New-York tribune., 1903-08-30

practically ell OF IL known by the ordinary church
musician IS that which is heard Sunday after Sun
day by the ordinary worshipper, and this IS
summed up in the intonation phrases OF the priest
and the psalm tones. For fifteen hundred years
however. the Church has had vast treasure Of
sacred song covering the entire body OF its liturgy
+ IS marvellous possession. which contains
echo of the musical defamation OF the Attic stage,
well the temple services OF Egypt. Jerusalem.
Greece and Rome. It requires but a little exercise
Of the imagination 10 identify II with the most
primitive forms in which that intimate association
which once existed between melody and all solemn
speech eNemplihed. In such manner the
laws of Solon were promulgated; in cadences Ike
these the priests Of Isis chantad before Plato in
the temples OF Egypt. thus the Athenian +raRa-
dams recited the sonorous lines OF Fschylus So
ThocleS and their fellows. in some such manner
the IroQuois. two centuries ago chanted their rites
a. thetr councils OF coudolence Il IS the Oldest
FORM ~ speech-song that has been preserved
foT Us through the ages. a pious legacy. a lovely
evidence ~ antique culture the ONLY form of
LurEic music which has endured from century, N
century and has won the love OF musicians as well
Is inc vene-7tion % churchmen Its vfcIssitudes
have hecr many Some or The greatest Of the
, - have labored for its preservation and regu-
laloH- establishing schools and even conducting
Ihen IN person. II tradition Is 70 be believed: for
four hundred years oraI tradition alone was re-
He'd upon To keep knowledge OF II alive: system
aiie7 system n notation was contrved 10 fix its
ZONES 20 avoid the Inaccuracies and confusions
NhIoh resulted from treacherous memories;
'nonas'eries like those q 81. Gall thousand years
sEo and of Schemes to-day were devoted TO
study ~ IFS history and practice: high councils
have solemnly considered the advisabiitv Of boil
isntEE the most beautiful and ornate music ever
composed for the service 81 the Church and 70
return - it I'm IFS primitive and unadorned form
Undoubtedly much of this veneration is based
upon something else than artistic appreciation Of
ne ancient melodies but the love Of musicians has
also been deeply stirred By their dignifed beauty
sno IT is much easier n imagine the Gregorian
chant dominant all the service n the Church
thsr abolished IS a sacrifice 70 any conceiya bic
phase ~ musical arr.
7 vas IN September lso that the Pa5Ilts+ Fathers
e ioed 70 Introduce the Gregorisn chant into all
;hs'r services and 70 take the means to procure
rs performance a. the earliest possible date ac-
oorang ~ the letter and spirit OF the Ceremonial
tsFs little history of the choir. printed on the
cccasion n its twenty-ffth anniversary in lso-
his meant the rse exclusively ~ the old chants
~ ihe various Offices. and the organization %
t-.p--'e1 sanctuary choir of men and bows ID 20
mat time NJ attempt had been made with ,be
mixed Eallery choir 10 sing the Proper Of the dsv
q season fThe Ordinary is that part Of the mass
.neh IS the same on ali occasions; the Proper that
"H'en varies with the different days and festivals
80 - 'Ae lniroit Gradual Sequence. Onertorv
--- eolHhunion) For several years II was found
ihpTaeucabe 10 sing al Vespers according n tho
9Is made, the Psalms generally being the Common
.. s-Acsg- with the 'Laudate Dominunn'' in Mace
q 1he in Exitu." About 1852 futile EFFORT ~
an ie" boys 10 chant the antiphons was made.
- soon abandoned. Six years later sanctuary
olgsn vas Installed and the effort repeated This
uH'e II was successful and the Vespers were
ai''eo according TO the rite so far as the words
eie concerned" says the scrupulous historian the
i'-ois and commemoratiOns being sung by the
seuSents Of the community In the sanctuary and
-" rSs-ms chanted slterna tely by them and the
-Ae1 eAolT III the gallery Two years later there
en- me determination make the service wholly
-r.y E-Ie.y 5regorian. Father Hecker the superior
appointed Father Young Drefect ~ met -
.-eldefs OF the mixed choir we're brought together
- an evening OF sociability. and the organization
- 1isoanded Six Germans. professional singers
engaged n sing such portions Of the Proper
-'e oeefned advisable. vespers were sung as
sD'e "i'h the help of the students and three-part
-or mems voices were sung for the Ord!nar1
.'-sf 20aas then advertised tor singing boys. and