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TRANSCRIPT
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4 Christian Character through Children's Choirs Vol. 4, No. 1 September 1952
Ruth Krehbiel Jacobs 204 N. Second Street Memphis 3, Tennessee
A FRESH START
It may be true that ”All's well that ends well", but any venture that begins well has a better chance to end well. With September, choir directors will all be determined to start the new season intelligently. A successful season demands enthusiasm, but it also requirei that enthusiasm have intelligent direction. If we are to be intelligent about our plans, we will take into consideration the factors that govern our situation, and will direct our efforts accordingly. Whatever our problems are, we cannot ignore them, nor expect them to solve themselves. Our job is more than selecting music and teaching it to a group of children for occasional performance. That is only a part of our basic purpose: to be an influencial factor in establishing high standards of church music and participation, developing strong Christian character, and strengthening the church as a whole.
There is more than one road to Rome, and if you have your destination clearly in mind, you will get there even if you have to detour from time to time.
You are not the only traveler on the road. Sometimes it helps to know that others get travel weary too. Why not have occasional meetings with other directors this winter?
Rome was not built in a day - but it can be destroyed in a day. You are build-ing a generation; that takes time, and consistent courage.
You are working with people - not things. Others may have just as many and as -strong convictions as you have. Try to see their point of view. You accomplish more by winning than overpowering. Are the children indifferent; do the church school teachers, or the parents, or the minister fail to cooperate? Why not discuss the situation openly with all those who should share the responsibility of the music education of the church?
Dr. Whittlesey invited his pastor, organist, music committee chairman, a lay-man and a parent to such a meeting. Everyone was free to speak his mind. Out of that meeting came the following valuable suggestions, which a number of other directors have copied for distribution in their churches.
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IF I WERE A PASTOR I WOULD: 1, Know the names of every member of my adult choir. These people are my co-
laborers in leading people in worship, and to really work with them I must know them. 2. Pay an occasional visit to rehearsals of each of the choirs. This lets
them know that I am interested in them and appreciate what they are doing. 3. Realize that many anthems are prayers and use phrases from them in my own
prayers. 4. Give an occasional word of honest appreciation of the music program. 5. Work closely with director and organist in planning all programs - not -
to dictate - but to give them a very definite knowledge of my intense interest in such programs.
6. I would occasionally want the choirs to have a large part in the Sunday morning service for that is when the most people are present,
7. Realize that music can either make or break a service. "Religion and music are twin doors that open to the soul."
IF I WERE AN ORGANIST I WOULD; 1. Realize that I was the most heard musician in my church. The people hear
me more than any other single musician. I guide their musical destiny and would plan the best music possible.
2. I would put only English titles on bulletins. 3. Study how to play hymns so that I could really lead a congregation. 4. Learn how to modulate and transpose. 5. Study the psychology of public worship. Playing is not to show off but to
lead in worship. 6. Not have lots of music cluttered on the console,
IF I WERE A MEMBER OF THE MUSIC COMMITTEE I WOULD: 1. Get musicians for my church who were prepared spiritually and otherwise. 2. When I got a person I would give him active support and help. Get him the
best possible tools - good room, piano, money for new music. My job is not just to get a person and then sit down and do nothing till that person resigns and I have to get another.
3. Learn all possible about church music. Ask my director for some books on the subject.
4. Encourage the musicians and attend rehearsals occasionally. 5. See that my director has a Sunday off occasionally (besides his vacation)
to visit other churches and see what they are doing. 6. Make it possible for my director to attend refresher courses - and see that
the church pays for it. 7. Be the go-between for the music department and all other departments of the
church.
IF I WERE A LAYMAN WORSHIPING IN THE PEW I WOULD: 1. Realize that it takes the composer, singer and reception to make music,
If I am not trying to be a part of the music and worship through it, I am missing something. It is something offered to God, into which I should enter.
2, Do my best to be in my place when the music starts so I can be receptive to the mood of the prelude. Not read the bulletin or talk.
3. If I could sing I would do so lustily. 4. I would listen to•those around me and if I heard someone I thought could
sing I would speak to them, suggest that they try-out (not join - that is for the director to decide) for the choir, and if necessary take them to the director.
5. If the choir had helped me through their music I would tell them so.
IF I WERE A MEMBER OF A CHOIR I WOULD: 1. Give my very best to being a part of leading people to worship. The choir
deals with eternal values. I would let pothinF interfere with my being there for rehearsals and on Sundays to sing.
