About Church Music

Author(s): Walford Davies

Source: The Musical Times, Vol. 73, No. 1072 (Jun. 1, 1932), pp. 504-506
Published by: Musical Times Publications Ltd.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/918178
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504

THE MUSICAL TIMES-JUNE 1 1932

Four bells struck, and the watch below went

ments
mentsasasPalestrina's
Palestrina's
lovely
lovely
victory
victory
for music
for mus
off, still shouting, and we struggled aft toand
thehis
and
hisfamous
famous
conquest
conquest
of Pope
of Pope
and Cardinals
and Cardinal
Pay's cabin to see if all he said of his locker
by
by the
thedivine
divine
beauty
beauty
of of
thethe
massmass
he devised
he devised
for
for
was true.
them;
them;without,
without,
indeed,
indeed,
extolling
extolling
anything
anything
that tha
And at midnight, the Chief Engineer, jammed
has
has hitherto
hitherto
been
been
achieved
achieved
by music
by music
for for
in the corner, was still assuring all who
would
Christianity-I,
Christianity-I,
for
for
one,
one,
have
have
come
come
to believe
to believe
listen, that never, never, since Noah put to
sea,
that
that
ages
ageshence
hence
music
music
is quite
is quite
likely
likely
to attain
to attai
had there ever been a night like this. its
its most
mostamazing
amazing
symphonies
symphonies
and and
songssongs
and and
(To be continued)
wonders
wondersof
ofallall
kinds
kinds
in union
in union
with,
with,
and in
and
thein the
effort
effort
to
to
express,
express,
a
sane
a
sane
Christian
Christian
mysticism;
mysticism
ABOUT CHURCH MUSIC
and
and conversely
conversely
it it
seems
seems
to me
to me
certain
certain
that that
BY WALFORD DAVIES
Christianity
Christianity
will
will
ultimately
ultimately
discover
discover
some some
form form
If we try to take a long view of Church of
musicof
music
musictotobebe
the
the
simplest
simplest
and and
mostmost
natural
natura
a very long view, as long, let us say, as Sir
Jamesof
vehicle
vehicle
ofthe
the
spirit
spirit
of of
worship
worship
itself.
itself.
But in
But i
Jeans might take of civilisation on thissaying
planetsaying
this,
this,it it
is is
necessary
necessary
to acknowledge
to acknowledge
the th
we shall, I think, probably take a strong
view rudimentary
present
present
rudimentary
failures
failures
in partnership.
in partnership
too, and a usefully strong one. Take a Sir
postage
Sir
Hubert
HubertParry's
Parry's
sadsad
experience
experience
(which
(which
he
h
stamp and paste it on to a penny and put
it on sorrowfully
admitted
admitted
sorrowfully
to me)
to me)
thatthat
the music
the music
of
o
the top of the Trafalgar Square monument.
aa Good
GoodFriday
Friday
service
service
which
which
he attended
he attended
was was
Then imagine the thickness of the stamp
such
suchto
that
thathehe
simply
simply
'couldn't
'couldn't
go again'
go again'
is no is no
represent the length of time of known civilisation
uncommon experience. The faith one feels
(roughly five thousand years). Then (we
are
compelled
to hold is of course most disturbing.
makes our work as church musicians seem
told) the penny's thickness represents theIt computed length of time man lived on the
atearth
once a gloriously hopeful and a dismally
uncivilised, and the height of the monument
the
inadequate
affair. But here I wish to avoid
length of time the earth existed before
man on any of the glories or on any of the
dwelling
evolved! 'Now,' said Sir James, in the dismals,
famous and to try to discuss a few of our
wireless talk from which the above is quoted,
immediate practical problems, in case I mav
' take another stamp and place it on the
firsthave
the luck to knock any sparks out of the
that makes ten thousand years; now another
minds of the splendid people who are bearing
-fifteen thousand years of civilisation;
and
the
heat of the day in this difficult matter of an
another, and another, and another-tilladequate
you
Church music.
attain the height of the monument again, or
(if let us note how hard it is for any of us
First,
you like) to the height of Everest!' This,
to foresee or even to guess what the next ten
implied the astronomer, will give a hopeful
idea
years
will bring forth for music in general, and
of the time that lies before the human wayfarer
for the profession of music in particular. But
on this earth (barring, of course, any heavenly
two tendencies can perhaps already be descried,
collisions) in which to perfect anything
about
and
for these we surely ought to budget: (1)
which he is keen!
It is growing steadily easier to perform music
Can any stout-hearted sceptic suggest, well,
still and (2) it is growing harder to make a
less prove it as likely, that either Christianity
living by performing it well. In other words,
or Music are vanishing factors in civilisation
? apparently become easier and easier to be
it will
And if we believe they have both dawneda for
thriving amateur performer, and harder and
good on the common mind of man, to stay there
harder to become a thriving professional perand grow, and only be supplanted by a more
former. This change is naturally brought about

