if ...■ -fl 
 
 THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS. 
 
 ON Tin-: .SIJ^JKCT OF 
 
 MUSIC IX THE CHURCH. 
 
 TOGKTIIEU WITH 
 
 SOME SUGGESTIONS ON THE BEST MODE OF 
 ACCOMPLISHING THE OBJECT: 
 
 ; FKW CRITICAL KEMAKKS OX CONGREGATIONAL SINGING AND 
 I THE MUSIC BOOKS BEST ADAPTED FOR THE PURPOSE. 
 
 } BY 
 
 I A LAYMAN. 
 
 ) 
 
 ) 
 
 4 
 
 s^^ NEW YORK : 
 
 Wj/'^^"^ F.TROW, PRINTER, :;77 & :579 HROADWAY 
 
 i 
 
 CORNER OP W U I T E S T R E K 1 
 
 1859. 
 
 my^ 
 
-V^vw^Uv'Wn^; 
 
 
 FROM THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D. 
 
 BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
RESOLUTIONS 
 
 OP 
 
 THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS, 
 
 ox THE SUBJECT OF 
 
 MUSIC m THE CHUllCII. 
 
 TOGETHER WITH 
 
 SOME SUGGESTIONS ON THE BEST MODE OF 
 ACCOMPLISHIXG THE OIJJECT: 
 
 WITU A 
 
 FEW CRITICAL REMARKS ON CONGREGATIONAL SINGING \ND THE 
 MUSIC BOOKS BEST ADAPTED FOR THE PURPOSE. 
 
 BY 
 
 A LAYMAN. 
 
 NEW YOHK : 
 JOHN F. TROW, PRINTER, 3 7 7 k 3 7 nROAD^VAY 
 
 CORNEB OF ^VHITE STREET. 
 1859. 
 
RESOLUTIONS 
 
 OF 
 
 THE HOUSE OE BISHOPS. 
 
 By request of Bishop Meade, who presided in the 
 House of Bishops, this opinion is furnished in antici- 
 pation of the Journal, as it was the request of the 
 Bishops that it be read to tlie congregations by the 
 several ministers : 
 
 Resolved^ That in the opinion of the House of 
 Bishops, there is very much in the prevailing manner 
 of conducting those parts of our public worship which 
 require the aid of sacred music, to which the serious 
 attention of the Clergy and their congregations should 
 be directed — as, not only not promotive of a devout 
 spirit, but, very injurious thereto ; as directly calculated 
 to nurture a lifeless formality, by making the congrega- 
 tion mere passive listeners to musical sounds, confined 
 to choirs, in the formation of which there is often little 
 reference to fitness of personal character ; as virtually 
 depriving the congregation of their proper privilege 
 of uniting with their voices in the worship of the 
 Church, when its words arc sung as well as when only 
 read; as impairing the beautiful simplicity of our pub- 
 
lie worship, and thus rendering it in the parts referred 
 to, unadapted to the greater number of our people, 
 and so taking therefrom one of its chief excellences, 
 as being Common Prayer^ accommodated to all con- 
 ditions of worshipping Christian people ; as causing, 
 moreover, a needless delay and interruption of our 
 morning and evening prayer, by the introduction of 
 music, especially such as is merely instrumental, which 
 unprofitably and needlessly abridges the time allotted 
 to the preaching of the word, and, by fatiguing the 
 hearers, both in body and mind, interferes with their 
 ability rightly to receive the same ; and lastly, as 
 creating in all these particulars, an influence, which in 
 our opinion, is decidedly counteractive of the proper 
 work of God's Church, as his appointed instrument of 
 cherishing and promoting his worship "in spirit and 
 in truth." 
 
 Itesolved^ That, in the opinion of the House of 
 Bishops, the evils referred to, proceed chiefly from the 
 following causes, namely : First^ from an oversight of 
 the principle that the object of Church music is not 
 the gratification of a cultivated musical taste. But by 
 the aid of simple and appropriate music, to cultivate 
 devout affections among all classes of worshipping 
 people, and to enable them to commune with one 
 another in the united and animated expression of the 
 same. 
 
 Secondly^ from the selection by organists and choirs 
 of such tunes and chants as, on account of their not 
 being sufficiently familiar to the congregation, or from 
 their want of due simplicity, the congregation cannot 
 be expected to unite in singing. 
 
