Constructive Hints to Ward Choir Conductors

572 IMPROVEMENT ERA constant repetition of old music. One cannot live on a single diet, either in music or food. There must be variety. There is something stimulating to singers in mastering a new piece of music. A conductor's continued success with his choir will be measured, to a large extent, by his ability to secure effective, new music. How to secure new music is a difficulty. Where choirs are located in our large cities they have direct access to music stores. Music houses, as a rule, are very glad to loan out on approval any sample copies of anthems and anthem books that they have on hand. In the outlying districts where this is not possible, by writing to any music house stating your needs, copies on approval may be secured from which a selection can be made. Following is a list of such houses: G. Shirmer, New York City; Oliver Ditson, Boston, Mass.; Witmark & Sons, New York City; John Church & Co., New York City; and Theodore Prossor, Philadelphia, Pa. Local firms are: Daynes Beebe Music Co., Consolidated Music Co., and the Beesley Music Co., Salt Lake City. Our local publishers are now putting out some very excellent up-to-date anthems of their own, which can be secured on approval on application. The Modern Anthem Series, published by the Modern Music Publishing Co., Vermont Building, Salt Lake City, and The Temple Anthems, published by the Deseret News, Salt Lake City, are two late publications. After securing music on approval, the choir leader and organist should try the selections over one by one. What constitutes an effective number for chorus singing will be discussed later. It is always attractive to a choir to present at least once a year a public appearance of some kind, either a cantata, opera or program. There are many easy and effective cantatas and operas which may be had by applying to any one of the above publishing houses. In case the ward cannot afford to pay the cost of buying the necessary copies for such, they may be hired very cheaply from some music library. The "Tarns Music Library, 1600 Broadway, New York, has one of the largest collections of music in America, and it is their business to furnish music of all kinds, costumes, etc., to amateaur organizations at a reasonable rate. Also there is Witmark Music Library, New York City; a catalogue of music from these Libraries can be had for the asking. Next to the personal qualifications of the conductor is the imperative need of a small but strongly welded choir organization. It is effective to have a choir committee organized by the bishop, consisting of public-spirited and active business men in the ward. The choir organization itself should consist of a conductor, an organist, a secretary and a librarian.

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HINTS TO WARD CHOIR CONDUCTORS 573

The duties of these several officers are apparent; yet much good labor is lost and results are vastly unsatisfactory because of the failure of one or more of these various officers. If a conductor has accomplished all that is here set forth, he can justly expect from his members regular attendance at rehearsals. Regularity is paramount for success and should be insisted upon. It is an injustice to an organization for a singer, even though he be exceptional, to sing at a service without a proper rehearsal. It is always demoralizing to good work. A choir cannot hope to master anything other than the simplest selection with irregular rehearsal attendance. This can largely be remedied through the labors of a wide-awake secretary who maintains an accurate checking up system. A roll should be kept and called punctually. It is not a bad idea to send out cards to members who are absent more than three times, reminding them of their duties.

There's a Crystaline Sea

There's a crystaline sea, whose enchanted depths Lie deep and clear and blue, All richly paved with the rarest gems, So alluring to mortal view.

Yet, alas those who delve in its depths serene, Shall find all their hopes are in vain, In its deadly brink are many who sink, And nevermore to rise again.

Itsgems are the hopes of this vain world, With their glittering riches and dross, For none who have sailed on that deadly sea, Have ever sailed safely across

Without that glorious ship of faith That is moved by God's power from above, That is piloted by the Savior of men, Born up by His strong arms of love.

Let my soul not enter this deadly sea, Of worldly ambition and strife, Let my feet be set firm in the narrow way —eternal That leads to life life.

Yet many there are who go into that sea Where —without the light of faith They serve the devil eternally In worse than death; in worsj than death. Short Creek, Arizona Annie G. Lauritzen

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Comrades in Song Duet, (Or Chorug in Two PartB.) lo Professors Anthony C. Lund and David Reese Words and Music by Evan Stephens.

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