The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-24


ton and by making themselves agreea-
bic to the socia oba.-htheC. jaoin oininnn
bic to the terrible Music Committee, and
by getting social introductions in the con-
gregation. they pick up great many pu-
pills. One of the New York church So
pranos sings for a moderate salary and
has a studio full or imaginary Melbas
and Eameses. who pay her some $1,000
year. This, of course, is an exceptional
case.
Other well-known church singers get
concert ENGAGEMENTS all over the country.
and a well-known tenor of one Of the
millionaire churches cleared $4,000 in
this way last year-that he would have
done so if the enterprising music agent"
who booked him had not drawn half of it
for commissions" reducing his net con-
cert and oratorio receipts to $3.50.
Drawing room engagements at the
homes of the millionaire church members
also add to the choir singers income, for
if Vanderbilt or an Astor or the others
take a fancy to the singers they Invite"
them to entertain their guests after
swell dinner. But the millionaires don't
hand them $1,000 bills. They give Nine
Eames or Mime. Media $500 for singing
for them, but the choir singer, if Of the
top notch variety, is rewarded with
from $10G TO $500.
Many of the Sunday singers manage to
make money by doubling up" in their
church work, singing in some Christian
edifce on Sunday and in synagogue on
Saturday. But there are so many who
try to get this extra work that they have
''beared'' the marwet, and soprano or
tenor who gets $500 a year for Sunday,
gets only $500 or 500 year from the syn
agogue.
Perhaps it has noe occurred to the Sun
day Music Committee that, though they
are paying the highest prices, they are
only getting the fag end of the singers
voice. For what with Friday rehersals
for the synagogue, Saturdays elaborate
and difficult service there and Saturday
nights rehersals for Sundays service, the
singer arrives at the Christian service
Sunday morning pretty well worn out
Our Hebrew friends have rather the best
of the bargain, you see, and at a much
less cost.
If you were to ask the average man
what denomination has the best and fl
would say the Catholic or Episcopalian
churches, whose imposing ritual allows
of splendid musical accompaniment.
All wrong; the finest music in New
York is heard in the Hebrew synagogues,
where some of the best voices are culled
from the pick of the Christian churches,
and where the music is most elaborate,
broadly effective, and almost operate in
it's style. The next best is heard in the
Dutch Reformed Churches, where they
not only have supberb singers, but pay
good salaries and give great attention to
selecting we'll harmonized voices that IN
quartet and choral work produce delight
full results.
Mr George William Warren is the or
ganist of St. Thomas Church. and the
music is of the fine old-fashioned hymnal
type, not vocally difficult in form, but
sweet, flowing melodious, that the sym
pathetic voices of the quartet sing adj
mirably.
Nine. Gram is the soprano and gets4SS00
a year Mr. William Denison is the ten
or, at 1920; Doctor Carl 5Iartin is the
basso, and Miss Keyes is the contralto.
ry Warren is the organist and choir d-
rector. The quartet gets a salary of SLIGO
each, and is composed of Mr.. Theodore
Toedt, soprano; Mr.. Mackenzie Gordon,
a protege of the Vanderbilts, tenor; Miss
Cathrine Fisk. contralto: and Mr.. Le-
land Langley, basso.
This is a very fine quartet. each mem
bera sGpberb soloist, and while their voic-
es do not blend perfectly they phrase in
such beautiful style ind in such perfect
tune that the general effect is charming.
Hhe Marble Collegiate has the highest
priced choir tenor in New York. Evan
Williams receives $500 per annum. with
three months vacation. during which time
he does not have to provide any substi-
tute
Miss Alice Sherwood. the contralto: Mrs
Orchard the soprano; and DR.. Carl Duff
the basso. are each paid $3.50.
This quartet is really perfect in the nice
balance of their voices, and from a strict
ly artistic standpoint is the best church
quartet in New York. The stadard of the
music programme is the Marble ColIegi-
ate, which is in charge of the organist
Mr. Richard T. Percy, is excellent, and
that the church does not propose to hide
its musical light under a bushel is evil
denced in the fact that it sends to hotels
and apartment houses programmes of the
following Sundays services, that every
one may be made aware of what is to be
heard at the church in the coming ser
vices.
At the Temple Emanuel, the hand
some synagogue at Forty eighth street
and Fifth avenue. many rich and in1uen-
tial Hebrews worship-such as James Sc
ligman, Louis Stern. Isaac Eppinger. JJa-
cob Schif, Henry Seidenberg. Samuel
Schafer, and scores of others. Here the
music is exceptionally good, under the d.
rectorship of Mr.. Max Spicker. with Mr.
William Macfarlane as organist.
The double quartet includes Miss Mary
Mansfield and Mile Toronto. sopranos:
Nine. Josephine Jacoby and Miss Louns-
berry. conraltos; Mr.. Theodore Van
YORK and Mr. William Bachelor. tenors.
and Signor Bologna, basso.
It has been said that II Is more difficult
for a camel TO pass through the eye Of
needle than for a rich man 20 pass into
the membership Of the Brick Church. at
Thirty seventh street and Fifth avenue.
Not that they want no rich men 70 be-
come members but there are 50 many
already within that there is waiting list
of forty who want Dews and cannot get
them.
The music ar the Brick Church IS ex-
celient The church IS e1ui9ned with one
Of the finest toned organs in the city.