Year: 1870

An Experiments in Scotland.


A writer Of the London Choir thus dis
cusses and illustrates the subject of con-
gregational singing:


The great problem which faces relig-
iOnists of every creed is, how to induce
the people as a whole to raise their
voices in the services of song, and to
unite heartily and yet "with the under
standing" in the psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs which form so important
part of the worship of every body Of
Christians. Various are the methods
adopted to secure this result. The RO-
manlst bOTrOWs from the theater and
the eOncert-rOOm the most ear catching
melodies, and weds them to the hymns Of
Newman or Faber. The Ritualist in the
English Church puts forth the Gregorian
tone as the most successful musical for
mular for inducing congregational sing
ing. The Low Churchman, while utter
ing a protest against any thing in which
the people can not unite, invites them
to join in JacksOn's 'fTe DeumU in F. or
IN that most melancholy introduction
to Divine service, ''I viii arise.n The
Dissenter, unfettered by tradition, and
not Unfrequently more catholic than all,
takes things new and old, securing in
very many chapels a closer apprOxima-
ton to the peoples song than any
church, Roman or English, can boast
OF. And yet, practically, all fail alike
and it is, after all, but a miserable apOl-
Ogy for heartiness at which we arrive in
any one of the cases we have mentioned.
The question thus arises, whether con-
gregatiOnal singing is impossible of at
tainment: whether it is one Of those
hctiOns which clerical enthusiasts and
musical dreameTs fOndly persuade them
selves to be within reach, but which is
IN reality thing beyond US and above
US, and only to be arrived at under to-
tally different conditions as to musical
education from those which govern US
at the present time. To this many Of
our readers will at first sight be inclined
to answer with a strong affirmative; and
we are not prepared to deny that in so
doing their grounds are strong. At the
same time, although looking at things
as they are, the prospect is far from
cheering, and admitting that where any
thing approaching to general singing
even psalms and hymns-is attained, it
IS too often mere noisy shout, we are
inclined to agree with the view that
something far higher than we have vet
obtained is within our grasp, and
that, too, with nothing more than a fair
and honest use of existing means.


But as the mere advocacy of this duty
is insufficient unless some practical plan
is provided for uniting the people in
general effort worthy to fulfill it, with
out which the mere enthusiasm created
by an earnest sermon on the subject
will soon pass away, or at the best result
in few solitary and scattered endeav-
Ors, we are glad to have the opportunity
Of calling attention to a scheme which
IS being tried with success in Scotland.
Recognizing the duty of congregational
singing as incumbent upon al Chris
tains, some of the lovers of music in
Aberdeen recently set on foot a series Of
great choral gatherings open to all per-
sons without distinction as to creed, ex-
cept the agreements on the great fund
amental truths enunciated in the hymns
and anthems sung at the practices. At
these meeting monster choir Of twelve
hundred voices, including members Of
the congregations of the churches and
chapels in the town and its vicinity, has
assembled for some weeks: and, as a
proof that not the slightest iIl-feeling
has ensued from the varying faith of the
chOristers, we may mention that upward
of thirty of the clergy and of the minis





taken part in the proceedings. For
those who were unable to Join the choir.
admission has been provided at q nOmil
nal sum, and the proceeds have been
given to the funds Of the Royal mfr
mary. The hymns, chants and athens,
with the music for each evening, have
been provided a week in advance, in or
der to give time for home practice; and,
from a glance at the programmes and
music sheets, we are inclined to think
that the choice has been wisely made.
The majority of the numbers have con-
sisted of hymn tunes and chants Of a
popular character, many from hymns
ancient and modern finding their way
to the front; but easy anthems have not
been omitted; and some Of the fine old
tunes from the Scotch and English psal-
ters have served to give tone to the
selection. The effect Of the large mass
Of voices may be easily imagined; and
we can scarcely feel suTp~iz5 ID at ths
statement that, although the number Of
the cnO1r was to have been limited 70 -
BOO, it was speedily found necessary to
enlarge it to ], 200. The success of the
has Of course been largely
due to the ability and tact of the direC-
tor, who has been entirely Unassisted by
an organ accompaniment. Out Of ten
pieces sung at each practice the whole
audience have been invited to Join in
two; but at the same time it must not
be imagined that the choir itself has
been composed Of chOTistel-, for the
of the mem bers have really
been selected from ordinary cOngregs-
ions.