The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-12
CUT OLD SONGS.
Talk Of Movement to Revise the
HymnaI.
One May Be Published Under
Prof. Penny's Direction.
WHAT THE LAITY SAYS
Nearly All Think There Is
Room for improvement.
John Macdonald Talks of Tin
Pan Music.

Prof. George B. Penny's opposition
to what he calls Immoral church
music may result in the revision of old
hymn books and the publication of a
new hymnal, under Prof Penny's di-
rection. which will eliminate the dance
tunes and poorly written music to
which Prof. Penny objects. This plan
has been suggested. by some of the
church people of the city as the logical
outcome of the criticisms which Prof
Penny has made.
When asked how it would be possible
for clergyman without any special
knowledge of music, or the leaders of
Z. NJ. c. A. and young peoples meet
tngs to distinguish between the good
music and the bad music, and know
whether piece written in "a time is
dance music or not, Prof. Penny said:
Il would be glad to meet the clergy
men of the city, and others interested,
mean. I believe 1 could do it in
very short time. Out here at Wash
burn in our music classes we are
teaching our young people to know
just such things about music. 1 realize
that it is a delicate matter to cr1ticiSe
hymns, because they form such a vital
part of the religious life of people. Nor
do want to be understood as CRITICS.
ing dance music, as such. l have no
objection to a waltz or two step, but
I say it is immoral to put the words of
a religious song to dance music, simply
to pander to popular taste
John Macdonald, who likes good
music and is not inclined to be sensa-
tiona1 in his ideas, said today:
II do not altogether agree with
Prof. Penny. Some of these old songs
are fraught with very sacred memories,
and it is a dangerous thing for people
to criticise them. The opposition of re-
ugiouS people will be aroused But IN
many ways, Prof Penny is right. GER
tRinly object to this tin-pan music.
Quite often when a song is given out
I say to my Sunday school class,
There's one of those tin-pan pieces
Such music is especially common in
Sunday schools.
But it will not live. It is like pop
ular song. When I was young every
body was singing and Whistling an air
called 'Slap-bang, here we are again.
1t was as bad as Hot Time but VEN
ture to say that very few of the present
generation ever heard the title before
And on the other hand. some of these
old tunes which have been sung for
hundred years or more in the churches
are entitled to respect even if they are
not perfect as examples of musical skill.
They have something in them which
entities them to live.
1T is possible to play Yankee Doc
devotion, and so It is possible to MAY
church music in rag time. ] don't aD-
prove of either. have heard music in
Sunday schools which actually made
the scholars keep time with their feet
Mr.. Macdonald also criticised Prof.
Penny's censure of the tune Refuge"
to which Jesus Lover of My Soul is
sometimes sung. When it was called to
his attention that Refuge" is the new
tune, and the old familiar tune is
IA, he r-acOnrilP6 Prof
Penny's judgment.
H B. Howard, who is one of the lead
ing Christian Endeavor men of the city
said: Il think the church and religious
hynnmaIs should be revised. Many Of
the old hymns should be kept, but
lot of this light, fiimsy, trashy stuff
should be cut out Both kinds of music
are necessary. but we have too much of
the light stuff now"
H. l. Shirer who stands among the
foremost of the church soloists in To-
peka says:
Il think what Prof Penny says is in
large part true. Much of this stuff in
the hymn books is not worth singing.
There are about 90 HYMNS in our hymn
books which I care for, and the rest l
could get along without If we discard
all this light music however, don't
pretend to know what we should sub
stitute That is a question which
musical expert like Prof. Penny should
answer. We must have something easy
for children to learn
NJ C. Holman, whose work as musical
leader and director is well known in To
peka. says; Prof Penny is in the nam
correct. / think there is a great deal of
trash in the Sunday school books espec-
tally. It is not at all elevating. 7 have
no doubt that from a purely musical
standpoint. as viewed by Prof. Penny.
many of the gospel hymns are light and
trashy. 1t should be remembered, how
ever, that many of these hymns We're
written for solos and have suffered by
being arranged for four parts. When so
arranged they seem cheap. 1t is undoubt-
eddy fact that great deal of the mu-
sic sung in churches is as fine rag-time
as You can find anywhere March time is
impressive, but rag time in church music
IS demoralizing and should be eliminated. .
J. K. Bair. another leading musical critic
of the city, says: Some church music