone suited to the charac-
ter of the sacred function.
And another favorite diversion of Or
ganists is disposed of in this way:
tits forbidden to improvise fantasia
upon the organ by such as are not capable
of doing it with decorum and in way
calculated to respect the rules Of music
aud to fostert the piety and recollection
OF the faithful.
Another section Of the decree commends
any church music which is the work OF a
musician and '.has been praised for it's
religious character by competent author
ity.o The provisions Of another section
of the decree will have more application
to the translated words Of the masses
written by famous musicians than to the
Latin words FOR which the music was
,,,i originally intended. The ritualistic
Protestant Episcopal churches are often
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