Music Trade Review
Issue: 1901 Vol. 32 N. 18 - Page 4
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
RENEW
ARTISTS'
TELEPHONE
NUMBER,
DEPARTMENT.
1745.--EKJHTEENTH
STREET
The Artists' Department of The Review is
published on the first Saturday of each month.
CHOIR SINGERS AND SALARIES.
1
'T HE annual church choir changes which
occur rather appropriately around
"moving day," May ist, have not brought to
light this year the usual surprises. The
tendency for the past few years in the ma-
jority of churches to economize on salaries
paid church singers has helped to abate the
customary competition. A short time ago
a position in a New York choir was consid-
ered a sinecure, and the high salaries paid were
heralded from Maine to California and from
Canada to the Gulf, with the result that ca-
pable singers, famous in their respective
towns and cities, looked forward to New
York as the Mecca where their special talents
would be fittingly recognized.
It is true that a foreign soprano singing in
a New York church at one time received
$3,500 a year, and long before her time
Emma Thursby, the famous concert sing-
er and soprano of the Broadway Tabernacle,
got the same pay. Such figures came to be
fixed in the public mind as examples of the
compensation that the women whose voices
were most in demand could command here
and in Brooklyn. How erroneous this im-
pression is may be gathered from the fact
that the highest salary paid to any church
singer in New York to-day is $1,300 and that
is not in Manhattan. One of the most emi-
nent of local concert sopranos receives $300
less than that sum, and is second in the list.
The choir singer is no longer paid at the
rate that once prevailed. Notwithstanding
this, employment in the choir is still sought
for. The work is not exacting and the reg-
ularity of the compensation is desirable in the
uncertainties of any but the most successful
professional careers. The emoluments se-
cured by professional church choir singers
to-day are not at all in proportion to the cost
of acquiring a musical education, nor its
value as a profession cannot be adjudged
from the occasional large salaries enjoyed
by the few very prominent singers engaged
in wealthy churches. The mention of an an-
nual salary of $1,200 or $1,500 per annum,
if it means anything in forming an opinion of
the value of church choir work simply indi-
cates a peculiarly fortunate combination of
circumstances serving some person of ability
and influence. $200 or $500 a year can be
fixed as the limit to the earnings of many
very capable soloists. It would not be ac-
curate to say that this salary is paid for a
full year's service as eight months of the year
III. That its annual meetings are neces-
is the utmost term required.
Meanwhile sary as a means of cementing the feeling of
the present tendency to cut down the ap- brotherhood and professional cooperation
propriations for music in churches and to that should exist between members of so
substitute volunteers for professionals is important a profession as that of Music.
regrettable. Music has ever been and will
IV. That the annual meetings should
continue to be a great attraction in our partake of the educational nature of the As-
churches, and the Divine art is in no province sociation's work, the activity of the year
employed as fittingly as in connection with being reviewed, the business body express-
the sublimity of religious worship.
ing its wishes and directing the officers.
Why shouldn't the growth of musical taste The program should be in the nature of a
in this country be better illustrated by a Summer School from which direct instruc-
higher standard in our church choirs? In tion is derived, and stimulus given for an-
too many churches the minister's salary has other year's labors.
been increased at the expense of the choir.
It will be seen that this policy abandons
This shouldn't be. Good music wields a the festival feature as an important part of
greater influence in bringing the mind in har- the Association's life. The watchword is
mony with God, than the flamboyant, though education, and a definite, clearly defined and
eloquent generalizations of many ministers.
well organized method of operation is the
IN UNION THERE IS STRENGTH.
desideratum.
A CALL has been sent out by Arthur L.
The program of the coming meeting is
Manchester, president of the Music based on this policy. Every item has a dis-
Teacher's National Association, urging tinct educational bearing upon the advance-
members to make a goodly showing at the ment of the participant and the future of the
twenty-third annual convention of the Asso- organization. For the first time, no bid is
ciation to be held at Put-in-bay, O., July 2 made for general patronage. This meeting
to 5. The location of the meeting and the is intended to appeal to the profession in a
satisfactory arrangements made with the peculiar degree. While the concerts will be
railroads in way of reduced fare, admit of a such as to please the music lover and attract
large attendance without too great an outlay a general audience, they are primarily de-
of time or money.
