Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-09
:ss-s-ss- Observation-Disclosures
tFor Sunday Reading
+ All Sorts Of Opinions. (
MODERN CHURCH MUSIC.
Are Comic Opera. Popular Ballads. and
Two Steps Invading Sacred SONG?

| fNTe Sorn'C Operd, Popular BALLADS, ant
Two Steps Invading Sacred Song?
1T Is still possible to enter 4 ca,
thedral ana hear good music. assert.
Stanley chipperfeld, in the octobe,
Westminster Review. "a ca;hedra
chapter has its traditions and the sol.
emnity of the service may partly bt
induced by the building itself"
And so is this the case with man.
a stately parish church, but. all the
same they are the exception. and Otter
different state of things Is revealed
The influence of an unnusical vicar
ana an uneducated organst is all-pow
erful. A congregation is frequently I'M
der the sway of this disastrous combi-
nation. and the music, il not duh. is
often trivial. diluted stuff: echoes OF
comic opera and the maudlin senti-
ment of the drawing room ballad. Alas
so few perceive that this state OF
things is not compatible with the
splendors of the book of common pray
err. The treatment of church music In
opera is a reliable mirror in which the
spirit of genuine sacred music is re-
Elected. The cathedral scene in
Faust" with its contrapuntal inter-
ludes and solemn music accompanying
the Dies Irae." Is an instance. The
contrast between this solemn num-
ming and the paltry type of service so
frequently heard. is glaring enough.
The chorals in the opening scene of
Die Melstersinger" is another in
stance. Instead of using one of the old
tunes, Wagner has written one Of his
own, but Its diatonic harmonies are
50 massive that 1t would have de-
lighted the heart of Martin Luther
himself. How different from the ec-
static and fiimsy tunes which form
such a large proportion of our modern
hymn books The question revolves
itself into whether the church music is
to be an enrolling influence. or wheth-
er, as decadent influence 1t obliter-
ates all purity of sentiment beyond a
veneer OF superficial emotion.
Almost simultaneously there comes
a cry from Kansas OF similar i'm
port. According TO the Cumberland
Presbyterian. college professor of
that state is reported as saying that
many OF the gospel hymns of today are
immoral, explaining that he does not
mean the words. but the music. Il
include in the list of immoral songs
six waltzes, two two-steps. and seven
teen polkas. do not think that words
set to such music are inspiring or suit
able for religious exercises The
Presbyterian comments:
1t would be interesting to
have the list OF tabooed
songs. Many Will agree with the pro-
fesso- that there are songs which arr
rot inspiring nor do they tend TO be-
get particularly devotional frame OF
mind. Much OF the music In the sun
day schools Is of this class. But does
that make them immoral? Or. are the
songs which the professor taboos inn
moral because they are wa!tzes. two
steps and polkas? That can hardly
be: for In that case he would shut out
some of our most precious hymns
Dancing may be Immoral. but waltz
OF polka Is not necessarily so. II we
were compelled to drop all music of
this kind from our hymn books, We
would have little left. We could no
longer sing Nearer. My God. to Thee"
nor "Blest Be the I've That Binds"
nor II Am Coming to the Cross" nor
Jesus, Lover OF My Soul" nor host
of others.