New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-11

the middle OF last July. mo only one heaNelN
OF the musical services which nay be said TO have
real significance left undiscussed. To this feature
this the last article OF the series is devoted, ana
q ought to be said at the outset that the charac-
terstic element Of the feature is one OF garment
rather than liturgy music. still as such things
20 Il is important The movement which put sur
rliced cholrs Of men and boys into so many OF the
Protestant Episcopal churches OF the city ana mas
spread 10 the churches Of other denominations such
as the Methodist and Lutheran. has back OF II a
sentiment which has nothing 10 do with musical
art. Little BOYS look pretty IN the chancel gar
Enents. and supplied male chors have had the
sanction Of The church Tor centuries Ia urging
their return. after they had been hanished by new
convictions in religion and art the women twho had
most 10 90 with the supplied movement') never
thought taat they were echoing an old reproacn OF
The church on themselves nor did the ministers ana
ohornaasters who yielded TO tire pressure think OF
the violence artistic principles BY using an
,ient agencies i'm the performance OF modern works.
il a case OF putting new wine into old bottles
with vengeance.
Every good church must fan knows that there is
no choir 50 df1cut maintain IN a state OF real
artistic efficiency as a choir in which the trebles
and altos are boys. Neither is there choir go
costly assuming that artists efficiency is aimed
al and. from point Of view. so little de-
snanded by present conditions OF church compo-
Eition Its champions. from artistic point Of
view tand il has many who both Intelligent and
sincere generally argue that emouonalism has no
place IN the church service and that therefore. the
ere not only not needed. but out OF place IN the
choir. But the tendency OF modern music, Of ell
music during the last century and half, IS not
merely enotionaI-it Is positively dramatic. For
this music passionless voices OF boys wholly
inadequate. Criticism has not been the purpose OF
these studies but there times when facts can
not be stated without tncture OF criticism, and
-his Of them. The subject pretty well
threshed out Fl The Tribune when the question OF
SUPPLIES for women nrsr came Up for discussion
but the arguments need TO be stated IN view Of the
Tact that so-cslled angelic colrs maintained by
some OF the finest churches II the city, notably by
e. Bartholomew's which has just given tho do
cese OF NeW-York its coadjutCr bishop.
There was a time when church music marked
- serenity and total absence OF emotion That
the time Of polyphonic composition, when
differences in voice quality was G small matter.
Then harmonic SUGGESTIONS and the ingenious inter
weaving OF voices were relied on for effects OF
beauty rather than melodies composed to express
the sentiments OF the service text Such music.
much OF It OF vondrous beauty and grandeur. may
be heard at the concerts OF the Musical Art So
ciety. At that time a minimum OF attention was
paid TO the words and a maximum the pro-
duction OF musical tones. Then q setting OF the
geneslogy OF Christ according to st. Matthew,
such as is described by William Mason Zone time
precentor OF York Cathedral. and the friend and
biographer OF the poet Cray, caused neither
amusement nor offence. While the bass was hold
ing forth the existence OF Abraham, the tenor, IN
defiance Of nature and chronology. was begetting
treble begetting Joseph and al his brethren AT
such q time. maybe, the integrity OF the service
may have been better maintained by the perform
ance OF music composed for them by the passion
less voices OF boys. But how much OF this old
cathedral music IS retained IN churches? The
service lists which have printed IN the course OF
she summer may testify. How much OF the music
composed to-day. and forming the most popular
collections OF the majority OF organsts is writ
cen in the old spirit and with the old Gis-
CHI
ever, Little. Il any
There ought to be honesty IN every portion OF
ghe church service. Music ought TO be sung by
Che voices contemplated by the composer. upon the
employment OF which the effectiveness OF the COM
position depends. Moreover. II woman IS permitted
20 sing Il ought not 10 be under false pretenoes.
Those who preached with St Bernard that she lie
an instrument Of the devil dead It Is time that
ahe last vestige OF prejudice created by such
Doctrine should Gle also. When that prejudice in
completely rooted out no Anglican churohman will
be found 10 say. as Canon LiddOn said when asked
sor his opinion the propriety OF permitting wom
en- &C wear surpuces 1T is difficult say whether
she spectacle OF ladies in SUPPLIES. and SO on 10
znore irreverent than Il Is certainly gTotesQus."
The worshippers at the churches OF St Bartholo-
NEW. All Souls and Ascension IA New-York City,
have long ceased TO anything either irreverent
grotesque IN their choirs. II they ever cid. rhe
employment OF supplied women IN chRncel choiTs
had origin. have been able learn,
about Isl IN the ST Paul Pro-Cathedral in Mel
zion made its way into few provincial churches
IN England, and the controversy followed which
brought Canon Liddons ungracious speech. In
New-York the first church adopt the innovation.
which The Tribune had heartily commended, was
AL Souls. where the Rev. DR.. Heber Newton Cal-
ways keenly appreciative OF beautiful and efTec-
i've musical service. and willing 20 give his choir
master freedom in its producton) rector and
Richard Henry Warren choirmaster. This
IN 1890. The boy choir fad making itself
ffa~fNy 10 sAof
tine and WAS doing a great deal of artistic havoc
q New-York as well smaller places; but the
angelic kept pace with it. and soon a
large number az vestr1es learned that the chancel
POSITION with its advantages could be OCCUPIED by
o choir capable OF singing modern music as Il
ought 70 be sung. There great deal Of preju-
dice IN some quarters against women wearing CO.
clesiastical garments but II yielded to the argu-
-nent that uniformity and sobriety OF dress was
Necessary 10 overcome the incongruous effect OF
caprGciousness and rapid change in feminine at
tire. So the cause Of good music was saved. In
the case OF ST. Bartholomew, The demonstration
has gone further and shown that the absence Of
the cathedral choral service can be off,
SCI by the introduction OF beautiful specimens
OF sixteenth century unaccompanied music. So
eiciet has Mr.. Warren's choir become in the per
romance OF this music that can be said to be q
rFsL though the only in New York OF the
Musical Art Society which is devoted 10 music Of
WIS Class. Mr. Warren began his work at St
bartholomew the first Sunday in Nav. 1855
o. s0Hool ne mad played at chapel services and he
haa substituted here and there in summer months
beioIe ne received his first appointment In l7s AZ
the Church OF St John the E,yaneeIist Cyva,n-
wright MenorialJ. year later he went TO the
Reformed Episcopal Church al Na6ison.,,a -
fhy-lnh-st. ana thence. after a year 10 All
Souls. where he remained TN he rs-ceyea ,to =
pointment al St Bartholomew. For five ,,aars
after 1874 he .ctod assistant to his tathar -
william Warren. at 81. Thornas's his duties ,beTa