Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

the question of adequate remuneration of
those who furnish the music in the
churches. a subject that the Pope deals
with in a direct and practical way.
On this subject the document reads:
Pastors must that the music Of the liturgy
is rendered by body Of singers who are compe-
tent oo5n from h ana she
must be brought together at regular intervals for
sufficient number Of rehearsals. Both the choir
master and the singers must he adequately re-
munerated and considerable sum OF money
must be set aside in each church in its annual
budget for this purpose. even though the cost OF
providing good music shall make ii necessary TO
cut down othe. expenses usually incurred in the
celebration Of festivals
That the music in most of the Catholic
churches today is distressing to the es-
thetic sense and a hindrance rather than
a help to devotion seems to be the con-
tention of many. Mixed choirs of the old
traditions have been either disbanded or
else gingerly tolerated under the shadow
of ROme's expressed disapproval, so that
they have lost accredited standing and
with it. to a great extent, their heart,
spirit and efficiency.
The reforms Of the Motu Proprio of
1903.'' said prominent organist the
other day, which assumed a cooperation
of clergy and laity. that has not been
forthcoming in anticipated measure, have
fallen far short of their aims. The great
er number of our male choirs. as at pres
ent constituted. are perpetrators of just
about as crude and unparalleled cacoph-
ony as the imagination can conceive.
1T has long been the opinion Of those
familiar with the musical decline among
that it is attributable largely to two
facts. First, that the rank and file of
the clergy are. by reason of, the many
other exactions of their calling, unlearn-
ed themselves with but few exceptions)
in music. Secondly, growing out of this
negative phase of mind, they are unwill-
ing to reimburse organists. choirmasters
and singers in anything like Just proper
ton to the skill and service demanded
OF them.
1T is doubtless disconcerting to insihuate
the sOrdid subject of finance into a con-
sideration of the church music question
but it has quite as practical and neces-
sary a bearing as the constant discussion
of matters pertaining to it's artistic side.
bishops may promulgate papal orders on
the subject; diocesan musical commits
sionS may be constituted as mentors and
censors in general and pastors of
churches may issue the parOchial edicts,
but the organists. choirmasters and
singers are the persons upon whose &C
tvities the situation depends and who
must be taken seriously.
From the language Of the Motu Pro-
prio itself and the abundance Of litera-
ture that has grown out of 1t. 1t Is evil
dent that the acquiescence Of Catholic
musicians has been taken for granted and
this Is as 1t should be. Not until the
present summer. however-nearly nine
years since the Motu Proprio was issued
has the subject of adequate compensa-
ton been mentioned; and this recogni-
ton OF the subject came from no less
an authority than the holy father him.
self in his directions to local churches
Of Rome. thus enunciating a principle
of general application in the church, as
the new document is simply an amplii-
cation Of the original Motu Proprio which
was addressed to the whole church.