The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-11

SdruinB tne pCSt metnOd OF improving
congregational singing.
Answer.--In last Saturdays "ou u,s-
ton Box" one most important item in
the Improvement of congregational
singing was treated. The advantage of
having a hymn sung to one particular
tune, and no other, was discussed at
some length. did not say then. but
] viii say now, that this idea is by no
means original with me. I simply gave
expression to the opinion held by some
or the most thoughtful among church
musicians of the present day, an opin-
ION which my own experience has over
and over again proved true.
Granting then that each HYMN
should have its own tune, to which IL
must always be sung let It's consider
the style and character of the tunes
themselves. How shall they be har-
monized? Shall we have an entire
tune harmonized with only about three
or four different chords, or shall we
nave change of harmony with almost
every note of the melody? To the first
class belong tunes like Dennis (Which
mas only three different bass notes
throughouD and the melodies to what
Is known as Gospel Hymns" To the
second class belong such tunes as "Old
Hundred" Saint AIMS" Dundee"
and Saint Thomas" the splendid cho..
rails of Germany and the richly har-
monized modern English hymn tunes.
The first variety, especially those OF
the Gospel Hymn" type, are SO sim.
pie in their makeup that they are cas-.
lily learned even in the four parts. vet
rn -.
mony that, like the popular songs of
the day. they are discarded in a short
time somewhat as last Springs bon
net (Which at the time was just the
sweetest thing) or as last Falls style of
TOP coats must give way to the newer
styles. There is this difference, how
ever; fashion DEGREES the change in
the one case; in the other their very
simplicity and "catchiness" hold in
them the seeds of decay and early
death.
But to the second variety of hymns,
with their noble, rich and inspiring
harmonies, ,thisobjection is urged: they
are too difficult for conversational
use" BY no means. The hearty con-
gregational singing of Germany which
has history reckoned by centuries,
entirely disproves this assertion. If
you mean that these constantly
changing harmonies make all the parts
except the melody too difficult for any
but trained singers you are quite right.
But these parts in a hymn tune
need not be sung at all. And now l
am about to announce an axiom which
mas the most important bearing of all
IN congregational singing: The melody
SHOULD BE SUNG IN UNISON.
Everybody men, women and children,
should sing the melody and leave the
harmony to the organ. There are sew
eral reasons for this. First, there is
an inspiration, an uplifting, in several
hundred voices joining heartily in the !
same melody which when once heard |
can never be forgotten. Second, a mel |
ody is quickly learned by anybody who |
can sing q tune at all. especially if a !
as a whole sing the mel |
ody Third, the melody to the finest |
class of hymn tunes no matter how
rich and varied the harmones are al |
ways singable and easily learned. |
Fourth, leaving the harmonies to the |
organ eliminates a large amount of |
discordant singing.
Have you never sat by somebody in |
church who was positive he could sing |
bass but who simply sToWled some |
where in the lower octave? The hymn |
was completely spoiled for you and |
your devotional spirit gave place to |
one of annoyance and Vexation You
wished he had a wife with him like |
Josiah Aliens wife who would "ketch |
nolt of him" and beg him to desist.
And there is the lady who declares
that although she doesn't know a note
IF music she can "sing a second to
anything" She ought to say that she
always sings a fifth to everything: in
lther words that instead of singing auy
)ne of the four printed parts in the
music she manufactures a fifth part
which is amenable to none of the ac-
,epted laws OF harmony.
If the whole congregation sings the
melody difficulties in learning new
lymn-tunes or chorals cease to exist,
The splendid productions of a long line !
If composers dating from centuries
back to the present are at once avail
lble. 1t is on account of the dignity
ma yet simplicity Of the melodies, to-
sether with their rich harmonies, that
he mind never grows tired of them.
Now supposing that our hymnal is
printed with each hymn having its ap-
)ropriate tune to which it is always
'ung, and our church provides itself
With sufficient number of copies Now
omes another tremendously important
actor in the improvement of congre-
gational singing: The same book
hOuld be used in all the services of
he church, including the Sunday
school | see no more reason why the
lifcrcnt services of the church should
ach require different hymn books than
hat they should each require differ
mt Bible. Every properly constructed
lymnal contains a variety of hymns
suitable to all the varied experiences
# the human heart. This subject will
,e considered further in next Satur-
lays Tribune.
MusiCuS Please decide an argument |
through your musical column. \ Sc
lection commences in four-four time as
follows Uhe example is given in muSi-
cal notatiOn). Is il proper to accent
the two syllables, or only the first syl-
liable, which is the only accent the
word has, and sing the second softer?
Answer and Obligc.