Experiences of a Choirmaster

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 62, 12 November 1889, Page 2

Experiences of a Choirmaster

The following amusing letter, detailiug <he expeiiencea of n wellk'nowu English choirmaster, appeared in a London paper lately ; — " It felt to my lot to have to conduct a mixed choir for six years, during which- time 1 my seven best tenors and basses con - ducted my seven best soprani and - contralti to the hymeneal altar. I can sincerely affirm that tbis consuni- - uiatiou was the object of all attendance at choir practiced and regulated r more than any other motive, the conduct of the musical portion of the* service. I have at various times been threatened with personal violence by the inefficient basses'- because-" I have criticised too candidly the young persons who sat immedi-~ ately u> front of tneni. 1 have also received bribes of sweets nnd knitted goods in order to influence ray Pens? of justice id the apportionment of solos But I laboured oh until ~ I heard that the whole of the female portion of the \cboir ' had mutually arranged to desert on Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday, and leave the service to take care of itself. After consultation with the „ vicar, I procured twelve sharp hoys from the- National School, washed them, gave them coppers, taught , them - for * a couple of hours a ' day till the evenfu) Sunday and then marched them in two andl two and sang the ' Hallnlujah Chorus/ since which time I have bid no trouble with my choir., I never, knew a woman in a new bonnet sing in time(where she is in view of other women,) and I never knew a women attend a mixed practice without trying to divert the attention of somebody else from their duties. Eiepead upon it, sir, the Apostle knew the self-consci-ousness and artfulness of the amateurlady chorister when he enjoined the women to * keep silence in th» churches." • .