New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-08
s. Artistic Temperament
Gets in Trouble in Har-
lem Trinity Church.
NINE. BUCKHOUT
HAS RESIGNED
She's Like Mary Garden (She
Says and Resents Action of L.
J. MunsOn. ChOirmaster.

Discord. the result OF clash between
the artistic temperament and a mans
disposition to put his foot down" has
arisen in the choir Of Holy Trinity Epis-
copal Church, in Harlem. When Nine.
Buckhout. soprano soloist OF that choir,
sings the professional to-day, it will
probably be the last time. after many
years service. that her voice will echo
through that church.
The trouble has been brewing for
long time. but so carefully has each Of
the principals kept il secret it was not
until the Friday rehearsal that Nine.
Buckhout confirmed reports that she in
tended leaving the choir.
The climax 10 the disagreement i'm the
musical wing Of the service in Holy Trim
ity came week ago when the soprano,
after the lengthy obblisato of "IIark.
Hank My Soul" tainted as she walked
through the aisle in the occasional IL
was then that she first expressed the
opinion that the unsympathetc attitude
OF the organist and choirmaster L. j.
Munson. warranted her in refusing TO
sing after the expiration OF her contract
next May, or before. for that matter.
Nine Buckhout. at her home, No. y
West 6sth street, was the best explanation
of the "tcmperament' and the incidents
which aroused the artistic quality. She
did not hesitate TO describe the anXietleS
of the rector of the church. the Rev. Dr.
II. p. Nichols. and the efforts OF II. ID.
Turner chairman Of the church music
committee. to induce her to take back
her rejection OF new contract for an
other year.
Temperament? asked the soprano, as
if there were an unpleasant implication IN
the word. of course ] have tempera-
ment Every singer has IL. People tell
me that | am very like Mary Garden in
my likes and dislikes. But out of con
sideraton Tor the parish have restrained
my feelings as long as | could
"Thc last straw came after | had an
accident on Ash Wednesday. That day |
slipped as ! left my home and cut my
scalp in two places, but was so anxious
not TO disappoint the choirmaster in MS
Ash Wednesday services that continued
10 the church. There was an unusually
long service that day. and when ! re-
turned home / fell unconscious. and for
twenty-four hours my physician feared ]
had fractured skull
Naturally. ] was too in to go TO re
hearsal that Friday. and Mr. Munson
knew il. Imagine my surprise. then the
following Sunday. when / went To church
TO find that he had arranged musical
PROGRAMME which included very long
rftg.u nd
at the end OF the occasional ! tainted
Mmo Buckout told Of the pleas OF the
rector and the chairman OF the music
committee that she disregard the incident
and remain at least another year, but
said that the long anthem was only part
Of the many grievances she had.
ct is his domincerinS attitude which
annoys me So" she continued. once,
when the rector announced that We would
sing four verses Of a hymn. 7 noticed that
AT the end of the four verses the organist
was going to continue. I turned 10 him
and whispered Amen But do you think
he would play Amen Not In a thousand
wears. He went ahead, and If the choir
hadn't been ready he would have had
| little solo OF his own. And at the end
! what do YOU think he said? He said that
| the rector shouldn't have announced the
| four verses only. 1t didn't complete the
! hymn"
At his home in Brooklyn last night Mr..
Nunson replied with more or less trepida-
ton that he knew OF no differences be-
tween himself and the soprano. Then he
| added:
"NIme Ruckhout is woman OF high
! strung temperament. but is very good
hearted. / have the highest personal re-
gard for her. and in the main our rela-
! tons have been very cordial. Further
! than that | can say nothing