The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-20
THE FUTURE OF CHURCH MUSIC

THE FUTURE OF CHURCH MUSIC.
The decision of the Roman Catholic
consistory of Brooklyn, to employ here
after only mems and boys voices in
the churches. is important, not only be-
cause Of the size and the prominence
of the churches it affects, but because
1t is the first direct result in this coun-
try of the present pope's published in
structions in regard to reform in
church music. That a return to the
Gregorian chant and to the masses Of
the polyphonic school will be instant
is not to be expected but there is no
doubt that the music sung in the flu
ture in Catholic churches will be more
strictly hturgical
In the matter Of the exclusion Of
women, the pope's instructions were
unmistakable. singers in church
music have a real liturgieal Office"
reads his translated letter, "and wom-
en-, being incapable of exercising such
office, cannot be admitted to form part
Whenever, then, it is desired to en-
ploy the acute voices of sopranos and
contraltos, these parts must be taken
by boys, according to the most ancient
usage Of the church, The Brooklyn
consistory, therefore, has merely acted
in accordance with these instructions
in determining that in the future no
female voices will be heard in the
churches Of the diocese.
A reform is widespreading in its in
1uence, and it would not be remark
able if the next few years witnessed
desirable change not only in the
style Of music sung in the Roman
Catholic churches but in churches Of
all denominations. Such a reform
could not affect all denominations in
the same manner, Of course. The
Episcopal churches have their ancient
traditions, and reform in the music
sung in these churches, and especially
in the former, merely means return
to ancient forms. 1t is not probable
that the churches of other denomina-
lions will return to congregational
singing, which is the traditional church
music for most of them; but it is prob
able that much Of the profane music,
lily disguised by sacred words, will be
banished.
Time was when the churches seemed
welded to hymns that had no merit at
ALL unsteady, but today many of those
churches have gone to the other ex-
IRENE and appear to care very little
what their choirs and their quartettes
sing so long as their music be artistic.
therefore, represents art for arts sake
instead of art for religions sake. The
old-fashioned congregational singing
may have been hopelessIy inartistic,
but at least it bore a close relationship
to the devotional exercises instead of
being a mere characterization, as is so
much of the church music of today.
The following paragraph in the letter
of instruction written by the pope in
regard to this matter of reform in
church music is worthy of the con-
sideration of all those who are inter-
ested in maintaining the purity Of
church worship: I'm general it must
be considered to be a very grave abuse
when the liturgy in ecclesiastical fune-
tons is made to appear secondary to
and in a manner at the service of the
music, for the music is merely part
of the liturgy and it's humble hand
maid" If we substitute devotional ex-
ercises for liturgy, the application of
this remark becomes general; and all
denominations might profit by the
warning it implies
THE PRESIDENTS AcHATEs.
One Of the publications that is apt to
make people question with Mr.. James
the desirabiIity of the present wide
spread diffusion Of penmanshfp Is