The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-15
NUSICAS The POPE WANTSIT.
FEAST DAY DEMONSTRATIONS
Ar ST. FRiNCIS XAIIER'S.
,..,or,an Nespers ny BOY choir. Poly
nhonlc singing by Men and Gregorian
songs by the COngregation-i to
wake THIS TINY crsal a Ear Il Problem.

Leo
home or which he had been working for
week.. At a yesper service in honor
clio feast Of 'he Immaculate Virgin the
..,..s was Of a kind 20 correspond exactly
,,,r..the requirements contained In letter
~ riu-
r.ere were GreRorian yespers by the boy
,1,tr poIyphomc singing by the men 4
,h,i, who chauted two motets. and finally
.,,,, of the psalms IN Gregorian form
h.. fba con gregation Of l,2oO men. These
n,r, tbe alumni Of the college who had
.,,.,dei the service. OF course such a
",s,,,l congregation could not always be
gathered
rath,r Young was delighted with the
,.-,lt for Il helped to prove his optimistio
,h.ory that American chors and congre-
.,,n,ns can be taught to sing the kind Of
',u-ir N which Pope Plus wants 10 hear
thnn.
Father Young believes that Gregorian
,,n-,e and congregational singing could he
! ,,.,ored 90 their places in the Roman Catho-
a., Church fully within ten years and partly
,,,tbin five years If this kind OF singing
were taught IA tho parochial schools. He
Ia. stood for that principle for years and
I'm. advocated it with greater enthusiasm
.o,, Pin, 4 expressed his wishes on the
subject ~ ecclesiastical music
The letter of the commission appointed
~ Archbishop Farley TO decide just what
,.forrns tie Pope desired and TO make plain
che duty Of the parishes in this diocese.
uas read in the churches on Sept. Is. 1t
consisted of three parta. The first In
ferpreted the meaning of tho Pope's order,
me second named the existing abuses which
should bee abolished. and the third recon-
mended the kind of music TO be substituted
for that in use at present
These recommendations were binding
On every parish. Father Young said yea
terdav. but | don't believe that they
have made any difference in their services.
Al are required to do so, however and in
every case individual dispensaton had
10 be obtained from the Archbishop. Some
Of the churches received permission to
wait until December, others until Jan l.
know personally Of but three parishes
In the diocese in which the new rules have
been put in practice. They arc followed
here at St Francis Xaviers and at our
uptown mission and in the Cathedral.
1t wa impossible for the churches at
this season Of the year to change their
chors and to get rid, for instance, of the
women singers Their contracts usually
end on May l. Boy choirs capable Of
singing the Gregorian music could not be
found They have to be trained. In the
meantime those churches which have re-
ceiyed dispensations are all bound IN con-
science to make their present musical
services conform "a much as possible with
their present facilities TO the instructions
In the commissions letter.
Although there has been little change
20 far in the character OF the liturgical
music in the Catholic churches in New
York. Father Young believes that the next
work Of tho commission will have its effect
in changing the character of tho music
il l. TO compile a species Of index cXpurga-
toriuS. which Will contain tho names of
all the masses vespers and ofertories
which are specifically excluded.
There exists at present a prohibition
against certain OF the more frivolous and
theatrical music which has not always
been observed "a strictly in all churches
as az ~ Francis Nayier's. This list in
cludes masses by Mozart and Haydn as
we'll as by some Of the modern and sent-
mental Italian composers OF music who
follow the operate styles. Even Gounod.
who can alternate amorous emotion and
sscetC feeling has been excluded az a
whole. although parts OF his masses are
allowed.
4 am very much encourage by the sue
cess | have had with my boys in the
parochlai school, Father Young said yester-
day. and | am more than ever convinced
that every reform desired by the Pope could
lie brought about If the children were now
taught the Gregorlan chant in our Catholic
schools. am not able however to make
ava & b !.
subject.
THE view Of most persons is that the
idels Of the Holy Father are beyond reali-
Eatlon whereas ! know that they could be
readily made part Of the Church's life If
only the singing that he wants 10 hear were
taught 10 the children when they first enter
the school.
The Pope desires 10 see congregational
singing ultimately restored TO its place in
the churches and that will also lie possible
wihin ten years If the authorities can be
made 10 set the Importance Of introducing
'hesindy ot the music into the parish schools.
ana where there Is no parochiai school by
forming choral societies ~ every parish
Optimistic as Father Young j. he admits
,nat there are difficulties To be overcome
lho outset
The material IL very poor he said
Yesterday and J have found here in my
o@n -choo. very liiileio encourage d teacher
~ begin pu. was glad of that however.
TOT ii showed how much my plan, even
under difficulties could accomplish.
rave taken The boys while they are very
Young and before thev have acquired
many BAD faults of speech. Twice a week
J g'" them lesson Of three-quarters of
IN hnlT 4r that Us done by the lady who
t-'i-'- me She was asked 10 come up
- I'd" Cathedral to help them 70 introduce
~" -itiy OF Gregormn singing into the
l"r'rhal school there. bn there i- too much
90 d |HH