The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-31
TESTED CHOIRS OF WOMEN.
Episcopal Churches Returning to Female
Voices After Having Tried Boys.

Voices After Having Tried Boys.
The introduction OF women into the vested
choirs o. Episcopal churches Of New York and
other cities has awakened general interest
among both clergy and laity. With the rapid
increase in the number of boy choirs through
out the country came a corresponding decline in
the demand for women's voices, until it almost
seemed as II they would ultimately DO driven
out of the choir Of every Episcopal church.
Something of a reaction appears to have taken
place, and women have to n considerable extent
regaIned their old position in the services of the
church. but under changed conditions.
From a musical point OF view, strong argu-
ments can be advanced for the retention OF fe-
male voices. Where the musical services are of
a high standard boys. some choirmasters say.
can never successfully be substituted. Tho
great composers OF sacred music have written
little that is adapted for boys voices. To Haydn.
Handel. Beethoven. Gounod. Schubert. and a
host OF others, boy choristers were strangers. 1t
is necessary to turn to the English school to find
compositions suitable for boys voices. and here
the field is limited. Then. too. IL is argued that
allowing that a composition is within the COM
pass OF a boys voice, there is still lacking that
intelligent conception of the score which comes
only with mature years. While once In
a decade.i is heard a voice OF exquisite beauty
coupled With the musical intelligence OF an
adult. such as the famous Cooker. Blntchford
Kavanagh, or Harry Brandon possessed. the
average boy sings In a %fippant, immature way.
totally unsuited to the proper and devotional
rendering OF church music. MANY organists
will admit that boys have never met the re-
q%uirement of an artistic musical service. and
for this reason hail with delight the prospect OF
the return OF the women, at least as soloists;
,h sons fifteen yssrs age the Church Of ~ Mary
women as s%oloists, having the Boys for chorus
work only. The former were not vested. but.
wearing "a Nils vail nnnn hair hanhA WaEA
placed, not conspicuously, back of the chancel
arch. This innovation was followed by other
may be termed the beginning OF the movement
in this country for the restoration of women TO
although it Is said that the earliest ch0irs OF
vested women were heard At Birmingham,
Al the r PRESENT ven Nttin ns II; New S Yop& snoirs of
vested women are heard At 81. Bartholomew,
Georges. All Souls. and Others. In some
churches the women are robed In the t-sdi-
singers wear "a black gown with white ~surplice
ana a smsli cap on the head OCCASIONALLY an
paiS'a in cap Suburban b TSTn' distr REV ohG Snvs insst ranTSadi
choirs OF women In the chancel, without vest
mentS. some choir masters hone that this
something inconRruous 10 them In "A varied
array or bonnets and dresses. and singularly
out OF keeping with the surroundings. Pro-
prtety would seem TO demand some appro-
pirate habiliment, and possibly some garment
sock and Gotta, which will not trespass upon
churchly traditions, may yet he devised. While
the new movement has the approval OF high
ecclesiastical authority IL Is bitterly opposed by
a strong section OF the clergy. and even bishops
have raised their voice against what they con-
slider a practice violently out Of keeping with
the traditions Of the Church. Bishop Doauo VI
Albany recently said:
III women are TO sing they ought not TO be in
the chRncel, but outside Of II, and they ought
not, In the interest Of all propTiety, personal and
ecclesiastical. 10 be In the dress of men and
boys. the cassOck and Gotta being just MS much
articles of male attire as coats and trousers"
II is reported that Bishop Starkey OF New JeA.
sey prohibited tho appearance OF . choir OF
vested women in his diocese. Bishop Nicholson
OF Milwaukee Is a bitter opponent Of the vested
women. He IL recently quoted as saying:
Aside from tho grave impropTlsty OF tho
matter, a growing evil ne fear. IN certain
places, there arises the practical objection OF
civil law"
10 spite OF these outSpoksn. views the move
ment 10 gaining ground and existing ardent
supporters among both clergy and lAity. Ii Is
significant that ~ the service on Ascension Day
at Trinity Church. when BsethoVsn's Mas In D
was rendered By she full choir and orchsstra.
the solos were intruStsd 10 women. Trinity WEs
one Of he nTst ehuEchss II this ooultTy 70 LdepI
English cathedral service SaFTshdPS 20 The
Eonsn; tha Importance Of he sysat eaAASA u
49,.