The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-01
MUSIC BY THE CHOIR.
Graphic Description OF an Important
Feature of Modern Church Service.
Boston Herald.

Boston Herald.
After the church. organist had PLAYED
voluntary introducing airs from 1872 and
THE Black Crook''-which, of course were
not recognized by the congregation - the
choir arose for its first anthem of the
morning.
The choir was made ND of two parts. a
quartet and a chorus. The former occupied
seats in the front row-because the MEM
bers were paid. The chorus was grouped
about, and made somewhat striking as
well as startling picture. There were some
who could sing. some who thought they
could and there were others.
The leader of this aggregation was the
leader of the quartet. He was tall but his
neck was responsible for considerable of his
extreme height. Because he was paid 10
lead the choir he gave the impression to
those who saw him that he was cutting
were lost because the audience did not face
the choir.
The organist struck a few chords. and.
without any preliminary woodsawing, the
choir squared itself for action. OF course.
there were few who did not find the place
until after rising = this is so in all
The leader let out another link in his neck.
and while his head was taking a motion
similar to a hens when walking. the choir
broke loose. This is what il sang:
'Abide-e-e-bide-ab- abide
with-bide-bide - a-a-a "A -bide = me - with
me-e-e-abde with-with me-fast-f-a-s-t
1alS-ablde-fast the ever-fast fa-a-a-lls
the-ahide with me-eventi6e-falls the-e-e
eventide-faSt-the-the dark-the darkness
abide-the darkness deepens-Lor-r-d with
me-e-e-Lord with me-deepens-Lord-Lor
darkness deepenSIwi:i-th me-Lord with
meme a-a-a-a-abide."
That was the first verse. There were
three others.
Everyone s familiar with the hymn.
hence 1t is not necessary 20 lire the verses.
During the performance some who had
not attended the choir rehearsal the Thurs
day evening previous were a little slow i'm
spots During the passage of these spots
some would move their lips and not utter
a sound. while otherS-pa fticularly the Ia
dies-found 1t convenient to feel of their
BACK hair or straighten their hats. Each
one VINO did this had "a look as If she could
honestly say: II could sing that If / saw
ht-and the chorus sang on.
or a bar with which al were familiar. what
q grand Vol line OF music burst forth, II
didn't happen this way many times. be-
cause the paid singers we're supposed IN do
the greater part OF the work. And the
others were willing.
At one point. after a breathing spell or
a rest, as musicians say, the tenor started
alone. He didn't mean to. Put bv tb,s
break the deacons discovered that he was
In the game and earning his salary The
others caught him at the first quarter how
ever. and away they went again neck and
neck. Before they finished several had
changed places. Sometimes "abide" was
ahead. and sometimes Lord" but on the
whole it was a pretty even thing.
Then the minister read something out OF
the Bible. after which-as they say in the
dered selection by the choir
This spasm was tenor solo with chorus
accompaniment This was when he of the
long neck got in his deadly work. The au-
dience faced the choir and the salaried
soloist was happy.
When the budding had ceased the soloist
stepped a tribe TO the front and with the
confidence born of power. gave majestic
sweep of his head toward the organist. He
said nothing, but the movement implied,
Let 'er go. Gallagher"
Gallagher was on deck. and after getting
his patent leather shoes well braced on the
sub-hass pedals, he knotted together a few
chords. and the soloist was off, His selec-
ton was-that is. verbatim:
Ge-yide me. ge-yide me, ge-yide me, o.
Thor-or gra-ut JaW-aw- hars-vah:
Pi-l-Rrum traw-aw this baw-aw-raw I'm
larned.
And he sang other things