A Needed Reform by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 23, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 40.

A Needed Reform.

By Editor

WE are glad to see a motion toward a reform in the matter of organ playing in church. It is an almost universal custom in this country to play at the end of every verse an "interlude," which may consist of a line or two of the hymn that is being sung, or of a scrap from some opera, according to the fancy of the player. Not only this, but every hymn must be played entirely through before it is sung, no matter if it be "Old Hundred," "Coronation," or any other hymn with which people are as well acquainted as with their own names. Concerning these customs the Examiner says:—

"We believe the custom is peculiar to this country. A few chords to give the key are all that is needful. Nor is it anything short of impertinence to interject an 'interlude' after each stanza of a short hymn, especially those 'fancy interludes' in which some professional organists delight, and often prolong beyond the length of the tune itself. One, or at most two brief interludes are quite sufficient breaks in hymns of ordinary length; and organists should be instructed never to introduce one when the sense is carried over to the following stanza."

The Christian at Work comments on the above as follows:—

"We heartily assent to all this, and as for the interjected interlude, it is as much out of place given between every verse as a boy's penny-whistle would be interspersed between the reading of every verse of a psalm. The practice of playing the tune over and of interpolating interludes is meretricious, inartistic, and out of keeping with the dignity of the service of song in the house of the Lord. The sooner both practices are relegated to oblivion the better."

And we also agree. Let the organ be used to assist the singers and enable them to preserve better harmony, but no farther. To do this it is not necessary that it should be touched while the congregation are not singing, except to give the key. There is no more reason for an organist to play an interlude than there is for the leader of a choir where there is no organ, to whistle a few lines at the end of each verse. "Let all things be done decently and in order."