illumined Christianity and by some more

by the invention and gradual perfecting of

marvellous-sounding music, then we seemwireless

the
and gramophone. To those who still

better to get our bearings, and we are encouraged

fear that the amazing new facilities for hearing

to think that, after all, perhaps a really wongood music, and all sorts of music, in the
derful start has already been made, in spite
remotest corners of the earth is ruining the
of manifest and heart-breaking shortcomings.
profession, this test question may be welcome:
But the reader's mind may rightly respondIfatit chances that in ten years' time so-called
this point with a good wholesome misgiving.
television is perfected so that on a screen at

school or in his home, for a small sum, every

Grant that Christianity proves, like neighbourliness in excelsis, as permanent as the planet,man
or and boy in Britain can watch Bradman

even more so; and grant that Music is as make

safe his most amazing centuries, will this kill
for development as the mind of man that cricket
con? The case is parallel, because the
ceives and loves it-may it not well be imagined
temporary effect would certainly be to tempt
that the two will develop better apart ? Is
it to sit at home on a Saturday afternoon
many
not conceivable that in essence they will prove
instead of entering the school-, or village-, or
to be handicapped by association ?
even county-field. But the permanent effect
could
Taking the long view, or rather trying to
do not but be to stimulate excellence and
so, and in spite of misgivings, and attaching
the desire to excel in playing the game oneself
very little importance even to such encourageIt is not perhaps going too far to sum up the

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THE MUSICAL TIMES--JUNE 1 1932

505

the most devoted self-effacement for the sake

musical outlook to-day as one in which we seem
of the music and its purpose. Should it really
to descry two distinct things: an immense hope
for what may be called a vastly increasedbe tolerable that church choir-phrasing or organterritorial army of music-makers throughoutphrasing should sound less clear over the ether,
the country, and the opposite of hope for the
or more confused in detail than any other music ?
professional ranks of music-makers unless they
Have we anything less momentous to say ? Is
are able to divert or expand their professional
the music less important in any way ? No; it
work from that of performers to that of teaching
is certainly not tolerable that a week-day stringperformers and leaders, conductors, organists,
quartet or orchestra or pianoforte should give
choir-trainers-in short, unless able to serve the the great-hearted public phrasing that is not
increased mass of amateur music-makers to only full of the sense of the phrase, but crystalthe full.
clear and vital, while a Sunday broadcast from
anyto
church-choir
whatsoever should remain less
Of this 'territorial army,' which has
be
staffed and mobilized, quite a largecrystal-clear
unit is
or less intelligible when broadcast.
This
made up of the already existing and (if
wesounds
will critical, and it is. I feel there is
for recognition of the enormous amount of
have it so) ever increasing battalions of need
Churchmusicians up and down the country. pains
Howstill
can
to be taken in this matter, and I speak
these best be served and trained and made only as one more continuously dissatisfied with
happily effectual? Dr. Nicholson hashis
eloquently
own efforts in this respect than with any others'.
described the potentialities which he finds
every2. Church
music and gramophone recording.where throughout the country; and
those
of here is similarly important,
The
question
us who have conducted village Festivals
know
similarly
searching, except that choirs and
that there is nothing surprising in his gramophone
descriptioncompanies can collaborate to reject
of the untiring devotion to practice, hour
after
all their
defective results in a way that is
hour, and the boundless zeal that is easily impossible with wireless transmission. A few
awakened and sustained by faith and good years ago, records were, by the nature of things,
leadership. A few days ago I heard twentynot free from change and distortion of tone.
one village contingent choirs from Mont-To-day, thanks to electric recording and the
gomeryshire give an amazing performance of
moving-coil reproduction, it is nearly possible
Brahms's 'Requiem,' under Adrian Boult. Thefor one choir to record its best and for a
same villages have thrilled us with the 'St. thousand choirs to hear, enjoy, and learn that
Matthew' Passion; both works were sung in ansame best from the record. It is also possible
extemporized hangar-pavilion at Newtown. Onfor village choirs to learn anthems merely
the very day that I returned from the 'Requiem' through study of a good record. This possibility
in Wales, it was my good fortune to join inhas its dangers. For this reason it seems the
singing an elaborate five-part Wilbye madrigalmore important that good choirs should devote
with the choir of a small Berkshire village.themselves to the most unsparing team-work in
Last winter, staying at a very small village inpreparation. Perfected chanting is a life-study
Lincolnshire, I watched the formation (by in
a itself. The recording of English liturgical

