Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-18
SONGS OF GLADNESS.
MUSIC TO he SUNG IN THE CITY
CHURCHES CHRIsTMAs-DAY.
WHAT IS RELIGIOUS MUSIC.
The Relation of the Choir to the
Church Member-Very Many At
tractive Progrnmmcs to he Heard
Next Sunday.

Next Sunday.

What is religious music?
To the Aztecs. who clothed in black
nantes. with long hair, matted with
blood, their ears also mangled," sacrl-
Aced yearly on an altar Of jasper the
most beautiful youth in Mexico to Tezcat-
Ipoca, the god OF music. the beating OF
the serpent skin drum was religious music.
To the monks Of the Middle Ages the
plain song Of the church seemed the
only expression of religious hope, fear
and contemplation; and to-day many
worthy persons find spiritual pricking or
consolation in the joyous or sentimental
hymns Of Moody and Sankey.
is there any such thing as religious
music nor &c? There is good music; there
is bad music: there is music that is APP
propriate or Inappropriate to the occa-
sion. There are dirs in orstoros or Han
del that were taken from operas or nah
served previously as dance tunes. Or, is
a fuge necessarily sacred! Even In l'SV
Doles. a pupil OF Bach, protested against
the use of the fugue in church music, as
the learned Scheibe protested forty-hVe
years before Doles went so lar as 10
say that fugues should be banished from
the church. for they were merely the pro-
duct of intelligence. and gave pleasure
by the treatment of theme per aug
mentationem. per diminutionem, etc, to
the learned alone.
NO FIXED CANYONS.
There are no fixed canons Of musical
art that apply inexorably TO music Tor
tho church. The composer that writes for
the church is governed by the period in
which no lives. his country, his youthful
religious associations, heredity, his own
temperament. Then, too, there is the
nearer. similarly prepared by traditions
and surroundings.
At this time Of year there is always
much discussion anent the subject ot
church choirs. A great deal has been said
concerning what the church has right
10 expect from q choir singer, though a
discreet silence is invariably maintained
as 10 what consideration the latter is en-
titled 10 at the hands of those who en-
plOy his services.
The programmes that are presented by
the Dispatch this morning, show that the
various organizations have been hard al
work The character Of the music Is
widely different so what it was lew
years ago and the past year has been
one of persistent and painstaking work
word of appreciation or commentators
will tend to show the choir member that
the interest Of the choir member lies
deeper than the mere desire that he may
be In good voice for the members sake
And finally, Il may be well to remember
that If he fails to delight the fault may
lie, not in his art, but I'm the churcf
members lack of appreciation
The following programmes of music &c
be sung in the churches of the city or
Christmas-Day will undoubtedly prove
very interesting:
The Catholic Churches.
The organ loft of St Peters Cathedra
has undergone some very radical changes
in the last few weeks. The Quartette ha
given place to a large and capable chorus
which is being directed by Colonel Z
OBJ. CowardiD.
At the ) o'clock A. NJ high mass, thu
choir will render the fourth mass in c
of II. G.. Ganss and the Adeste Fdeles
At the pontifical high mass. at 1890 a
NJ. the following music will be RENDERED
by u choir of twentyfour, organ. AM
full orchestra; Professional, CLargo.
Handel; Kyrle Eleison, Kalliwoda
Gloria, (Messe Solennelle) Gounod; eNn
Creator, Mendelssohn; Credo' (Mess
SolennelleO GOunod; Offertory (Adest
Fideles) Novello: Sanctus. Messe Solen
nelle) Gounod Benedictus, OIesse Solen
nelle) Gounod; Agnus Del, Kalliwoda
Recesslonal, March OF the Prophet,
Meyerbeer.
Following is list Of the choir:
Colonel c. OBJ. Cowardin, director; Mis-
Nina Randolph, organist.
Soprani-Mrs. G. OBJ Cowardin, Mis-
Annie y. Kirk. Miss Carrie Coleman, Mis-
Mayme Taylor Miss Kathryn Sweeny
Mrs. Bertha Voelker-R Richardson. Mis-
Lula O'Conner. Miss Blanche Epps, Mis-
Bertha Anthony, Miss Cavanaugh.
Alti-Mrs I'll. G. Boudar, Miss O'Neil
Miss Lizzie Cavanaugh Miss Mollle Mul
ray.
Tenori-Messrs. c. A. Canepa. John ,
Ryan, Lem l.. Lynch, j. i. Phillips. Jr.
Bassi-James w Halloran, A. A. Mol
rissey, Il. NJ. ]. Morrissey. J. -. Kirk.
SACRED HEART.
Mr. Moses Stein has assumed directio
of this choir, and marked improvement
is manifest IN the work. The Christina:
Day music viii be as follows:
Processional-Solo, Gounod's "Naz'
reth," by Mrs. w. Il. Pizzini Kyrie, Gle
ria, Credo, Sanctus. and Agnus Del, frol
Leprevosts Third Mass in A; Adesi
Fideles Noveilo); offertory. violin sol
RATS Cavatina, by Mr.. Stein.
The following ladies and gentlemen col
sutute the choir:
Soprani-Misses Mollie and Lelie Powell
Alti-Miss Lucille Pizzini, Mrs. Thomi
Seneth.
sSl-MeSSfos w. 10. tlZllnl, III. A
Gowan w and j. Finnegan.
Tenori-Messrs. w. Il. Reddy. w. Rya
and NJ. Stein.
Organist-Miss Maggie Kerse.
Directorate. Moses Stein.
ST. PATRICK'S.
A very attractive programme has bee
arranged for st. Patrick's church choi
as follows: Adeste Fidelis (V. Novello
Kyrie Eleison (MozarD; Gloria mozart
Credo R0sewig); Sanctus MozarD; Ben
dictus (MozarO; Agnus Del Ga Hache).
Members of the choir are:
Soprani-Mrs. l.. Kellam, Miss l.. Lyme
Miss nj. Reardon. and Miss j. Reardon.
Alti-Misses +. Bowers and NJ. Leahe
TeLor-Mr. w. Mahoney.
Bsssi-Alessrs. w. III. Sherwin, NJ. NJ
honey, aud l.. Kelam.
Director~-Mr w. III. Sheryin.
Organst-Miss NJ. McSweeney.
ST. MARY's GERMAN.
At ST. Mary's services will be held
follows:
First high mass at o'clock A. NJ,
chiistmas-Day; low masses follow
this service: childrsns mass at o'clot
second high mass at 1880 O'clock; v.
pers in the afternoon.
The various services will be held
Very Rev. Father Wilibalc. and the r.
fatnefs Gregory, John, and Taber-smi