 Thirdly^ from the use of musical compositions, 
 
especially such as are called chants, which require 
 too much time in the performance, and also from the 
 introduction of voluntaries on the organ, before the 
 channts, and between the verses of psalms and hymns, 
 which, having no value, but as exhibitions of instru- 
 mental music, are wearying to the congregation. 
 
 Lastly^ from the extent to wdiich the control of this 
 part of the worship of the Church is virtually taken 
 out of the hands of the Rectors of parishes, where alone 
 the Church law has placed it, and is exercised by 
 committees of Vestries, and chiefly by organists and 
 choirs. 
 
 Resolved^ That in the opinion of the House of 
 Bishops there can be no material improvement of our 
 public worship in the particulars mentioned, except 
 as each parish minister shall faithfully perform the 
 duty assigned him by the law of this Church, which in 
 the words of the Rubric, is, that " with such assistance 
 as he can obtain from persons skilled in music, he shall 
 give order concerning the tunes to be sung at any time 
 in his church, and especially shall suppress all light 
 and unseemly music, and all indecency and irreverence 
 in the performance." 
 
 Resolved^ That it be recommended to all the pas- 
 tors of our churches that they endeavor by all suitable 
 measures to promote a general participation of their 
 people, by voice, in those parts of our worship which 
 are sung, as well as in those which are not. 
 
 Resolved^ That in the opinion of the House of 
 Bishops, it is particularly incumbent on the rectors in 
 our larger and older cities, to see that the music in 
 their churches be so conducted as to afford a whole- 
 some example to those in our humbler and younger 
 
congregations, who naturally look to such sources for 
 guidance in matters of external order and expediency. 
 A true extract from the minutes. 
 
 Attest — Lewis P. W. Balch, 
 Secretary of the House of Jjishops. 
 
 THE CONDITION OF OUR CHURCH MUSIC. 
 
 That the music in the Episcopal Church, east, west, 
 north and south, is in a most deplorable condition, none 
 can deny, and every Churchman must rejoice that the 
 House of Bishops has seen fit, officially, to call the at- 
 tention of clergy and people to the growing evil. 
 
 It is to be regretted, however, that it had not gone 
 further, and pointed out, more clearly, the methods by 
 which the desired object could be reached; for, al- 
 though a vast deal has been written and said upon the 
 subject, within the past ^yq years, but few persons 
 have any very clear ideas about congregational sing- 
 ing, or how it is to be obtained. 
 
 To enable all, whether skilled in music or not — or 
 acquainted with the machinery of clioirs — " that power 
 behind the " — ^pulpit, which with its "discords" — its 
 " prepared " and " unprepared harmonies " — its " sus- 
 pensions," and its " crotchets and quavers," so often 
 disturbs the peace and quiet of pastors and people, 
 shaking churches to their very centres ; — to enable all, 
 we say, to form some definite opinion, or to have some 
 clear idea as to liow the work may be accomplished,' 
 and the music restored to its true place in the Church, 
 the following pamphlet has been prepared ; and all in- 
 terested in our Church, and its welfare, are respectfully 
 requested to give it a careful perusal, and then pass it 
 to his neighbor. 
 
THE OFFICE OF MUSIC IN THE CHURCH. 
 
 That the true ofTice of music in tlie Church is 
 Praise^ not artistic display^ is generally conceded; 
 and that the music most acceptable to the majority of 
 cliurch-goers, is that most familiar, and within the 
 comprehension, and generally within the musical abili- 
 ties of the larger portion of the congregation. Give 
 the worshipper an opportunity of joining, with heart 
 and voice, in the praises of the sanctuary, and his at- 
 tention Avill be confined within proper limits, with- 
 out any particular regard to the artistic excellences of 
 the performance ; but deny him that privilege, and he 
 becomes at once a critic or an indifferent listener, with 
 thoughts engaged in analyzing the performances, to be 
 put into fault-finding after service, or buried with the 
 aflliirs of every-day life — wholly forgetful of the great 
 objects of prayer and praise. Give a congregation 
 Old Hundred, or some equally well-known tune, and 
 you will hear no fault found with the music ; but give 
 them an "extract," or an "arrangement," from the 
 opera, with solos, duetts, and trios, and there will be 
 no end of critics and criticisms. 
 