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IF I WERE A PARENT OF A CHILD IN A CHOIR I WOULD: 1. Encourage the child and see that he gets the training he should have. Never
make fun of his singing. 2. See that my child attended rehearsals. 3. Not plan trips that would interfere with the choir schedule. 4. Help the child at home with his music. 5. Always be there when he sings.
IF I WERE A DIRECTOR OF MUSIC:
At this point Dr. Whittlesey said - "But I am a director - and I realize that my very best is totally inadequate." His last remark was to the effect that when he thought of the great privilege and the great responsibility that was his he could only go to his knees in prayer to God.
WHATS IN A NAME
There is so much variation in the use of choir names that they give no indi- cation of the age range of the choir. Among our members, Carol Choir (for instance) is used for preschool, primary, Junior High girls, and high school choir. The only way we can avoid confusion is to refer, in the Letters, to the basic divisions in school and church school.
Beginners nursery and kindergarten 4-5 years old Primary first to third grades 6-8 years old Junior fourth to sixth grades 9-12 years old Intermediate seventh to ninth grades 13-15 years old High School tenth to twelfth grades 16-18 years old
PROGRAM v
The serious interest in Childrens Choirs is growing by leaps and bounds. Summer sessions in New York City; Lynchburg, Virginia; Green Lake, Wisconsin; and Lake Junaluska, N. C. have acquainted people from all corners of the country with the work of the Choristers Guild. Churches are beginning to recognize the difference between good and indifferent leadership. Ministers are joining the Guild. The time for haphazard work is past. The price of effective choirs is planning and preparation. Start the new season with a plan for the years program.
A minimum program would include: Choir dedication service Something special for Christmas and Easter Choir recognition
(a choir dinner at which all awards are presented) At least two study projects for the year Guided notebook work A program of training in music essentials
CEREMONY OF CHOIR DEDICATION
Service of Preparation: Minister: It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord; and to sing praises
unto Thy Name, 0 Most High; to show forth Thy loving-kindness in the morning, and Thy faithfulness every night.
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Choir: I will praise Thee, 0 Lord, with all my heart. I will show forth Thy mar- velous works. I will be glad and rejoice in Thee. I will sing praise to Thy name, 0 Most High.
Congregation: Doxology (Then shall the minister admonish the choir of the meaning of service, and offer a
prayer of dedication.)
Service of Dedication: (The minister of music shall rise and stand before the minister.)
Minister: Wham do you present for membership in the ----------- choir of this church?) (Then shall the minister of music call the names of the choristers. These choristers shall stand as their names are called.)
Minister: The Lord be with Thee. Choristers: And with thy spirit. Minister: The ministry of music is not to be entered into lightly. To lead the
people in sincere expressions of praise and prayer requires dedication of self. But the rewards of such service are a finer self-respect and a deeper sense of the nearness of God, Do you dedicate yourself to the principles for which your choir and your church stand: faithfulness to duty, thoughtfulness of others, and loyalty to Christ?
Choristers: I do so dedicate myself. Minister: May the Lord, Jesus Christ keep you stedfast in your purpose, and faithful
in your endeavor, now and always. May the consciousness of His presence be and abide with you forever. Amen. (Then shall the choristers kneel.)
Minister: Ministering in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, and of this church in which you serve Him, I place upon you the responsibilities of the office of a chorister. 0 Lord, Author of all things true and beautiful, bless these Thy servants and lead they in their worshipping that their lips may praise Thee, their thoughts glorify Thee, and their lives bless Thee, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
GUILD AWARD SYSTEM
The system presupposes a nine months season of regular weekly rehearsals. To earn a Choristers pin, a chorister must earn 100 credits for the year. The virtue In this system is that it is impossible to earn a pin without being regular, and Impossible to earn ons by attendance alone.
75 credits ... for 100% attendance at rehearsals and performances 100 •
50 credits for 85% attendance at rehearsals and performances •••
25 credits for excellent deportment
25 credits fir an acceptable notebook 25 credits ... for 100% attendance at church school 15 credits „. for 85% attendance at church school
*15 credits for bringing a new member * credit given only if new member earns 75 credits * not more than 15 credits granted in any one year
For each additional year with 100 credits, a pearl is set in the pin, For the first year of the Intermediate, or High School Choir, a guard is awarded. For each additional year of 100 credits in that choir, a pearl is set in the guard. Awards should be made at the close of the season, in some public ceremony. Already almost 1100 children have earned Choristers pins.
Pins are available only through the Guild, and for Guild members. The cost is $1.00 a unit: pin, pearl, guard,
FIRST STEPS IN SIGHT READING
1. From flash-cards acquaint the children with the notes and corresponding rests. 2. Divide the choir, and see which side will recognize the most cards.
