Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-04-12

other Sunday in the ffty-two and with all due
respect, it is the musical programs rather than
the pastors tests which are objects of the keen
est interest when the churches announce their
Easter programs.
church music, which finds it's best exemplifica.
ton on Easter morning, has undergone marked
development during the past dozen years. It is
we'll within the memory of the present genera.
ton when almost the only music in our churches
was congregational singing This chorus singing
by the assembled worshipers is still in vogue in
many OF the smaller churches particularly those
in small towns and rural districts and lust here
be 1t confessed that there are good many peo-
pie who to this day declare that it is more devo-
tional and inspiring than the solos of the high
est salaried singers. But, be that as it may, the
soloists have supplanted the congregation as
singers in practically every city church and in
many of those in the smaller towns
The first entry of the soloists into this field
came when one, two, or quartette of singers in
each congregation who possessed the best voices
were induced to specialize to the extent of pre-
pairing one anthem for rendition each Sunday
we'll as in effect, leading the congregational
singing. Or, in some churches where the con-
gregation was not strong vOcally or the members
were difHdent about engaging in the chorus sing
ing, there was organized choir of anywhere
from eight to sixteen members that bore the
whole burden of the musical responsibility Just
as do the vested chofrs in many of the Eps.
copal churches. Under this plan the singers
church where they sing and rule they have
given their services free or have received very
modest sums for their services.
! While the above mentioned plan or one in
which choir and congregational singing is com
bned Is still in vogue in thousands of churches
all over the country, further step in musical
development has been taken by most of the
prominent and wealthy city churches. In these
places of worship one may hear on Easter morn.
ing music of as fine quality as can be listened
to in any grand opera house. The secret lies in
the fact that in these fashionable churches the
music is provided by high-salaried musicians who
are engaged solely for their musical ability and
without reference to anything else. Indeed
since good voices have come to be demanded
above all else we find that not once in dozen
cases is highly-paid choir singer a member Of
the church in which she sings. Mayhap she is
not member Of any church. There are also
well-knOWn instances in which Catholic singers
appear regularly in Protestant churches and vice
versa.
Similarly the pipe organist OF the twentiath
century fashionable city church is chosen solely
because CT his musical ability ard not because he
is q fc7loW-churchman which be probably is not
Even more odd in the eyes of some folk with old
time ideas is the system of recruiting the orches-
tras CT the leading churches. But, perhaps ia
pause for moment, the reader had not realized
that an orchestra is considered essential in
every fashionable church. Such is the case how.
ever and in majority Of cases the musicians