 THE KIND OF MUSIC TO BE USED. 
 
 There is a great diversity of opinion as to the pre- 
 cise character of the music to be admitted into the 
 Church, even among the warmest advocates of congre- 
 gational singing. One party contends that it should 
 all be in common time, and of the character of Old 
 Hundred, Mear, Dundee, &c., — another that it should 
 all be of the type of the German choral — all voices 
 singing the melody^ while the harmony is supplied by 
 
8 
 
 the organ only. Another party wants nothing but 
 " plam song," and " Gregorian tones," while another 
 insists upon modern New England Psalmody, having 
 its type in such tunes as Olmutz, Hamburg, Hebron, 
 Uxbridge, Ward, &c., based on Gregorian tones, and 
 with a monotonous rhythm, generally of one long note 
 and two short ones, or two short notes and one long 
 one — another wants all the popular secular songs — as 
 Home Sweet Home, The Last Rose of Summer, Nelly 
 Bly, Lucy Long, and would not object to Prima Donna 
 Waltz, and Zip Coon, if they were properly solemnized 
 by sub-dominant harmonies and minor chords ! while 
 there is another class who demand almost exclusively 
 "arrangements" from the opera, and other secular 
 compositions, and adaptations from the masses of 
 Haydn, Mozart, and others, without any regard to 
 their fitness for the purpose intended — namely, the 
 praise and worship of God — not a mere artistic dis- 
 play to be listened to or not — praised or condemned 
 according to the whim or fancy of the hearer. 
 
 It will be found, however, on careful investigation 
 of the subject, that all these parties have taken but a 
 one-sided view of the question, and any attempts to 
 carry out either would — as it has already done in 
 many churches — end in failure altogether. 
 
 The musical taste of this country is too far ad- 
 vanced to tolerate for any great length of time, only 
 such simple movements, however grand, as Old Hun- 
 dred, Mear, &c., while there is an insurmountable 
 physical difficulty in the way of carrying out the cho- 
 ral in the German method, where all voices sing but 
 the one part. In this country the male voices are 
 mostly baritones^ neither low enough for bass, nor high 
 
9 
 
 enough for tenor, while the female voices are almost 
 all pure soprano, there being Ijiit few contralto, or 
 second treble voices among them. Consequently any 
 attempt to bring the music within the compass of the 
 male voices, or to raise it to the key of the female, 
 must result in silencing one or Ihe other portion of our 
 congregation — besides, having been accustomed to the 
 grand elfect of full harmonies from various voices, our 
 people will never be contented with simple melodies 
 only, however well performed. 
 
 As to the other parties, it is hardly worth while to 
 meet them in detail ; for it will be found on investi- 
 gation and trial, that the English Psalm Tune, and 
 English Chant, as given in Bishop Wainwright's Music 
 of The Church, Dr. Muenscher's Church Choir, and the 
 older editions of the Boston, Ilaydn and Handel's 
 collection, are the true models lor church music, com- 
 bining an easy flowing melody, a cheerful, yet digni- 
 fied movement, with the grandest, yet simplest har- 
 monies, admirably in keeping with our incomparable 
 liturgy, and all within the- comprehension and musical 
 abilities of our church people. And more, these tunes 
 and chants are the growth and culture of our beauti- 
 ful service, unassociated with secular matters, and ad- 
 mirably calculated to give effect to the lofty senti- 
 ments and spirit-stirring language of our ritual. The 
 attempt to unite the melodious utterances of the 
 " Sweet Singer of Israel," with scraps of melody al- 
 ready wedded to words of sickly sentiment, or evil 
 passion, taken from the modern lyrical drama, or secu- 
 lar song of the concert room or play-house, is an im- 
 pertinence — nay, more, a sacrilege, wounding the feel- 
 ings of true Christians, and should be frowned down 
 
10 
 
 both by clergy and people. The productions of mod- 
 ern psalmwrights, though not without a certain degree 
 of merit, are generally feeble attempts at originality, 
 or vapid imitations of what is better in the older 
 composers. 
 
 From what has been said, it might appear a hercu- 
 lean task to reconcile all these conflicting views, and 
 bring about a reform in our church music ; but to the 
 writer it seems an easy task, and readily accomplished, 
 if Clergy and people, acting on the suggestions and 
 recommendation of the House of Bishops, will lay 
 aside all their preconceived notions, take a common- 
 sense view of the subject, stop talking, and go to 
 work. 
 
