The sun., 1898-01-23
BOZ CHOIRS.
Dimculties In Training That Suggest n school
for Choirmasters.

for Cheirmasters.
George J. Brewer. who was member Of boy
choir in England when he was seven years old
and who for many years has been a trainer OF
boy choirs in England, Germany, and America
says that there Is q prejudice against such
ehoirs in this country for which there is good
ground. In the Church Economist he says:
THE chors are termed harsh in vocal effort
insufficient in culture, incapable Of the spirit
of true worship and churchliness, while the
boys voices are termed immature. This feeling
Is almost entirely due to the woeful lack OF edu
Gated boy choirmasters-men who understand
boy nature and tho boys voice. Many capable
choirmasters who have come to much success
with the adult voice ruin the boys voice by
training 1t by adult methods.
"The cultivation of the boys voice is a special
art, and most delicate one. Case after case
has come to my notice of chormasters. with lit
tie or no knowledge, assuming direction of a
boy choir. The newly engaged choirmaster
may be an admirable organst-once in while
a capable boy choirmaster-but how rarely is he
bothl This state Of affairs is not entirely due
to oversight or ignorance. Thirty years ago
there was but one boy choir in New York city.
and sixty years ago the feature was a rarity
have been curse as well as q blessing.
In America the average country town can
not afford to hire boy horiIsters, or, as is
are not to be had In the suburban town the
boy choir is received with fair favor, as a rule.
for well-organiEed and well.trained choirs.
There is wealth OF material from which to
s snS sS a Monder Me hSP to
opulent Episcopal churches in New York city.
with their daily rehearsal have notable choirs.
pable who hns not long been under the shadow
of a church as a chorister. In America the rec
Is needed is a ohoirmasters' schooi-rather.
boy choirmasters school.
"Now. as to the grade of music sung by the
up.to.date, modern church music anthems in
particular. Some, Of these are unspeakably
In Witch they are sung. How many parishion-
ers are even superhcially acquainted with the
glorious compositions Of the old masters Of
othersi have brought TO perfect test In my
own choir the efficacy of the work of these old
the scope of tho boy choir; 1t is all a matter
OF constant and unremitting training. Again.
the ssss sstpg of the SoaPste9 psS@' mstboa % iS'
pointing. p Is often dIsresarded. producing the
most wretched results, whereas all that Is
fsfsS Ny boys chart 1 any s psa% at at ssh
oauso Of endless going over at the rehearsals
held not every day but three times week e.
rendering Of church music. and In my judg-
ment, is 70 DO preferred 10 an adult quartet or
In numberTand alas their merit Is not growing
In proportion; Tho almost appal ling question,
What then cannot be answered.
"The boy chorma5ter must be tho most tact
full kind OF disciplinarian. There Is everything
In securing a refined class OF boys. The choir
must have distinct moral time, and that once
gone. there Ia little hope. The outsider little
appreciates the task OF keeping up the given
standard which the successful choirmaster must
constantly impose upon himself. II the better
class OF lads are secured they may or may not
be amenable. They do not work so heartily for
tIST We aa n a
other hand. they are more likely to reverence
the sanctuary"