The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-30
Anoono the Higher Arts Music is Indeed the Mos
APPEAL FOR ORAT0RI0.
WHY SHOULD NOT RICHMOND IA We
A SERVICE or SONG,
The Wednesday Club Doing Much to Els-
vats the Musical Taste of Our City. ana
willing to Aid In Every ncr'.

Years ago, In the good CID days OF
Jenny Lind, Madame Anna Bishop ana
others, Richmond wss considered quite
musical centre. and these celebrities were
always sure OF 4 warm welcome mere,
and never thought OF lea ing Richmond
Off the list Ia their regular concert tour.
New musicians. or rather mcsicsl people,
so often say that good music Is never
appreciated by our people and that when
first-class artists ccme this lack OF APP
probation is very embarrassing In many
ways. This is tue 10 great extent.
but the reason FOR II IS very plain.
When do our people have Sn opportunity
foe nearing good muslc-thc music that
educates. such as the oratorios and can
tatas OF the old masters end great COM
posers?
only once In a great while. and good
music has to be heard more than once
10 be appreciated. even by those VINO
have made Il their study. All musicians
who are thrown with our people say
mere is a great deal Of talent here. which
could be easily developed. and with the
wednesday Club and some OF our church
choirs the means seems right AT US.
The cities. large and small, OF the
North and West, have had for years
service of song ono Sunday evening I'm
each month, instead OF the regular even
ing service and the result Is muN'al
and religious elevation that can be OBJ
tained in no other way. Men ana
women too, win go TO church TO hear
good music. when they will not attend
the ordinary service. but VIII spend most
II not all. OF the Holy Sabbath az the
club or lolling at home with novel.
The CrucihNion given by the Wedncs-
day Club on G0od-Friday IS "A most beau
tiful service. and impressed very deeply
many who We're neither Church-gO nor
musicians. and n one service a year
can 10 SO much what may not BE- the
result OF a series OF them2 l really be-
lieye 70 would be better than the Kelley
cure 10 many n hard drnker. for one
thing. because after one 81 those ser
vices he would be too much under the
Influence OF the solemn exquisite music
10 succumb 20 the influence or anything
else for a while at least.
our clergy may not uphold this move
ment at once. because music mas not ye'
reached with a great many OF them tho
Mace that IL should have. IN Germany
and many other old countries. student
for orders IS bound to be as thorough IN
music az he Is In the other branches
bearing upon his profession, and good
church music Is a necessity, consequently
the people very naturally know a good
thing when they hear IT.
VERY TIRD OF OH TUNES.
We. poor mortals. on the other hand,
have 10 take very often harmony IN i's
most excruciatlng discord, and. win coin
chus freezing the very marrow s'ahu
,hrough our beautiful service and wonder
80 n is 10 be the same old tunes, with
tho same old plumbers Sunday a''er o""
~ ,,,h,le the new ones are put away
4, ,hav had never been written NVe
q, tho old ones should never be uson'
sor they are good 10 hear oc'asio,'a"s
,or associations sake as well as iol ~
ou,n merit. but because our Srea'. -
earonts used them IS no reaa lh 'nt' W
sbould not have the new ones 'i W,
d,v as we'll as fresh sein"" 49,
x.ook one can't listen 10 an ON
-, ovor and over again and be I'M
nion -, n and the same thing ~
&c 81 a constant repetition OF anthems,
1ta,ts and HYMNS. Music lifts the hea'l
- y,orship. and the lack OF II makes
arontancons devotion solf-lm9o7'u anu
i,ssome duty 20 a great many hae"''s'
no elevate the tone or chui'h .'"7''
.,.tt "a he the desire Of every clergy
80, for II adds greatly TO the solemni'y
of the service Religion ana music nav
cone hand in hand since cfeauon' anu
tho ono dcvelopes the other, ana no"
tbat the one has such a strong loot
hold why not lend a helping hand to the
otherY ,,-
If some minister will ask the Nednes-
dov club 20 assist him In service or
song" during the week. II that viii be
more acceptable. I am sure II VIII give
the club great pleasure 10 do so, ana II
will be an incentive 10 tho club IN i's
work. We feel deeply grateful TO this
orcauizatlon for the recent pleasures II
has given us. and too much cannot te
said In praise OF the able director. who
has labOrod SO faithfully 10 THIS emu
But we want a little more, something
during Advent. or just after Christmas.
If not a whole work. portions Of one. or
selections which can be satisfactorily
rendered with the material AT home, ana
bv degrees We can work up 10 that high
order OF music 10 which so many arc
strangers now. ELLORA T.. CHAPLIN.