(call on the one who raises his hand first) 3. Put the following chart on the board.
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Have the children tap and count the notes, while you point to them. Let different children cane to the board and tap with rhythm sticks. Take four children at a time, each tapping one line. Use drums, bells, rhythm sticks to keep separate lines distinct. All the children count all the time.
MUSIC FOR THANKSGIVING
*12# Come, Christians, Join to Sing - Mueller Carl Fischer CM6326 .15 sa *12 Come, Together Let Us Sing - Bach E. C. Schirmer Choral Songs 1001 unison *12# 0 Lord of Heaven and Earth and Sea - Larson Paul A. Schmitt 209 .12 sa 368 satb
2 Dear Christians, Praise God Evermore - Kindermann Concordia LD503 .10 unison with two violins
12# His Beauty Now Appears - Shure Beiwin No. 858 .15 sa 2# Hymn of Praise - Larson Proart Publications Ch. 1397 .16 sa
*1 Let All Things Now Living - Davis E. C. Schirmer 1819 .15 unison with descant 2 0 Lord, How Manifold are Thy Works - Barnby G. Schirmer 7948 .12 sa
*12# Prayer of Thanksgiving - Kremser-Downing G. Schirmer 7950 .12 sa 2# Sing Thanksgiving - Ghanian Flammer 86094 .16 sa
*12 Through All the Year - Pitcher Birchard No. 30 .15 unison with descant 2 0 Come, Let Us Sing Unto the Lord - Douglas Hall McCreary 2550 .18 sa
*12 We Gather Together - Netherlands Folksong E. C. Schirmer 1579 .12 unison with descant
*1 # We Come With Songs of Gladness - Larson Proart 1138 .15 sa 12# With Happy Voices Ringing - Rossel J. Fischer 8596 .18 sa with violin
* very easy 1 suitable for Juniors 2 suitable for Intermediate and H. S. choir # can be sung unison
FOR THE PRIMARY CHOIR V
Song Wings, Books I and II Birchard Tone Matching Tunes - Colt and Bampton Flammer An Outline of Physical Education for First and Second Grades
Anderson and McKinley A. S. Barnes and Co. With a copy of each of these four books, you will have all the essential material
for your Primary Choir.
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Add: Rhythm sticks . 12 inch lengths of dowling, available at the lumber yard. Drums - made by stretching a piece of inner tube tightly over a can or keg. Bells - large nails, or horse shoes make good bells.
Add: pictures and stories from all sources, Add: ingenuity and cheerfulness, and mix into 40 minute rehearsals.
SYMBOLISM - THE SIGN LANGUAGE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
The chief symbol of the church is the Cross. /t was first used publicly during the reign bf Constantine the Great (324-337), but Christians no doubt used it secretly before that. It represents Christ, His death on the cross for us, and reminds us of our dedication, as Christians, to Him. There are about 400 forms of the cross. Some of the most commonly used ones are:
1. The Latin Cross. The proper proportion is 7 squares long, and 5 across. 2. The Calvary, or Graded Cross. The usual type of altar cross. The steps,
beginning with the upper one, represent Faith, Hope and Charity. 3v The Celtic, Ionic, or Irish Cross. The circle is an emblem of Eternity,
This is one of the most ancient forms of the cross. A number of them are to be seen in England and Ireland, where they were erected in ancient times as wayside and cemetery crosses,
4. The Budded Cross. Widely used for processional cross. The trefoil design of the arms represent the Holy Trinity.
5. The Greek Cross. With arms of equal length. Five small Greek crosses are generally carved in the top of the altar: one in each corner, and a slightly larger one in the middle. The five crosses symbolize the five wounds of Christ.
SIGNS OF PROGRESS
Mere were 175 people in the four summer schools conducted this summer. Many of these had no previous knowledge of the Guild.
Our membership now includes a number of ministers and music committee members.
Plans are under way for obtaining a charter as a Non-profit Organization, which will make all gifts to the Guild tax deductible.
Our library is being enriched by reference copies of new music from many of the leading music publishers.
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Also by gifts of pertinent material from our Guild members. A delightful and very useful little book, "Bird Life in Wington" by Calvin Reid, (published by Erdamns Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.) has just arrived from a new friend of the Guild, Helen Robinson, of Lancaster, S. C.
A number of churches have taken memberships, at $10.00 a year.
Already about a dozen seminars and festivals are scheduled for the winter.
The dates for Green Lake are set: August 22 to 31.
