Evening star., 1937-11-20


completely baf1led by music which they
little or no foundation on which to-
judge it. Recently two noteworthy ef-
forts have been made to reach and
help these groups one in the formation
Of the National Choral Union with its
completing organization, the Church
Music Society, and the other In the
Layman's Music Course, now being held
N Barker Hall every two weeks
The National Choral Union has for
It's objective the betterment of church
music In choirs, and in the nature of
Its organization is without denomina-
tional significance. 1t was founded last
year under the direction OF Hugh Ross,
q man OF wide experience, not only in
this particular branch of music but
In various activities of musical ma
ture. For many years conductor of
the famed Schola Cantorum of New
York, he knows how to teach groups,
and through his associations with
choral societies is eminently fitted to
gain the most artistic ends with mini
mum Of effort.
1t is his object to show both choir
directors and choir singers how to give
the most devotional services as we'll as
to broaden their concept of religious
repertoire. The response last year
was most gratifying, and this year the
membership has increased without
limit to UNCONVENTIONAL leanings.
HAVING accomplished so much, the
idea was borne in to the commit
tA< in charge that, after all, they we're
reaching only a particular number of
those interested in church music, but
overlooking another important unit
the congregation. Here are the people
who listen Sunday after Sunday to the
music selected by the choirmaster
some of them actively interested in the
type of music being chosen and others
only participants.in the congregational
singing. But the congregational sing
ing Is OF the utmost Importance,
powerful factor for religious express
SION and carrying an appeal that is
too often lightly estimated. In order to
bring unity into the musical services of
the churches and to have the aim to-
ward better music understood by all
an aff1liated group OF the Choral Union
has been organized, called the Church
Music Society.
AS Mr.. Ross says, Most musical Or
eaniza tions suffer from the fact that.
though they work very nicely by them
selves, they have trouble finding an
audience which can take its share in
what they are doing"
Since the choirS which belong to
the Choral Union not only provide the
special music Of the services, but lead
In congregational singing, it is neces-
sary that both units work together
In this splendid plan Of improving the
standards Of church music. With
this newly formed Church Music So
clety, the members of the music
committees and those of the congre-
CATION for whom the musical part of
the service is of prime interest. can
learn what kind of music constitutes
the best repertoire of the church.
what makes it so. and finally how to
give full expression themselves in
the congregational singing to the deep
religious feeling they experience.
How to accomplish these ends for
the Church Music Society has
been worked out as follows: The first
step Is lecture on the history and
development of hymns, after which
there Is demonstration of how the
congregation should sing to get the
most out of the hymns. A second
evening Is given over to the liturgical
music OF an evensong service, with a
CHOSEN choir to give program to
emphasize the points of good singing
OF this particular style; and finally.
on a third evening, a Bach cantata is
sung to show the congregation the
superlative development Of church mu-
sical composition.
Reaching out to help a still greater
number of people is the Layman's
MUSIC Course, originated by Olga
samaroff Stokowski and now being
conducted by her eminent assistant.
Harriet johnson, at Barker Hall The
aim OF this unique course is to teach
the ordinary individual how to listen
to music. The reason for the forma-
ton OF this instruction is an interest
Ing one. Some years ago, Nine. Sa-
maron temporarily laid aside her pub
lie playing in order to become