 HOW THE WORK IS TO BE DONE. 
 
 It is very evident that the work cannot be accom- 
 plished without an effort on the part of those inter- 
 ested ; for singing, like preaching, will not go of itself. 
 Yet if properly started it will go on with ever-increas- 
 ing facility; ''for although," as has been somewhere 
 remarked, " music is a science that requires long and 
 intense study to excel in it ; neither much skill nor 
 instruction is requisite to join in the services of The 
 Church ; and as we are to sing to God, as well as to 
 jpray to Him, it would appear an imperative duty, that 
 all who hope through His mercy to bear a part in the 
 heavenly choir, should to the best of their ability bear 
 a part in the Songs of His Church in the present 
 world." But how is this to be done? 
 
 We answer, first agree that it shall he done ; then 
 set about doing it in some straightforward and con- 
 
11 
 
 sistent maimer — the initiatory step to wliicli will be to 
 agree upon a proper rausic book, of whicli several are 
 now published. But in order to make the accomplish- 
 ment as easy as possible, great care should be exer- 
 cised in the selection of this music book, for upon it 
 depends in a great measure the success of the under- 
 taking. 
 
 THE BOOK TO BE USED. 
 
 The music book to be used should be complete in 
 itself — that is, containing words and music, side by 
 side, for all parts of the service usually sung or chant- 
 ed — of moderate price and of convenient form for use 
 in the pew, so that all may have it, and so arranged 
 that any one can find the places, without difficulty, of 
 both chants and tunes, and without other announce- 
 ment from the desk than those now used. The music 
 should be old and approved, and of the character 
 spoken of above. 
 
 Of the books most prominent, and best adapted 
 to the purpose, w^e have — 
 
 1. The Tune Book, by Rev. Drs. ^[uhlenburg, 
 Bedell and Greer. 
 
 2. Church Music, by 11. W. Greatorex. 
 
 3. The Church Choir, by Dr. Muenscher. 
 
 4. The Music of The Church, by Dr. Wainwright. 
 
 5. Cantus Ecclesia, by Strawbridge & Dailey. 
 
 G. Songs of The Church, by George C. Davies. 
 
 7. New York Grace Church collection of Sacred 
 Music, by Wm. A. King. 
 
 Of this list, Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5, arc well known, and 
 used in the great majority of our choirs. The music 
 
12 
 
 is generally of the highest order, carefully arranged, 
 and well adapted to the spirit and sentiment of our 
 canticles and sacred lyrics. But the form in which 
 they are printed, and not being complete in them- 
 selves — requiring the use of another book for the 
 words, and not indicating clearly the tunes to be sung 
 to the different psalms and hymns — their use in the 
 congregation to any extent, would be almost impossi- 
 ble. No. 7 is not so well known, though a work of 
 high merit. Yet being principally made of " adapta- 
 tions," and "arrangements," from the larger composi- 
 tions of Boethoven, Mozart, &c., it is not so well suited 
 to congregational use as some of the others ; besides 
 its price (two dollars) places it beyond the use of too 
 many of the people. 
 
 No. 1 is the famous "Tune Book" of the Commit- 
 tee of the House of Bishops, and is put forth in a 
 semi-official form that challenges the attention of all 
 churchmen. It comes nearer to our standard than 
 either of the above — being convenient in form, and 
 complete within itself — having both words and music 
 in juxtaposition. But the arrangement is defective, 
 inasmuch as the words are not in the consecutive order 
 of the prayer-book, but with psalms and hymns indis- 
 criminately set to the same tunes, while the chants 
 for the different seasons are not so indicated as to be 
 found without special announcement by the clergy- 
 man — an innovation that would be res^arded as a se- 
 rious interruption to our beautiful and impressive rit- 
 ual. The music is generally good, and substantially 
 that of the book before mentioned; but the admission 
 of several new compositions of no particular merit, to 
 the exclusion of old favorites — the changing of keys 
 
13 
 
 and harmonies of many long-used tunes — the want of 
 variety in the movement of tunes to suit the character 
 of the words, and the wide departure from the adap- 
 tations in general use, render it distasteful to old sing- 
 ers, while the heavy and sombre character of all the 
 music is calculated to make it no favorite with the 
 young. 
 