signed to supplement the other educational
The coming Convention will be called features of the sessions.
upon to act upon some exceedingly important
Mr. Manchester and his associates are to
questions, which have grown out of the work be congratulated on the plans outlined for
of the last year. The educational move- the coming Convention. In union there is
ment has advanced far enough to call for strength, and it is only by taking an active
discriminating review, and wise preparation part in an organization such as this that
for the future organization will be a vital teachers can become a great power for good
part of the work of the session. Several im- —powerful enough to uplift the standard of
portant propositions will be brought forward. professional proficiency and seal the doom
Representatives of State Associations will of quackery, which is too prevalent in the
be present—also of the Southern Associa- domain of music in the United States.
tion—and it is expected that a conference of
THE CRITIC CRITICIZED.
the presidents of the State Associations will "T HE gift of Andrew Carnegie to the City
be held in connection with the Convention.
of New York for the purpose of erect-
The policy and lines of work on which the ing free libraries for the masses has brought
Association should base its future operations out a multitude of suggestions anent the many
will be boldly and fully discussed, in the other purposes to which Mr. Carnegie might
hope that some definite action will be taken, apply some more of his millions. Among
which will make the M. T. N. A. a national them the endowment of an opera house in
body that shall touch the entire musical pro- New York has been given serious considera-
fession of the country.
tion. The Sun that "shines for all" seems
In the M. T. N. A. Messenger which has to think lightly of the suggestion on the
just made its appearance, Mr. Manchester, grounds that grand opera has never been a
who assumes the editorial tiller, summarizes popular institution. It says:
the policy of the present administration of
"Only comic opera, which appeals to the
the National Association. It may be stated public as a play, and a spectacle rather
briefly as follows:
than as music, is popular; and for that rea-
I. That the M. T. N. A. is an educational son it can rely on popular support without
body intended to exert a steady, elevating in-
aid from aristocracy, fashion or the State.
fluence on National Music Life by means of
If, then, the taste of the great public is to
a continuous educational activity.
be
consulted it is the opera to. be endowed
II. That its real work should be done
during the entire year, and not at its annual by a multimillionaire; but as it thrives under
existing conditions could he not find some
meeting alone.
_ __
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
RENEW
ARTISTS'
TELEPHONE
NUMBER,
DEPARTMENT.
1745.--EKJHTEENTH
STREET
The Artists' Department of The Review is
published on the first Saturday of each month.
CHOIR SINGERS AND SALARIES.
1
'T HE annual church choir changes which
occur rather appropriately around
"moving day," May ist, have not brought to
light this year the usual surprises. The
tendency for the past few years in the ma-
jority of churches to economize on salaries
paid church singers has helped to abate the
customary competition. A short time ago
a position in a New York choir was consid-
ered a sinecure, and the high salaries paid were
heralded from Maine to California and from
Canada to the Gulf, with the result that ca-
pable singers, famous in their respective
towns and cities, looked forward to New
York as the Mecca where their special talents
would be fittingly recognized.
It is true that a foreign soprano singing in
a New York church at one time received
$3,500 a year, and long before her time
Emma Thursby, the famous concert sing-
er and soprano of the Broadway Tabernacle,
got the same pay. Such figures came to be
fixed in the public mind as examples of the
compensation that the women whose voices
were most in demand could command here
and in Brooklyn. How erroneous this im-
pression is may be gathered from the fact
that the highest salary paid to any church
singer in New York to-day is $1,300 and that
is not in Manhattan. One of the most emi-
nent of local concert sopranos receives $300
less than that sum, and is second in the list.
The choir singer is no longer paid at the
rate that once prevailed. Notwithstanding
this, employment in the choir is still sought
for. The work is not exacting and the reg-
ularity of the compensation is desirable in the
uncertainties of any but the most successful
professional careers. The emoluments se-
cured by professional church choir singers
to-day are not at all in proportion to the cost
of acquiring a musical education, nor its
value as a profession cannot be adjudged
from the occasional large salaries enjoyed
by the few very prominent singers engaged
in wealthy churches. The mention of an an-
nual salary of $1,200 or $1,500 per annum,
if it means anything in forming an opinion of
the value of church choir work simply indi-
cates a peculiarly fortunate combination of
circumstances serving some person of ability
and influence. $200 or $500 a year can be
fixed as the limit to the earnings of many
very capable soloists. It would not be ac-
curate to say that this salary is paid for a
full year's service as eight months of the year
III. That its annual meetings are neces-
is the utmost term required.
