CONGREGATIONAL SINGING
By Jos. Clarke
Seems to be most in accordance with the worship of God, and a few hints here may not be out of place, as to its practice. How glorious, how elevating, to hear the full melody of hundreds of voices, all tuned aright, all consecrated, ascending to heaven! But to bring the voices of many into harmony, is not the work of a day; and one discordant voice may mar the harmony of the sweetest song, though it may seem to be drowned in the full swell of many well-tuned voices. The blind person cannot entertain us with fine reading; the deaf cannot entertain us with song; so the uncultivated ear may well stand in doubt of its own perceptions, just as the blind stands in fear of stumbling. But it is a sad accompaniment of incapacity, that, as in the moral world, people are often confident of life, and future peace, and present purity, so here the mistake is sometimes made of self-confidence, without sufficient grounds. What shall be done then? Shall we say that a part may not sing? certainly not. But how shall large collections of people manage to sing in harmony? For instance, a familiar tune is chosen, here is a cluster of people who have sung it at home, rather slowly; those of another locality are accustomed to a quicker motion; and others have learned the tune with some variations from the usual mode of singing it. Now what course shall each pursue? Simply this: Let every ear be on the watch for the voices of those nearest the leader, and let every word and sound and enunciation be distinct and clear, marking especially the time of the leader, or those nearest him, always noticing the voices of the most correct, rather than one's own; avoiding any attempt to make prominent one's own voice, (unless it be those who are certain of correctness, for the sake of calling in the straggling voices,) then, rather seek to blend your voice with the general harmony, as the different hues of the rainbow blend themselves. Uncultivated voices and ears, and those afflicted with deafness, may well use great care, always keeping the voice where it will not sway or mangle the correct chords, as it often happens that good lungs, and uncultivated ears go together. But let no one who can see, and hear, and speak, say, I will let others do the singing. No, all can improve, and with due taste, caution and care, the music may be much amended.