 No. 6, " The Songs of the Church," comes pretty 
 nearly to our standard, and will be found in practice 
 well adapted to the purposes intended. It embraces 
 most of the excellences of the others, with few of 
 their defects. The music, with slight exceptions, was 
 written originally in the form here given, and has con- 
 sequently a vigor and finish that mere " adaptations," 
 or "arrangements," from larger works can never have. 
 It embraces the great bulk of old and familiar psalm 
 tunes, and, so far as was practicable, the same words 
 and music are associated as in the works of Wain- 
 Avright and Muenscher, and with which Episcopalians 
 are mostly familiar. 
 
 The size of this book is convenient — the adapta- 
 tions excellent — the music of the most approved 
 character, having been selected apparently with great 
 care, from among the standard works of English com- 
 posers, " as that best calculated to give utterance to 
 the majestic sentiments of our canticles, psalms and 
 hymns." The arrangement of the chants is admira- 
 ble — the words being, in all cases, printed under the 
 notes to which they are to be sung, while the whole is 
 divided into seven different sets, to conform to the di- 
 visions of the Christian year — marking distinctly the 
 significant changes in our calendar — a feature that will 
 commend itself to all friends of the Church. 
 
14 
 
 It will be found, on examiDing this work, that the 
 canticles are all arranged to simple chants, and the 
 psalms and hymns to plain tunes; all anthems, sen- 
 tences, duetts, solos, &c., being rigidly excluded, as 
 being unsuited to congregational use, and, in the lan- 
 guage of the Bishops' circular, requiring " too much 
 time in the performance," and "wearying to the con- 
 gregation." 
 
 The objections likely to be raised against this book 
 will be — 
 
 1. That the notes are too small. 
 
 2. That it contains no separate organ score. 
 
 3. That the type of some of the Psalms and Hymns 
 is too small. 
 
 4. That there are tunes in it not known by every- 
 body. 
 
 5. That some of the tunes look as if they were 
 more difficult than Old Hundred. 
 
 6. That many tunes in use in our Church are left 
 out. 
 
 7. That the book is too large for use in the pew, 
 and too small for the gallery. 
 
 8. That the music, though admirably adapted to 
 give expression to the words with which they are as- 
 sociated, is not that which the critic has been accus- 
 tomed to use to those words. 
 
 8. That although it is the most complete work of 
 the kind yet published, the person expressing the 
 opinion, thinks he could produce a better one. 
 
 10. It won't answer the purpose, because it loonH 
 do the singing by itself! 
 
 The first three of these objections are easily an- 
 swered. If the size of the type were increased, a 
 
15 
 
 separate score for the organ added, the book would be 
 too large for use in the pew, and consequently un- 
 suited for the purpose intended. But these objections 
 are only imaginary, as will be found in practice. 
 
 To 4 and 5 we would say, very likely that such is 
 the case. To narrow the book down to the tunes 
 known by everybody, would be to reduce it to Old 
 Hundred only, and to bring all the tunes down to the 
 standard of that, in facility of execution, would result 
 in the exclusion, or disuse of some of our finest lyri- 
 cal psalms and hymns. No. G is answered by the fact 
 that the book must be limited in extent, and could not 
 contain every thing ; besides many of the tunes alluded 
 to are copyright, and could not be had — and more, 
 the tunes used in their stead will in the end prove 
 generally more acceptable than those left out. No. 7 
 will answer itself, while the reply to No. 8 will be 
 found in the impossibility of combining forty, or more, 
 arrangements in one, and is inseparable from the sub- 
 ject. To No. 9 we would say very likely, and he 
 would do well to make the trial. No. 10, althouG:h 
 dightly absurd on the face of it, is nevertheless at the 
 bottom of the others — the great majority of which, it 
 will be found, arc proposed by those persons who 
 have had the most to do in bringing our church music 
 into the lamentable state it is now in, and who are 
 most interested in keeping it just where it is. Conse- 
 quently, Clergy and Yestries would do well to have 
 nothing to do with these self-important critics ; but to 
 exercise their own good judgment in deciding upon 
 the books to be used. The Songs of the Church are in 
 use in some twenty churches in New York, as well as 
 in many churches in the country. In St. George's, 
 