There is increasing demand for another summer school in the south. We would welcome suggestions for a location. Lynchburg; Atlanta; Bristol, Va. have already been suggested. We would be glad for your opinion.
Churches in increasing numbers are paying the cost of summer school training for their directors.
DROP
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Look at the envelope in which this Letter came. If it does not have a definite street number, and zone, will you please type your exact address on a card, and send it to us immediately? Letters addressed to churches are frequently returned. We want you to get your Letters without delay.
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Christian Character through Children's Choirs Vol. 4, No. 2 October 1952
Ruth Krehbiel Jacobs 204 N. Second Street Memphis 3, Tennessee
MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS
*** Nativity Plays ***
A Christmas Carol Pageant - Diller and Page G. Schirmer .75 both action and music are simple: musical continuity good: should be effective,
The Finding of the King - Broome Oxford Univ. Press. ••••• ....$2.00 in the mediaeval manner: interesting music: requires good acting: excellent for a good High School choir.
The Holy Night - Kate Stearns Page G. Schirmer • ******** .60 words and music adapted from old French Christmas Songs: based on the legend that on Christmas Eve the beasts could talk.
There was One Who Gave a Lamb - Ham J. Fischer • • .80 action, music, costuming simple and effective,
*** Cantatas for treble voices ***
A Ceremony of Carols - Britten Boosey and Hawkes .............$1.75 sea: beautiful, but too difficult except for exceptional choir of high school girls
Childe Jesus . Clokey Birchard simple and effective.
Christmas Messiah - Handel Lorenz fOOP0110. .50 the Christmas portion of The Messiah arranged for ssa.
The Christmas Rose - Dunhill Edward Arnold Co. •••••••• .......$1.25 superior music; charming: but fairly long and difficult.
Christmas-Tide - Bourdon Flammer #0.8.4,4,001,0110 .25 nice continuity of familiar carols
In David's Town - Kirk-Kennedy-Sherman Birchard. ••••• .75 based on Latin American carols; several for satb but can be adapted for childrens voices: very attractive and different.
Twas the Night Before Christmas - McCollin Arthur Schmidt.... .60 clever setting of the familiar poem: sa.
*** Cantatas for SATB ***
Christ is Born - Clokey Birchard easy and attractive.
The Eve of Grace - Matthews H. W. Gray requires fairly large choir: nice contrasts.
A Mystery for Christmas - McKinney J. Fischer $1.00 also available in sa arrangement: in the mediaeval manner.
The Pageant of the Holy Nativity - Williams H. W. Gray .50 liturgical in style:
The Shepherds had an Angel - Besly Curwen different and difficult: obbligato for english horn or viola.
When the Christ-Child Came - Clokey Birchard requires good solo voices: rather quiet but with steady movement.
*** Collections ***
Christmas Carols for Treble Choirs Hall & McCreary Auditorium 15 carols with nice accompaniments for
Descants on Christmas Carols Hall & McCreary Auditorium 20 unison and satb carols with descants and accompaniments..
Five Christmas Carols arr. Mansfield Arthur P. Schmidt sa: all interesting
The Christmas Caroler arr. Cookson H. T. Fitz Simons Co satb: good for community sings
The Ditson Christmas Carol Book Oliver Ditson Co by all odds my favorite collection: 47 carols, many unusual
Series 56 .25 Series 47 .25 .25
.25
.60
A Catalan Christmas Song Carol of the Little King Carol of the Singing Reeds Dodo (Pyrenees Folksong) Good Christian Men Rejoice In Bethlehem's Lowly Manger
*** Octavo Numbers ***
McKinney.., J. Fischer Caldwell H W. Gray Johnson. J Fischer
.Riegger Flammer
.Mueller C Fischer Williams Flammer
6662 ssa or unison CMR 2260 sa 7710 unison 87037 sa or unison CM 6304 sa 89085 ssa or unison D 19 unison with des. 86078 unison with des. 1029 ssa or unison 15201 ssa or unison
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear..Dunhill Ed. Arnold Little Christ-Child, Sweet and Holy..Williams ,Flammer Long Ago on Christmas Night, arr. Hegge...Augsburg Long, Long Ago Nagle 0 Ditson Masters in This Hall Currie
The Snow Lay on the Ground Sowerby... The Shepherds Sing Young
Canyon Press, 17 Kearney St., East Orange, N. J. Oxford Univ. Press 1134 unison G Schirmer sa or unison H W. Gray 2042 unison H. W. Gray CMR 2238 unison with desc. H W. Gray CMR 2256 unison
Silver Lamps Brook Sweet Marie and Her Baby Niles The Little Jesus Holler
The Savior of the World Holst •••••• ..Arthur P. Schmidt 24 unison Thou Child Divine.... Voris........H. W. Gray 834 satb or unison Venite Adoremus Wright Canyon Press satb Welcome, Welcome Jesus ••••••• ....Hobbs Canyon Press satb and juniors
SOMETHING NEW? or DitthRENT?
