New-York tribune., 1903-07-12
MUSICAL NOTES.
T'he Church Music of Ne7o-YorE,-
Foreign NezcS.

Beginning on Sunday. July 10, and continuing
every Sunday thereafter through the summer and
early fall, The Tribune will publish a series Of
articles designed to show the present state of
music In the churches of New-York and to present
in outline. at least historical study OF the differ
ent styles of worship music in the American
metropolis. These articles viii be illustrated by
reproductions of photographs OF many choirs as
now constituted and organists now in service. All
fhe phases Of musical culture through which the
church service has passed in the development of
the ecclesiastical organizations which have -four
Eshed on Manhattan Island since its colonization by
the Dutch viii be touched upon and an effort be
made to give vivdness and animation. besides his
torical accuracy, to the narrative The story will
begin with the Dutch Church and the restrictions
placed upon the musical element of its service by
the Genevan Psalter and Calvin's njUnctions Then
viii follow account Of the parochial system as
practised by the Anglican Church and the Protes-
tant Episcopal Church in the United States until
the introduction Of organs. choirs and the mixed
form OF service which is still followed in churches
and chapels which do maintain the equipment
essential 10 a full choral service The story of
the installation of the choir in the chancel of Trim
aty Church and the introduction surplices after
long struggle, the occasion OF the visit of the
Prince Of Wales now King Edward VII of England,
1orty-three years ago. viii be told gained from
snen who sang in the choir boys at tae time.
In contrast the dreary metrical psalmody OF the
frst Anglican churches and the Calvinistic dis
senters and Nonconfornists will appear the vigor-
hymnody and lusty singing of the Methodists
in the rigging loft in William-st. and the first
chapel in John-st-, which were the cradles of the
Methodist Episcopal Church spread all the
land to-day. The primitive church. now grown
strong and prosperous, has turned longngly toward
the ornate liturgy OF the church TO which its found
er belonged, and for dozen years has harbored
movement which is creating robed chancel choirs,
with their professionals and recessionas and plant
Eng the seeds which may day lead 10 a
ritualistic service closely akin that which was
always dear to the heart of John Wesley.
This movement in the Methodist churches was
practically coincident in its origin with The de-
parture IN the Episcopal Church which admitted
women IN the chancei choirs and robed them in
vestments patterned after the ancient cassocks
and cottas. The story Of the opposition which
these ''angelic choirs" they first called In
Australia, where they originated. the
set extremely interesting. It has gained strong
foothold IN the Episcopal churches Of New-YoTk
and has checked the tendency toward inadequacy
in the musical service which was threatened by the
desire largely sentimental, for surplced chors OF
boys and men. Some Of the best music In New
York is now sung by surpliced chors Of men and
women-notably that OF the Church OF st. Bar
tholomew
viii be accounts Of the music and musical organi-
cations IN the Cathedral. with its chancel choir
and organ for the performance Of the Proper, and
its gallery choir and organ TO which is confded
the Ordinary of the mass. the large and finely or
eanized choir of boys and men in the Church OF St
paul the Apostle. which for twenty years has de-
voted itself, under the guidance OF the Paulist
Fathers to the Gregorian service. and the notable
gallery choir OF and women in the Jesuit
church OF St Francis Xavier under the of
Father Young.
The Oldest Of all existing forms of divine worship
WILL come in for historical study in the account OF
xhs musical ssrssce in the Reformed Jewish Tenn