16 
 
 Rev. Dr. Tyng's, it has been used since May last, and 
 no particular fault has been found with the size, ar- 
 rangement, or material of the work. If any of our 
 readers have an opportunity of attending Dr. Tyng's 
 church, they would do well to do so, for they will 
 then have an opportunity of listening to the grandest 
 church music in this country, and where it is not unu- 
 sual to hear more than a thousand voices joining in 
 the praises of the sanctuary, which are led by that 
 most thorough musician and organist, Mr. George 
 Bristow, in a manner worthy of the palmiest days of 
 church music, and with an effect almost electrical. 
 Too much praise cannot be awarded to Dr. Tyng and 
 his Yestry, for the noble stand they have taken in this 
 matter, and for the aid they have so generously ex- 
 tended to their accomplished organist and choir, in 
 their efforts to engage both the hearts and voices of 
 the congregation in singing the songs of Zion. 
 
 In addition to the book above-named, Messrs. Ma- 
 son Brothers publish a small work entitled Psalms and 
 Hymns ; and Daniel Dana, a thin octavo, with the title 
 of " Hopkins' Selections of Sacred Song." These 
 works, though possessing merits peculiarly their own, 
 are too incomplete — too limited in extent to admit of 
 any general use in the Church, and are hardly worth 
 considering in this connection. 
 
 HOW TO USE THE BOOK. 
 
 The choice of a book having been made, the next 
 thing will be the proper mode of using it. This will 
 be a matter of great importance, for upon it, as well 
 as the book, will depend very much the success of the 
 undertaking. 
 
17 
 
 We will suppose a church to have decided upon a 
 suitable book, say '' The Songs of the Church " — as 
 being complete within itself— requiring no other for 
 any occasion that can possil)ly arise where our liturgy 
 is used, and containing notliing that could give offence 
 to the most fastidious. The clergyman should then 
 announce from the desk, as the rubric gives him 
 authority to do, that thereafter no other music book 
 should be used in that church, and that the arrange- 
 ments therein set down should in all cases be strictly 
 followed. This might at first sight seem a little dog- 
 matic and dictatorial; but aside from his right, nay, 
 his duty to do so, it amounts to nothing more than the 
 appointment of a new chorister, or director of the 
 music, in the place of those who before exercised that 
 authority. This new director will be the editor of the 
 book chosen, and it would be nonsense to assert that 
 he could not discharge the duties of that office, with the 
 labor of years, with all the best publications of the 
 world before him, and w^ith tlie counsel and advice of 
 experienced and accomplished musicians to aid him, 
 better than any one — however skilled — could do in the 
 few moments before, or during service, that is gener- 
 ally allotted to that duty. 
 
 This being done, every member of the congrega- 
 tion who has the slightest ability to sing — and this 
 number will be found much larger than most persons 
 are aware — should be urged to supply themselves with 
 a copy of the book, and make themselves master of its 
 music as soon as possible. Perhaps the best and 
 cheapest way to procure the books will be for some 
 person to visit all the members, obtain their subscrip- 
 tions, and order the requisite number of books from 
 2 
 
18 
 
 the publishers at the wholesale p'ice^ whereby they will 
 save probably one quarter of the cost to each pur- 
 chaser. This can be readily done through the Express 
 Companies, which have agencies in all the principal 
 towns and cities in the country, and at a trifling ex- 
 pense. 
 
 The books being procured, the next thing will be 
 to put them into use. The most effective way to do 
 that, will be to engage some suitable person — the 
 organist or chorister of the church, or some experienced 
 music- teacher accustomed to teach in classes, and de- 
 vote at least one evening a week to a thorough prac- 
 tice and drill of the chants for the season, and the music 
 of those psalms and hymns most used by the Pastor or 
 Rector of the parish. 
 
 As soon as this is begun, measures should be taken 
 to organize as large a choir as possible out of the best 
 singers — if there is not one already in the church — with 
 a competent leader, whose especial duty, and we may 
 say pleasure it shall be, to take, in connection with the 
 organist, the principal lead in the music in the school- 
 room and the church, and who will be expected to be 
 on hand whenever the church is opened for service. 
 
