The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-31
WOMEN IN CATHOLIC CHoIRs.
\ Decree by the Congregation OF Rites bar
ring Them Out OF French Churches.

- w tnS VI
ring Them Ont OF French Churches.
The Archbishop Of Paris has lately addressed
TO the Bishops and clergy under him a pastoral
letter which forbids the singing Of women In
the Roman Catholic churches in France. either
az soloists or choristers. Cardinal Richard,
who, In addition TO his rank as Archbishop Of
Paris is the Metropolitan and Primate Of
France. POUNDS his prohibition upon instruc-
lions which he received from the Congregation
of Rites at Rome. 1t is not likely that the
French Cardinal received these instructions
without solicitation on his part. The probabili-
ties are that he applied to Rome for advice in
the matter. and IA that way drew out the views
of the Congregation " Rites on the subject of
women's singing In th- churches.
The part that voE4en have played In the mu-
steal portions OF the Roman Catholic services
in France Is not IN MY way similar to the work
done by the womer shcr!sters in the same
churches here. The objection to their particle
patton in the services In France arose recently
from the fact that opera singers and women.
who were discussed for other reasons than their
piety. were often found singing in churches. In
Paris they appeared only in incidental features
Of the service. and sang at what Is known as
the grand organ. which Is stationed III the loft
over the main entrance. The mass Is sung by
the choir of men and boys stationed at the small
altar. near the organ. The choristers who
sing the integral part OF the service have
not been women for many years In
France. 1t ia said that the singing Of the
American prima donna, Sibyl Sanderson.
at the Madeleine was the direct cause OF Cardi-
nal Richards application to the Congregation OF
Rites for a final ruling on the question. The
Congregation of Ritesi 8 n mmitt OF Cardi-
nails appointed by the Pope to interpret the
Church's law on matters of ritual and ceremo-
NAL practice. Only about year ago there came
from this body q strong of much
Of tho music sung to-day in the Roman Catho-
lie churches and an eIhortation to return to the
devotional and religious music Of the kind writ
ten by Palestrina and the older composers, as
we'll as the canonical GreRorian music. In
| the opinion Of the Congregation much Of the
| modern music was held to be trivial and friv-
| olous and little adapted to the purposes Of piety
and devotion.
One of the great authorities on ecclesiastical
| music In this country Is the Rev. Father Graef.
| From him q sun reporter obtained an account
| of the present position of the Roman Catholic
Church in regard tn women in the choirs.
1T is only in the United States and Austria"
Father Graef said. that women go into the
choirs and actually sing the parts Of the mass.
This practice was prohibited in Germany forty
years ago, and through Cardinal Manning's in
huence It was stopped in England. In France
these women soloists may sing at the mass, but
It 10 at the grand organ, and usually 1t lie not Q
part OF the mass that they sing, hut some re-
lIglous song. In the same way Saint-Saens. who
Is the organist at the Church of st. Eustache in
Paris. does not play tho music OF the mass at
the altar organ, but at the grand organ, In the
loft he plays an introit or offertorium. There 10
its entirety by mixed voices of men and women.
and that is on ct. Cecilia day. at the same
church. when. various singing, societies and
well-known soloists meet together and sing in
honor Of ST. Cecilia. The singing Of women In
W! WhieS SR W.s 1ss h S%ns OF OF e yeTy t W We iadpis' and
artificial in the music OF the Church. Here, nn.
aeG 'q Ta1ar IT, @nioh RsSs the no "a plsee OF in h"y the
music OF the Church. 'Josephinism'i Is the name
given to the ,,,. influence poss ed q s,i that %q fms a ns. who hS
wanted done In the services OF the Church Ia
music as we'll as in decorations. The rocco
churches with a degree Of lavish ornamental
ton which good taste would not tolerate to-day.
in acceptance with our views to-day.
In this country now the choir master is In
He picks out what suits the soprano or the con
tralto or the tenor without any regard for the
! that our services are full of the modern, Italian
canon. Secause It necessitates the sempiternal
repetition OF the words OF the mass and other
mutilations which are plainly forbidden by the
"""There is plenty of modern music that is
good aud Yin a. the sbs same dem ann, ! o of pTs rb IN sS-
Ah AlN
Gounod's '.Messe Solonelle' is good: although,
like all OF the French school of religious music.
1t ia tainted with q certain worldly spirit. But
the Gounod music is the best. l once spent fvo
hours in Il conversation with Gounod explaining
TO him what the demands q the Church were
in regard to its music. There Is such good
music as Stainer's In England and Rheinberger's
in Germany which the choirs could draw on in
addition to the older music. of which there Ia
an abundance, But there will never be any
Improvement in this country until there Ia a
ruling from the Pope which will forbid tho
singing Of any but the approved music. This
10 certain to come. and until that time no i'm
provement Is to be expected from the singers
and the choirmasters."
Many OF the women singers in this city divide
their time between the choir loft and profess
slonal Appearances. although that is true of the
Protestant rather than, the Roman Catholic
services. Miss Clary, who Gang Ben Bolt" for
a year in the "Trilby' performances, was tho
contralto OF the cathedrs, choir. Zine. Melba
sang Gounod's Ave Maria" during the mass
81 the cathedral last Christmas Day, and
occasionally singers in the opera com pRny not
so well known sing at tho different Roman
Catholic services. Among the men who sang in
church waH Plancou, who more than once was
heard in the services at the Church OF 81, Vincent
de Paul. But no usually sang during the
| ndHHrt0PY not In the mass.