The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-12-04
THE VOLUNTEER CHOIR.
BY ANNIE HUMPHREYS DAvEY
4l2 Fifth Avenue

The following is the relation of an exnor;o,oo
that is unfortunately only too freouent WILL
English musicians decry the American ssOuorto++o
Choir" as they call our solo quartettes emn1oyod
to take the place of volunteer choirs thew do NOT
realize the difficulties which beset the path of tho
American organist in securing volunteer choir
The boy choir IS precluded in most of our non
lturgical churches by popular sentiment We can
imagine no more difficult occupation for a must
cian than the management of a volunteer choir.
Nusicianship evidently plays but small part in
the successful conduct of volunteer choir, for
have known men of comparatively limited musical
experience to give very creditable performances of
some acknowledged choral masterpieces. Diplomacy
seems to be the most desirable possession, but it
requires a diplomacy no less than that of Frank
I'm, Disraeh or a Bismark. No country ever
existed in which so many heterogeneous factors
have gone together to make the commonwealth.
Race, nationality, tradition and taste continually
at war, all play their part in furnishing obstacles
1or the leader of the volunteer choir. Unenviable
as Is his position, we have a most sincere regard
Tor the man woman who can hold such body
together year after year and at the same time pro
duce really fine musical results.-Ed.
Like most churches. the First Evangelical" had
Experimental in music. First, a well-paid quar-
1eJe, very satisfactory, but expensive, furnished
The music. After few months the congregation
grew critical; took exception to the bonnets
Worn by the soprano and Others to the mannerisms
OF The bass Che would roll his eyes heavenward
Whenever he sang solo y. Besides, the conservative
ones worried dreadfully over the monthly expense
account. The fact that the pew rental increased
phenomenally during the reign of the quartette
overlooked in the distress occasioned by the active
disbursement of funds.
For a short time there was talk of a boy choir,
some Of the church members having observed the
popularity Of such organization in the Episcopal
church across the street. But that plan speed
l} dismissed by the narrow-mnded committee, who
murmured about "Popery," and other things not
compatible with Union Church ideas.
For few weeks Mr.. Stout, the quartette tenor,
was engaged to sing solos, and organist to
DER sacred selections" but, after few Sundays,
mat palled. The Sacred selections" of both organ
Isl and tenor, though many and varied began to be-
come historical in the sense that they frequently
repeated themselves. So once more willing con-
RFegatlon met in solemn conclave with the music
committee and suggestions were called for and
freely given
1 he Christian church Elm street has had
volunteer choir for two or three months now, and
ney do sa ythe music is beautiful" said Deacon
~ rising to his feet and beaming over his glasses
ana when [ think" he continued, "of the superior
voices we have right in our midst am praying
tnat the Lord will move the hearts of singers
'uaC they may raise their voices In His temple and