The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-22
MELODY AND WORDS MATCH
IN HIS IDEAL OF THE HARMONY
BEFITTING DIVINE WOR-
SHIP.
THE CATHEDRAL is CROWDED
Who Came to Enjoy His
Lecture.

than the one that attended the lecture
OF the Rt. Rev. John Stanley, bishop of
North Dakota, which took place in that
molly edlf1ce last night Every seat was
occupied on the lower floor and stand
| ing room was in vogue in the galleries.
Incidental to Father Shanleys address
| musical programme of exceptional
merit was rendered
Father Stanley chose as his topic
The Music of the Church, and a
more instructive discourse on that sub
Ject has never been heard in this city
The speaker went back to the earlier
history of ecclesiastical music and spoke
| OF the Originators Of psalms who lived
in the fifteenth century. Many famous
musicians of both ancient and modern
times were quoted in glowing common
dations Of church music.
What touches the heart more" ask
ed the speaker, than the holy music?"
Father Stanley argued that the
words Of the hymn should dominate
| over the music and that the latter
| should be written for the words and not
| the words for the music, as is often the
case. He spoke dispara gingly Of those
compositions written expressly to ZEN
able the singer to indulge in vocal
gymnastic contortions." The Gregorio
mode was spoken Of at some length
and its parent, st. Gregory, eulogized
Father Stanley condemned vigorously
some Of the hymns as sung by choirs
Frivolous music, said the speaker
| should not be heard in a pace of wOr-
ship; the grave, the tender, the hope
full, the triumphant, should issue from
the pipes of the organ and the threats
of he -ir II
vored of the theater and opera The
speaker caused considerable merriment
in speaking of Latin hymns which are
sung commonly.
Every Latin word" said Father
Stanley, hast particular meaning
| and significance just as every English
word has particular meaning or signi-
! ficance. If some Of the Latin hymns
as sung by choirs Of well-known
| churches were translated into English
! and rendered the same, the effect upon
a congregation would not be especially
| inspiring. In fact it would be very
ridiculous. One hymn in particular,
| comes to me at this moment, which I
shall use as an instance
Here Father Stanley translated from
Latin into English a number Of stanzas
| OF well-known hymn and the effect
was ludicrous Words, sentences,
clauses and even snatches Of the same
were repeated time and again and the
whole galaxy ended with the repetition
| of Amen" over twenty times. Father
/ Shanleys humorous method of denounc-
| ing this style Of hymn was thoroughly
! appreciated and his audience was con-
vulsed
II contend" said he, that every sing
| er should study one Of the recognized
Latin methods so that his or her vocal
| renditions in church, which are sup
| 4o bn n
supplication, in addoration or in praise,
will sound, to those familiar with Latin,
! properly. If the singing sounds ridicul-
| GUS to we mOrtals who understand the
| ancient tongue, how must it sound to
! the Holy Father. This silly repetition
| Of parts Of a beautiful hymn, making
| It a perfect fandangO of words, is sac
| religious; it is blasplTemous."
| The speaker also denounced in scath-
| ing terms the liberal setting to music
| Of religious hymns. I'm some cases."
| he said, words Of the most sacred kind
have been set to music sounding as if
| it had been bodily stolen from a comic
| opera. Once I was requested to give my
| sanction to the adoption of a hymn to
! the tune of when The Boys Come
| Rolicking Home" and the person who
I made, the request did not see the utter
| Righteousness of the thing until I
| said, No, l think it would go better to
! the tune of An Irishman's Shanty,'
and sang him a few verses Of it to con-
vince him Of it's superiority over When
The Boys Come Rollicking Home"
The bishop ended his lecture by say
ing:
revolutionize the world with its mighty
| power Would to God we do but take
| the opportunity
| Before commencing his address, the
bishop, who, by the way, was for a
number Of years pastor of the cathe-
| dral, said: g
Before entering in upon my dis
course on The Music of the Church.
I want to congratulate you and your
jealous pastor upon the improved con-
dition of the church. I scarcely recog-
| nize the old church and 1 thank God
and you for it. I feel a great interest
in the old congregation and when 1
was asked to come here and say some
/ thing to the members Of this church I
1 was more than glad to accept the in
| Vitation. I am very happy to offer
my little mite as a help to get rid Of
the extra debt of the church. For
| there is a debit things have not
wonderfully changed since 1 was situ-
| ated here" Naughter)
The concert programme was divided
! into two parts, Father Stanley speak
ing during the intermission between
| the two divisions A duet, organ and
| piano, by MRS. +, l.. Holman and Miss
| Gertrude Sans Souci, opened the even
| ing's entertainment. Rubinstein's
| 'Kammenoi Ostrow' was the piece
! selected by the two musicians. and
was admirably executed. A. P. Cues
mel followed with a tenor solo, 20 Lord.
| How Long Wilt Thou Forget Me?" Mr.,
| Quesnel has voice of sweet tone. An
! alto solo, entitled 20 Lord, Have
Mercy" was rendered by Miss Millie
! Pottgieser whoI showed herself to be
| the possessor of a voice of rare tone.
Her lower register was excellent "By
| Babylon's Wave" was sung by the
| choir and made a advisable impression
upon the listeners The ensemble of
the choir produced a perfect union or
| harmony. TT
The second half of the musical pro
| gramme was opened with separate
solo, Angels EyergBright and Fair"
| by Mrs. S. V. Harris, a singer of ex-
| ceptional worth possessing a subtle
| voice and an excellent command of the
| higher register. Miss Elsie Shaws or
| gan solo, Communion" was a fascin-
| ating bit of melody and ably executed
| This was followed by Mrs S. v. Har-
| ris and Miss Pottgieser in a duet. So
| prano and alto, entitled "Quis est
| Homo" from Stabat Mater. The pro-
| gramme concluded with singing OF
| the Forty-second psalm by the choir.
| Miss Anna erode sung the solo parts
| Of the psalm. She possesses a voice
| full of melody and her solos during
| the rendition of the psalm were con-
| sidered the best Of the evening.