The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-30
.POPE'S ORDER Rot OBEYED
FEW CHURCHES HAVE TAKEN UP
GREGORIAN MUSIC.


More than two years have passed since
Archbishop Farley's pastoral letterimposed
on the clergy Of his diocese the duty of
carrying into effect the rules OF Piuc TX.
as TO church music. The Pope forbade
mixed choirs and exhorted the churches
to return to Gregorian music or compo-
sitions different from those which have been
used during recent years in New York. A
list Of masses, chiefly OF a sentimental AID
emotional nature, which we're not adfnin-
sible was prepared and a committee
headed by Father Young Of the Church'ot
st. Tranois Xavier was formed to prepare
n list of the music which was most closely
analogous to that Of Palestrina and the
other old masters whose music the Pope
desires to be heard in the churches. The
music recommended for immediate use
was the Gregorian. which several churches
had already introduced.
Although these regulations we're TO 60
into effect on the first day OF May, 1905.
there are not ten churches in the diocese
which have conformed with the terms of
the Arohbishop's letter
"None Of these churches has exactly
ignored the letter of the Archbishop. Father
Young told a sun reporter, but they have
all obtained permission to continue in the
old way until it is possible for them to IN
stall new choirs which are able to sing,
music of the sort that the Holy Father
requires. OF course, it is the hope of the
rectors of these churches that the authori-
ties viii continue this permission indefinitely
and tina it will thus be always unnecessary
for them to take the trouble that obedience
of the new rule demands. 1t is not, how-
over the intention of the Holy Father
to allow his new rule to fall into disuse.
H told me that when | went to Rome
To learn his ideas as 10 the kind OF music
he wanted sung in the churches. The
priest with me suggested that there might
be suoh great dif1culty in introducing the
new music that he would give up the plan.
Never. answered Plus TX. in a tone that
left no doubt as TO his feelings in the matter.
The Pope is as determined as ever that the
old music shall be restored"
Arohbishop Muller of Cincinnati has
not been 30 lenient to the priests OF his
diocese. He set his diocese in a state OF
excitement by saying TO his priests IN
effect: Now l | rave given you two years
in which TO put into operation the direc-
lions of the Holy Father in regard to church
music and the abolition Of the mixed choirs.
In these two years nothing has been done.
NOW | give you two weeks more, l
will expect the music in all the churches
of the diocese Of Cincinnati TO be, as iar
as possible, in accordance with the ideas
expressed by the Holy Father,
Archbishop Muller is a German ana
knows some OF the most devotional OF the
modern church music. He did everything
possible TO help his clergy put this rule into
effect. He engaged an organlst 70 come
from Liverpool and teach all the organlsts
Of his diocese the principles OF the Gregorian
m,,s;c There are now classes every day
in the cathedral and the churches OF I'm
cinnati are likely to conform to the terms
NJ the Pope's encyclical more promptly
than those OF New York.
The Indifference of the clergy is not the
only thing that keeps back the change.
sTbere is also the laity TO be thought Oh
said n priest who was drifting along with
his Haydn and Gounod n MarzlaI
masses and his women singers. ,Ihere
are many Of my congregation wh9 90 not
care for the aesthetic. elevated character
of the music of Palestrina and the GRECO
rian chants. They are accustomed 10 the
more florid and emotional music OF the
modern composers and they have a right
to have their wishes respected so long as
Archbishop Farley has allowed us 70 con-
tinue temporarily with the old choirs and
One of the New York churches that have
the Pope'e wishes Is 81. francls
Xavier. Here Father Young has put lnto
eject the plan in which he has always
believed in. This was to teach the Gregg
rian music to the laity by means OF the
narochial school. He has regarded TINS
as the simplest means OF carrying out the
wishes of the Pope and rearing q sohool OF
singers who will be able TO take their places
in he choirs as we'll as sing in the churches.
Il have been able to give my pupils only
two Lessons a week" he told THE sun re-
porter, but they have made wonderful
progress. My plan is to take them at the
for three years and a half.
After two years l have 800 children who
have made surprising progress. lhey sing
in absolute tune, they have been framed
to produce their voices properly ana Lney
difficulty. They have acquired already q
taste for the beautiful Gregorian music,
which they prefer to any other;
Il have among that chorus children who
accomplished better results than the adult
singers in the choir. They are able to sing
in three beats to the measure and have
learned to understand something OF the
intervals. All this has been accomplished
in two years.
Of the Holy Father within a few years II
the singing OF Gregorlan music were taught
in our parochial schools. We have that
great advantage. Dur children are under
our instruction every Gay ana we couiu
teach them to sing the music of the Church
30 snRily that the next generation would
know the Gregorian music 80 well as to
sing it in the churches. Then ip the mass
the congregation could sing their share
in the Gregorian music while the choir sang
the more elaborate music OF PALESTINE.
All that could be accomplished il only the
Gregorian music were taught in the church
schools.
aHere at st. Francis Xavier's cannot
tell how long we may be able to continue
the Gregorian music, since 1t has not been
made compulsory by the Archbishop, and
another rector might decide to 60 back To
the old mixed choir. 1t is true that the
present choir is not able to cope with all
the difficulties Of the music IL must sing,
and therefore the congregations are not as
Of the music as they might other
wise be.
-The Pope's encyclioal has had a much
greater influence abroad. In Italy the
composers Of church music have gone back
to the use Of the old models. Dom Perosi
be sentimental n dramatic in his
oratorios. but his sacred music Is free from
those qualities. He has composed in the
style OF the older music. and a new composer,
Ravenilla. who IL at the Church OF st, An
D.l., -. s.aN at.,a. a. NhA xR4ElI