 On this matter of choir and organist, we must insist ; 
 for without them proper life and spirit cannot be in- 
 fused into the music ; but we would equally insist upon 
 confining them, on all ordinary occasions, to the one 
 book, and the singing of the same tunes to the same, 
 words at all times. If a tune is suitable for certain 
 words at one time, it is equally so at other times. Who 
 would ever think of singing the words of Home^ Sioeet 
 Home^ or. The Last Hose of Summer^ or. Oft in the Still?/ 
 JVightj to other than the beautiful melodies to which 
 
19 
 
 they are wedded. Then why hliuuld we be continually 
 changing the words and music of our Psalms and 
 Hymns? With the cliants, occurring as they do at 
 every service, a cliange is desirable in the music, to 
 secure a reasonable force and freshness, so as to pre- 
 vent monotony and weariness. 
 
 This much having been done, the remainder of the 
 work is easy. All that will be necessary will be to keep 
 up the rehearsals or practisings for two or three months, 
 and a steady adherence to the book chosen — if chosen 
 wisely — and all will be astonished at the results which 
 will surely follow, while there will be none to object 
 to this restoration of music to its true position in the 
 Church — a part of the worship, and not a distinct artis- 
 tic performance to tickle the ears of silly people, and 
 minister to the vanity of certain persons who have 
 more voice than brains. 
 
 Choirs organized in the manner spoken of above, 
 can form the basis of musical societies, for the practice 
 of more florid and difficult music for the entertainment 
 of their friends, and the improvement of their voices, 
 but not to be brought into church, except occa- 
 sionally on Christmas, Easter, and other festivals, when 
 a little relaxation of our rules may be allowed ; and for 
 which purpose it is said the Editor of the Songs of the 
 Church is preparing a collection of anthems, sentences, 
 &c., to be published as a companion of the " Songs." 
 
 A Avord as to the style of executing church music. 
 In almost all our churches, the music is too slow and 
 lifeless to produce its proper effect. It is a great mis- 
 take to suppose that music, to be solemn and impres- 
 sive, should be necessarily slow. At St. George's, Dr. 
 Tyng's, where the music is under the direction of one 
 
20 
 
 of the finest musicians in this country, Mr. George 
 Bristow, as before mentioned, it is given with great 
 vigor, and in a style that warms the heart and quick- 
 ens the pulse. The chants are chanted^ not sung^ and 
 given in nearly the same time a good reader would re- 
 quire to read them. For example, a Te Deum should 
 be chanted in three to three and a half minutes ; a Ye- 
 nite, Gloria in Excelsis, or Cantate, in about one and a 
 half minutes. Care should, however, be taken not to 
 hurry too much those portions of the words which are 
 recited. It is in the mediation or cadences where the 
 dragging takes place. Those notes which are sung, 
 should be given staccato^ or short, in the same rate of 
 movement as those chanted, and especial care should 
 be taken not to prolong the last note of the line, but 
 to let go of it as in reading, and with no more pause 
 between the two parts of the verse, than would be in- 
 dicated by a semicolon. Chants rendered in this man- 
 ner have a life and character unattainable in any other 
 way. The words of the psalms and hymns will indi- 
 cate clearly how they should be sung, if singers will 
 but pay attention to them. 
 
 " Awake my soul, stretch every nerve, 
 And press with vigor on," 
 
 should not be rendered as if it read, 
 
 " Now sleep my soul, fold up thy wings, 
 Thy race of duty's run," 
 
 as we have heard it frequently given by organists, 
 who make great pretensions to musical taste and execu- 
 tion. Old Hundred, for example, should be given 
 in thirty-five to forty seconds, and so of others. 
 
21 
 
 Wc have but little more to add. li' our Clergy and 
 Vestries will act upon the suggestions and hints here 
 given, they will not only be performing what the 
 Church makes their imperative duty, but they will be 
 gratified by finding their congregations rapidly increas- 
 ing while a new vitality will be breathed into every 
 department of church work. There can be no doubt 
 that the slim attendance at most of our churches is 
 more the result of the poor music than the poor 
 preaching. Give us hearty congregational music to 
 get up a sympathy in the congregations, and there will 
 be no fear of empty churches, or lifeless parishes. 
 
mm 
 
Gaylertf Brmm. 
 
 Makors 
 Syracuse, N. Y. 
 
 nj. MM. 21. IMt 
 
 
 
 
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