Meanwhile sary as a means of cementing the feeling of
the present tendency to cut down the ap- brotherhood and professional cooperation
propriations for music in churches and to that should exist between members of so
substitute volunteers for professionals is important a profession as that of Music.
regrettable. Music has ever been and will
IV. That the annual meetings should
continue to be a great attraction in our partake of the educational nature of the As-
churches, and the Divine art is in no province sociation's work, the activity of the year
employed as fittingly as in connection with being reviewed, the business body express-
the sublimity of religious worship.
ing its wishes and directing the officers.
Why shouldn't the growth of musical taste The program should be in the nature of a
in this country be better illustrated by a Summer School from which direct instruc-
higher standard in our church choirs? In tion is derived, and stimulus given for an-
too many churches the minister's salary has other year's labors.
been increased at the expense of the choir.
It will be seen that this policy abandons
This shouldn't be. Good music wields a the festival feature as an important part of
greater influence in bringing the mind in har- the Association's life. The watchword is
mony with God, than the flamboyant, though education, and a definite, clearly defined and
eloquent generalizations of many ministers.
well organized method of operation is the
IN UNION THERE IS STRENGTH.
desideratum.
A CALL has been sent out by Arthur L.
The program of the coming meeting is
Manchester, president of the Music based on this policy. Every item has a dis-
Teacher's National Association, urging tinct educational bearing upon the advance-
members to make a goodly showing at the ment of the participant and the future of the
twenty-third annual convention of the Asso- organization. For the first time, no bid is
ciation to be held at Put-in-bay, O., July 2 made for general patronage. This meeting
to 5. The location of the meeting and the is intended to appeal to the profession in a
satisfactory arrangements made with the peculiar degree. While the concerts will be
railroads in way of reduced fare, admit of a such as to please the music lover and attract
large attendance without too great an outlay a general audience, they are primarily de-
of time or money.
signed to supplement the other educational
The coming Convention will be called features of the sessions.
upon to act upon some exceedingly important
Mr. Manchester and his associates are to
questions, which have grown out of the work be congratulated on the plans outlined for
of the last year. The educational move- the coming Convention. In union there is
ment has advanced far enough to call for strength, and it is only by taking an active
discriminating review, and wise preparation part in an organization such as this that
for the future organization will be a vital teachers can become a great power for good
part of the work of the session. Several im- —powerful enough to uplift the standard of
portant propositions will be brought forward. professional proficiency and seal the doom
Representatives of State Associations will of quackery, which is too prevalent in the
be present—also of the Southern Associa- domain of music in the United States.
tion—and it is expected that a conference of
THE CRITIC CRITICIZED.
the presidents of the State Associations will "T HE gift of Andrew Carnegie to the City
be held in connection with the Convention.
of New York for the purpose of erect-
The policy and lines of work on which the ing free libraries for the masses has brought
Association should base its future operations out a multitude of suggestions anent the many
will be boldly and fully discussed, in the other purposes to which Mr. Carnegie might
hope that some definite action will be taken, apply some more of his millions. Among
which will make the M. T. N. A. a national them the endowment of an opera house in
body that shall touch the entire musical pro- New York has been given serious considera-
fession of the country.
tion. The Sun that "shines for all" seems
In the M. T. N. A. Messenger which has to think lightly of the suggestion on the
just made its appearance, Mr. Manchester, grounds that grand opera has never been a
who assumes the editorial tiller, summarizes popular institution. It says:
the policy of the present administration of
"Only comic opera, which appeals to the
the National Association. It may be stated public as a play, and a spectacle rather
briefly as follows:
than as music, is popular; and for that rea-
I. That the M. T. N. A. is an educational son it can rely on popular support without
body intended to exert a steady, elevating in-
aid from aristocracy, fashion or the State.
fluence on National Music Life by means of
If, then, the taste of the great public is to
a continuous educational activity.
be
consulted it is the opera to. be endowed
II. That its real work should be done
during the entire year, and not at its annual by a multimillionaire; but as it thrives under
existing conditions could he not find some
meeting alone.
_ __
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