former singing student of the R.C.M.) of music, preces and responses, Offertory Sentences,

a choral society to be trained to compete at aKyries, the Creed, and all the parts of the Service
Festival. They had a tremendous time of joy of Holy Communion so faithfully and simply

and hard work. I have since heard that this

noted by Marbeck, including his wonderful Post

novice choir (in a village that has never Communion Sentences, might form a labour of
attempted or dreamt of a choral society) won,
love and of years for any good choir, a life-work
I believe, two firsts, one second, and the Wakefor the finest cathedral choir. Is there any
field medallion! With all this in mind, I want
Church music recording yet in existence that has
to suggest three points for the consideration reached,
of
or (as one may someday hope) begun
any of my friends and colleagues, and any
to reach, or to surpass, Toscanini's orchestral
enthusiastic supporters of Church music who
recording ? Does that mean that we cannot
reach
chance to be patient enough to have read
so such a standard? Of course it does not.
far. These points fall rather into the formAnd,
of again taking the long view, is there any
sector of the whole 'musical front' where
three questions:
1. Church Music and Wireless. Is it clear perfection and mastery of musical detail are
to all concerned how the microphone 'overhears'
more urgent to the purpose in hand than in this
not only every mistake one makes, but
verymusic ? It all involves vision, teamofthe
choral
thoughts behind the mistake, one's very
inmost
vision
too, and unsparing hard work.

attitude towards mistakes ? And is it clear

3. Church music and festivals.-Under this
what an immense opportunity for public head there seems to loom a great possibility of
service is given to each cathedral, church, or
new advance. Festivals are plentiful to-day.
village choir that is asked to broadcast ? The
Festivals of ideal Church music of every kind
microphone is a relentless truth-teller. But it
should surely be an easy matter in every

cathedral, and these could be of two distinct

is good to have to stand up to it, because a choir
can only do so after untiring team-practice andkinds: (a) the Diocesan Festival which assembles

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506

THE MUSICAL TIMES-JUNE 1 1932

of the cathedral to the parish church. The

contingent choirs in the nave of the mother
cathedral can exemplify in perfect devotion,
team-work first, perfect choice next, then
happily commonly known all over theperfect
country,
attaingiven
exemplary presentment of everything
and (b) a Festival purely of Church music
good in and
Church music from the way a simple
by the cathedral choir to the music-lovers
music-makers of the neighbourhood duly 'Amen' should be sung to the way in which even
church of the Diocese-a kind familiar and

assembled.

