The sun., 1895-04-14
MUSIC IN CITY CHURCHES.
DEVELOPMENT OF CHolRs OF BOYs
AND MIIED VOICES.

Growing Attrnottvepess or the Nusicai
Fart OF the ssrvice-The 0uestion OF
Vested Fenale Choristers-varied Types
or Chetrs In Churches In New York.
The general advance In musical cultivation
has been accompanied by the feeling that the
musical part OF tho religious service must not
be lacking in technical excellence. The Inn
provement IL ne noteworthy In America as In
the excsllent music heard In the English oathe-
drals; but In this country the criticism 10 made
that a fixed policy has been lacking, and that
tho development of the musical service In the
churches has been largely matter Of chance.
That the mode Of progress In this department
Of music In the United States 10 subject 10 pseu-
liar variations dependent on individual freedom
OF opinion 10 not doubted. It Is true. on tho
other hand. that much characteristic energy
and liberality have been exerted In furthoring
these varied developments: high salaries nre
paid to skilled organists, and the choirs ore con-
tinually improving. Tho result has been that
aknd Of music which appeals cffectually to the
people 10 produced to an increasing extent by
church organizations fully equipped and prop
srly balanced. A multitude Of ideas conflicting
for supremacy are represented in choir trans
formations, and occasionally they are OF sur-
prisng audacity.
Tho earlier quartet and chorus choir 10 super
seeded to larger extent than 10 generally known
by either the boy choir or the mixed choir. In
each case vested and having place In the chan
oel. This change has gone on from year to year
until about so por cent of the choirs In Episco-
pal churches in this city arc vested. In Roman
Catholic churches, as = prevailing rule, only the
male choristers who sing in proximity to the
ohancel are vested. As tho situation 10 sx-
plained by one Of the clergy: ave have bsen
coming back to = recognition Of what tho
Church nearer to apostolic times recognized,
that the singers In the church have an impor-
tant and holy Office, that they constitute ono Of
the lower ministries, almost an order" From
this point Of view the old form Of choir, grouped
entirely at the end Of the church, opposite tho
chancel in as complete isolation as possible. has
seemed Inappropriate. On tho plan largely ap-
proved o distinctive dress II given to choristers
10 impress upon them the sacredness Of their
efice. and sometimes they are inducted into
Office with an appropriate special ceremony.
AS IL exists In many church organizations. the
boy choir represents one Of the most popular
musical advances. strong disposition has
been shown in the Episcopal ~ we'll as in the
Roman communion to establish this kind of
service IN one or the other of Its forms. Among
several other reasons the fact Is found Of i'm
portance that the boy choir holds the congreKa-
tion, tho charm Of the velvety and mysterious
quality In boys voices, II rightly developed,
proving irresistible to many persons. A
result, Increased attention has been recently
given In different parts Of the world to the art
Of cultivating the boy voice. In which tho Ital-
ians have most notably c1cellsd In the past.
This training, as successfully conducted by SOW
eral choirmastcrs In New York. has been made
special feature OF choir work. The results no.
ticeably exist in gradually increasing series Of
Developments like those Of the superb choir Of
Trinity Church. directed by DR.. Msssiter; of
Grace Church, in charge Of Mr.. Helfenstein: of
st. Johns Chapel. under Mr.. George LIE Jeune,
and Of st. Agnes's Chapel, where G. Edward
Stubbs has trained q choir of thirty boys and
half as many men. Other similar choirs are
connected with Calvary Church under the train
ing of Clement r. Gale, Trinity Chapel. Holy
Trinity. st. Johns Chapel, st. Andrews Church.
Harlem: st. James. tho Church Of the Heavenly
Rest, st. Chrysostotn. All Angels, and St. Mi
chaers. The extension Of the choral system and
surplicsd choirs shows . rapid growth.
A new feature In tho training OF boy choirs
established at Grace Church consists of .
choristsrs' school. which was started last
autumn in rooms adjoining the chsntry. 1t is
organized generally on tho plan long known in
connection with the English cathedrals, 10 the
nrst school Of the kind in this country. and is
exclusively for the benefit OF the boys Of the
choir. Only those pupils are admitted who arc
recommended by the musical director. and tho
number 10 limited to sixteen. In addition to a
course Of study to lt them for the College of tho
City of Now York, tho lads are constantly re-
coiving the finest culture Of tho voice. They
wear . uniform Of dark blue CLOTH modelled
after that OF the Berkeley School, and are robed
for service in tho choir In long vestments reach
ing to within four inches Of the bottom, OF the
oassock, and having the appearance of surplicss.
much in the style worn By choristers in England.
There is serious difference Of opinion to
the proper elements Of choir. The presence of
vested women In tho chancel has not ceased TO
be disapproved by many persons. As tho dis
cussion proceeds. this custom 10, nevertheless,
constantly extended In churches. This type,
which has been called the angelic choir" IL
chiefly opposed as being contrary to ecclssias-
tical traditions. Tho women choristers in city
churches are simply and dscorously vested.
First among the churches to vest women was
st. Peters. In Brooklyn. AS early as Easter
1889. tho chancsl committee OF st. Georges.
New York, furnished the women chorsters Will h
what were considered suitable vestments. These
ths regular choir s cotta % snd 80 secure nifty
In the appearance OF the choir. little cap Is
Hy n: RY % u.
has been described sometimes, but . simp o
head coysring designed partly to secure uni
The reasons for the mixed choir, as eiysn by
tho organist and chorraastsr of st. Gsorges. arc.
briefly, that the woman Is strongest In tho regis
merging makes An even and perfect scale. Those
"
port each other. instead Of dividing the volumea
OF the alto and soprano. The same principle Of
Arrangement IL needed as in an orchestra. The
change In the CHOIR Of st. Georges was indcat-
ed soOn after the Rev. DIR. Rainsford took charge
OF the parish In 1883. The rector desired to have
II asurpliced boy choir In the chancei instead of
opposite end of the church. This building was
altered to admit choir stalls and the magnificent
chAnosl organ. with which the old gallery organ
has been since connected by electric action.
grouped In q single body, and having sixteen or
seventeen female yoices A now choir room has
tho direction OF Mr.. Chester for the last half
dozen years, the chorlstcrs have been trained to
do splendid work. The chorus is large enough
y produce broad and telling effects. and to lead
cal settings betng SO arranged that the conere-
ERtion can join. Il rightly led. A very strong
llning music heard on day. Of high festival,
siYe waves through the large church.
Ths % choir p Of Grace Church. unk: g. GsorEe.
OF that Ancient canon which taught that mo
other shall sing In tho church save only the
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