New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-30
CHANGES IN CHOIR-LOF'TS
NEW SINGERS AND ORGANISMS THIS
YEAR IN THE CITY CHURCHES.
o,,r or-r TOWN RECRUITS TO METROPOLITAN
FORCES-OLD SINGERS IN NEW PLACES
THE FINANCIAL, QUESTION.

FORCES-OLD SINGERS IN NEW ii'NN'S'
THE FINANCIAL QUESTION
In the church choirs of this city many changes
have been made, usual, this season, ana the
first Of May will find new faces and unfamiiiar
voices in the choir-lofts. To attempt an eX-
PLANTATION of the changes which annually occur
in the choirs Of the cty's churches might oher
some difficulty Certainly novelty would not
seem to be sought for in holy services, and yet
each successive season brings about the shifting
Of singers with unfailing regularity. There Is
hardly a choir in either the Borough OF MAN.
haitian or Brooklyn where the personnel Will DE
as heretofore and in some instances every
singer has been changed Old organists, 100
give way to new and upon some of those VINO
remain new duties devolve In several cases the
organist will have added to his work the re-
sponsibilities of choirmaster
The changes in number Of instances TINS
season may be traced directly to the matter or
compensation. Much has been heard lately OF
the financial difficulties which said to ham,
per churches in this city. The suggestion made
to one minister that he resign to save the
church embarrassment has been given wide pub
LEFTY. In the case of the singers there has been
no beating around the bush" 1t has simply
a
out of the choir And peculiar as it may seem,
the ones who have felt it most have been those
whose salaries are moderate or small, the de-
mand for the high priced singers being sufii-
GENTLY great to place them in position more or
less independent.
Although the new singers are just beginning
to appear in the choirs, the work of engaging
them has been going on for several months
To ba Gin in he ha of
to their music-deaers for information as to
vacancies, but in late years several agencies
have sprung into existence whose business it
is to keep in touch with demand and supply. At
each office set of books is kept, in which the
singers names, experience and qualifications are
noted, and similar record is kept of the new
aspirants for choir positions. The latter are by
no means few in number, and every State in the
Union sends its quota of ambitious ones to try
for positions in York. Many do not find
places, and go away after a short time; 9TH
ers remain for a season or so and then return
to their native towns with the prestige of a
New York engagement and still others remain
permanently and become prominent in musical
circles The musical agency is busy place dur
ing that period in which choirs are in the process
Of forming. 1t is a continuous game of chess
May with human beings for the chessmen. The
singers are shifted from one place to another
for each position many are called and, of course,
but one is chosen.
In the musical agency they await the chance
of being heard by the choir committeeman, or
they are sent to dimly lighted choir-lofts to
give evidence of their capabilities. If their
efforts please the committee they come forth
smiling and triumphant. And if by chance they
fail to secure one place they go about seeking
another, for it by means follows that all
committeeman will think alike A voice that is
passed by one is eagerly accepted by an
other and it goes until all the better material
is secure for the season
In the chors this will be found a
larger proportion than of singers who are
new to this city. Many of them come from the
West and some from far away as San Fran
cisco. Many of these singers. anxious for recog-
milton, have been willing to accept the reduced
compensation which the churches offered but
in several instances the newcomers are persons
of established reputation, who command good
salaries
Evan Williams, tenor, returns to the Marble
Collegiate Church, after an absence of about a
year. Mrs. Katherine Fisk is the new contrato
at St. Barthoomews. Brick Church will have
new soprano Mrs. Ethel Crane, who goes there
from the First Reformed Episcopal Church;
also a new alto, Miss Minnie Hance owens from
California, and a new tenor A. p. Quesne from
St Paul. Walter ]. Hail. organist, and Herbert
WitherspCon basso continue in this choir.
William Edward Muigan, from st. Marks
Protestant Episcopal Church, succeeds Carl
Walter organist of the Fifth Avenue Col
legiate Church Mr.. Walter has occupied the
position for more than twelve years. j. f.
Kitchen, the present organist of the First Bap-
fist Church, remains, with the additional duties