The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-22
cHURCR MUrSEC.
Btfaculty az q lateral IntcFpretntiOn %
the nrtef Of Rtns \.

Uno HrteI OF fnWt n
To TIVE EpIroR or TINE suN-Sir; Permit
me 70 supplement with q few observations
what the writer on Music in Roman Catho-
lilo Churches has % well written In TINE Sun
Of July. 7. He appears TO have overlooked
tho following passage In the recent brief Of
Pius I. on church music:
The church has always recognized and favored
the progress Of the arts. admitting TO the service
or her worship everything good and beautiful dis
however, with due regard 70 the ~lturHicsl laws.
Consequently modern music Is also admitted In the
church, since II too furnishes compositions Of such
excellence, sobriety and gravity that they are In no
way unworthy Of the ~lturglcsl functions.
There Ia no prohibition Of modern music
In the pspsl document; the abuses alone are
condemned. Even national peculisrities are
permitted In lturgical music. for the Pope
says;
While every nation Is permitted 70 admit into
It's ecclesiastical compositions those special forms
which may he said TO constitute Ito native music,
provided they are subordinated 10 the general
characteristics Of sacred music.-
Solos are allowed IL they arise psturslly
out Of the chorus. A motel TO the Blessed
Sacrament may be sung after the Benedictus
In q Solemn Mass: and a motel may be sung
after the ofertory has been sung or recited.
Certain musical Instruments may also be used
with or without the organ.
All these things show that IL Ia not true that
the pspal document restricts the music Of the
church to plain chant or to the music Of Pales-
trina. The church ia catholic In music as in
all the arts.
II Is true that the letter Of the papal docu-
ment forbids women TO sing In the choir. But
~ requires a theologian. a canOnist and an
expert In liturgy to interpret the Popes words,
A moral impossibility or a great inconveni-
ence excuses from compliance with some
commands, especially when they do not re-
gard matters Of faith or OF morals. n a
priest with a sick headache Ia excused from
saying his breviary, and II any ordinary
Catholic may be excused from the law of
abstinence for causes not essentially grave,
the average country pastor-and he Ia in the
majority may be excused from expelling the
young ladies from his choir II he can get no
one else TO sing. or II he could get only a few
unframed and untrainable male voices to
murder the music and turn his choir into .
rookery. Plain chant badly sung is the most
horrible music; and Palestrina's music must be
sung without an organ Yet all our churches
have organs. some good. some bad, and
some middling. Let us keep the organ and
good modern music as the church permits
and sanctions, while we love Nhe Gregorian
and Palestine and use them when We can.
But there is another objection to the strict
literal inter probation Of the words Of Plus \.
What ia the "choir"3 Several distinguished
theologians. canonists and liturgical experts
have denied that the choir in the organ loft
at the entrance of the church Ia a liturgical
choir. They hold that the singers in the
organ lofts Of our AMERICAN churches are
simply n part Of the congregation and not q
liturgical choir. Rome has never euthenti-
cally decided this point; but even should IL be
decided that our organ loft IL a liturgicai
choir. valid excuses. some Of which I have
given. could still be found for keeping the
mixed choirs. Some of the reli gious orders
keep them still; and some of the choirs that
pretend TO sing plain chant murder II or use
an i'm perfect chant. Those choirs which
claim to be most jealous In carrying out the
letter OF the pspal document could not stand
the criticism Of an expert musician. II the
very important law Of the last council OF Bal
timore. requiring rectors Of parishes. under
pain OF removal. 20 build parochial schools.
could be held in sbeyance for rather weak
reasons. sometimes for ten years, other enact
msnts are susceptible Of an equally liberal
Interpretation.
Abolish abuses by all means. let us drive
out the frivolous and lascivious music from
the churches. and while we are at II, prevent
Catholic hymns from being sung. as they
still are. TO such tunes as The Vacant Chair
and the German love song. How Can I Leave
Thee2" Some Of the religious orders. as we'll
a. seculars, are negligent in this matter.
Let us not strain az gnats and swallow
camels. MusICus.
NEW YORK, July 20.