The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-04-22
st. Patrick's Develops Best in
Traditions Of English Choral
Work.
INDIVIDUAL WORK OPPOSED
Choirmaster Silby's- Training
Gained In Famous Cathedral
of Westminster.

During the sacred services In celebra-
tor of Easter, one realizes with added
Insight that Music II not merely AN
art of beautiful motion'-it testhes to
q necessity of utterance In the human
soul: Il is an evidence Of the spirits
striving after light and self-knowledge.'
The development of Roman Catholic
music from the fifth century has pre-
served, through the ages, the spiritual
In music as a sacred rite; and has rem
dered vast service In the stimulus II
has given to the creation and the con-
secratlon OF this noblest form OF music.
The Sanctuary Choir of 81. Patrick's
Church OF this city devotes itself par
ticularly to polyphonic music, and at
various times the best compositions OF
the great masters can be heard at this
church.
St. Patrick's Sanctuary Choir was
organized seven years ago. Monsignor
Russell brought r. Mills Siby from
England to take charge of the Choir.
Mr.. Sllby was formerly assistant choir
master to DIR. Richard Terry. leader of
the Westminster Cathedral Choir, Lon
don. The Choir OF st. Patricks, under
the direction of Mr.. Silby, has followed
the best English traditions in the train
quence the tone developed by these boy
choristers IL like that heard In West
minister Cathedral, England.
Hard To Develop Tone.
Probably in no other choir In this
country can this tone be found In its
masculine sweetness. When the at
tempt is made by those unfamiliar with
thu English traditions to produce this
tone. the result is generally an emascu-
lated feminine one which makes a boys
voice resemble in softness. but not In
richness womans voice.
In all its richness and sweetness. the
pure male quality is found In the Boy
Choir of St. Patricks.
st. Patrick's Church is perhaps the
only one in this country. also. which
requires for its services two full
choirs. the Sanctuary Choir of forty
voices. and the Mixed Choir of sixty
voices. the latter under the direction OF
Miss Jennie Glennan. The work of the
services is divided between the two.
but on Sunday both choirs attend fer
the High Mass, and frequently both
Join in singing together the same com,
position. the one In the sanctuary and
the other at the rear of the church.
Although attempts at conducting
choirs In this way are rare. and seldom
mas and Easter masses have witnessed
the perfection which the two choirs at
tain In these double renditions. On
Easter Sunday a third choir. entirely OF
boys s added IST the ecy m mot tss
grand "Aiieleuia," sung by the three
choirs. accompanied by the orchestra,
Is wonderfully inspiring.
Every Sunday afternoon the mixed
choir, under the direction of Miss Glen
nan, chants vespcrs. In the evening, at
the meeting of the League of the Good
Shepherd the sanctuary choir sings.
Following the Catholic tradition In Eu-
rope. st. Patrick's has a special service
every afternoon of the year at o'clock.
consisting of evening prayers and ben
eGlction of the Blessed Sacrament.
The singing mt this devotion Is by the
sanctuary choir.
Boys Work Hard.
The boys of the choir are Obliged to
make sacrifices of their time and TO
work hard to attain the perfection for
which the choir Is famous. Rehearsals
are given for at least one hour every
day, and for the special music of Holy
Week and Easter they gave three hours
day. The effect OF so much time and
effort is shown In the rendition OF the
mentations." and especially in the re-
sponses of the lamentations" during
''Tenebrae."
Those who have Travelled abroad and
have had the privilege of hearing the
choirs of London and Rome are high
in their admiration of the choir OF st.
Patrick's. Some who are competent to
Judge have not hesitated to say that In
perfection OF tone the choristers OF st.
Patrick's have no equal anywhere.
While many leaders of boy choirs
have bent their energies to producing
one or two specially trained voices
which would attract attention. this has
been purposely avoided in st. Patrick 8
choir, on the ground that boys should
hot be paraded prominently at so early
an age. and that the boy choir should
devote itself more especially to choral
work.
Mgr Russell has always opposed solo
work in the boy choir. and as far as
possible eliminated II in the mixed
choir, too. for he believes the church is
Individual however excellent