an extremely complex anthem, when inspired and

mastered, can 'lift the soul to heaven.'
A recent article in The Times, commentingperfectly
on
Well, since this can be done, it must and will
the present Church music position, deplored two

increasingly be done in this new post-wireless,

evils as equally bad-the evil of a parish church
post-gramophone, post-war, post-complacency,
emulating the cathedral, and of the cathedral
age. And it is for a kind of
emulating the parish church. It is fairly post-modernism
easy
annual
to say this; and it is fairly easy to discover
the exemplary Festival of Church music at
best that one feels moved to appeal. The
obvious truth it intends to convey, namely, its
that
each 'in his own order' has a function to fulfil. summer-time seems the right season, the
naves of our great churches the right
But when once that is granted, and onesplendid
gets
down to discussion of practical details as tosetting;
what and through such events a quiet working
and perfecting of all the musical parts of the
the dictum rules out from the one place out
or the
English
other, it is fairly difficult to find the finality
or Service might the better be attained.
Cathedrals could thus more easily establish their
wisdom in it which one at first was led to expect.
vital,
In fact, at very few points indeed can
theworking contact with the humbler centres.

sympathy on the one hand and emulation

cathedral say to the parish church (even With
to the
the other, no musicians would go away
village parish church), 'What I do is not on
meant

attempt music too ambitious for them,

for you to do.' Are the twenty-one villagesto
that

would find the humblest sung

can sing the 'St. Matthew' Passion nevernotocathedral
be
part of the service too simple for its most
allowed to attempt the equally eloquent, equally
devoutly minute attention. No expenses need
difficult anthems sung at cathedrals, provided
be involved,
for the engagement of professional
they can do them eloquently and efficiently
?
orchestras
or soloists for such Festivals would
Conversely, is the simply sung response,
the
be irrelevant. All that is needed to make such
simplest liturgical effort of the village service,
music feasts a success would be enthusiasm and
too simple for the cathedralservice ? Personally
I think that both need both. One thing,quality,
it is and the infinite care in team-work which
clear, the parish church should certainlyquality
never requires and enthusiasm makes easy.
It is hardly necessary to add that no reflection
do, and that is to try to sing the inferior settings
of the Canticles that cathedrals sometimes fall is here suggested upon the splendid Three Choirs
Festivals, with their stimulating output, long
back upon to sing. And of course they should
tradition,
and visiting performers and patrons.
never attempt music that is too difficult
for
them. On the other hand, should the cathedrals
They give glorious musical feasts. They help a
needy cause. We wouldn't be without them
ever sing any setting of any part of the Church
service of which it can be said: ' That music or for anything. But our day seems, perhaps, a
little in need of remembering the permanence
that singing of it makes worship more difficult'?
Here, it seems, lies the true test. We used to and perfection of simple joys too; they are to
to be had for the asking.
experience it supremely at the Temple Church,
where we were fairly equal to anything, and yet According to present reasonable expectation,
had to choose such settings of the Canticlessixty thousand years to-day civilization will be
twelve times further advanced in years. But,
as could aid Sunday worshippers to worship
let us rest assured, then as now, some little lad,
as well as give them pleasure. Now, if the
loving form and colour and catching sight of an
whole cathedral repertoire does not pass this
test, there is something wrong somewhere, forApril rainbow, will shout to his father (in the
the cathedral must surely, of all churches, esperanto of the day): 'Look, dad, isn't it
remain night and day-yes, century in and pretty ?' And that very day the common
century out-the ideal place of worship! And chord also will be as lovely to the ear as it is
to-day (and as lovely as the rainbow to the eye) ;
if its whole repertoire does pass this test, then
we have got into a difficulty if we say to a and for a team of loving worshippers to conspire
parish church: 'But, my dears, however goodto sing it to perfection will be as devout a pastime
your choir is, and however much you labourthen as it is now; and it will surely be for ever
to perfect your singing, this setting of the as worth a light-hearted yet concentrated effort
of alert give-and-take (which, by the way, it
Magnificat, or this anthem, is full of the true
spirit of worship when we sing it, but is no helpwill for ever require) from any team of friends
to your congregation when you sing it! ' To who are met to think high thoughts, or to utter
come to the point, it seems to me abundantlya Christian ' yes ' together, in its most beautiful
proved that there is quietly dawning a muchknown terms, just for love. Surely a perfectly
clearer thinking and a much more generouslysung choral chord pianissimo is a very seed of
thought-out policy in the matter of the relationtrue Church music.

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