We want original ways to celebrate Christmas, for the November Letter. Have you some interesting Christmas traditions in your choir or church? Will you share them with the rest of us who are not blessed with as much imagination and originality? We already have two to report, but we want more. If you have an unusually effective tradition, tell us about it.
CORRECTION
Last month we stated the price of the Choristers pins, but neglected to state that the price for less than ten pins is $1.25 each. The price of pearl or guard is $1.00 each, regardless of number ordered.
PRIMARY REHEARSAL PATTERNS
(based on Mrs. Boyterts demonstration rehearsals at the Lynchburg Summer School)
1. The Telephone Song: p. 17 *Tone Matching Tunes sing the song to each member of the class the child sings the answer into a toy telephone
2. Play simple rhythms on the drum call on individuals to repeat guide their hands if they have trouble with the rhythm
3. Sing a short phrase to each child child repeats vary both melody and rhythm to suit the ability of the child
4. Sing a question child answers with an original phrase to complete the melody Suggested questions: Do you like to sing?
Do you love your mother? Can you sing a little tune? Do you have a sister? What color is your dress? Have you a happy face? etc.
5. Play and sing short phrases children repeat together
6. Play rhythms suggesting: walking, running, skipping, sleeping, galloping. children go around the room single file, imitating the movement. use: *An outline of Physical Education for First and Second Grade.
7. Sing several songs from *Song Wings, Book II, with and for the children My Offering God Make My Life a Little Light Thanksgiving A Song of Joy Obedience
*Refer to September Letter for publisher
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LESSON II
1. Vocal exercises 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1 on "La" (make them bounce) 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 on "Loo" 1-2-5-3-1 on "Mee"
2. Repeat some of the songs started in previous lesson
3. Start a new song
4. Sing "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" let different children tap the rhythm on the drum, while
children sing
5. Pass around a bag of miniature toys (small enough to hide in the hands) each child takes one toy teacher sings, "Who has the ?) child who has the toy mentioned, answers "I have the 0, repeating the same tune the teacher used, and returns his toy to the bag.
6. Show the children a tiny figurine of three puppies. Say, "Three little puppies went out to play" Whoever makes up a second line to rhyme, gets a figurine
(picture seals could be used instead)
7. Start learning another song
SIGHT READING
***Lesson Two***
Bring a big round apple to class, Have the note value outline (September Letter) on the board
Cut the apple in two - - - all clap second line, counting aloud Cut each half in two - - - all clap third line, counting aloud Cut each quarter in two- - all clap fourth line, counting aloud
Repeat procedure of Lesson One
Explain time signature upper number tells how many counts in a measure lower number tells what kind of a note gets a count
Show flash cards of: 4 3 2 6 4 3 3 6 9 time signatures 4 4 4 4 2 2 8 8 8
Let each child explain the meaning of one signature by laying the right size and the right number of apple pieces in a row. (Yot will need two apples for 4 and 9 time)
PROJECT
An event celebrated by all Protestant churches this year is the publication of the new standard revised version of the Bible. There could be no more appropriate time to choose as the study project for the choir "The Story of the Bible." There are mint' facts about the writing and the assembling of the books of the Bible that would make both fascinating and informative stories for the choir.
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Write the following chart on the board:
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Have one child arrange the apple segments, while another writes the right time signature before the measure.
SIGHT READING
***Lesson Three***
Review Lesson Two (without the apples)
Write a variety of 4 measures on the board (use notes and rests) 4
One child taps while all count Example: 4 j I one, two, rest, rest. 4 J .
MAY I INTRODUCE
EDITH LOVELL THOMAS, who has been a very helpful member of the Chorister Guild from the beginning. And she can help you too. Three of her hymnle' have wide use, and will furnish you with excellent and varied materiat 7'71i171) for your Primary Choir.
Abington - CokesburY Press Abington - Cokesbuilr Press Friendship Press
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Singing Worship Sing, Children, Sing The Whole World Singing
Along with the colorful posters of children of all lands, printed Freindship Press, "The Whole World Singing" is a fine basis for a project study in world friendship.
ALBERT SCHWEITZER SAYS:
"If you are called on to play or sing at a church service never forget that you accorded one of the greatest privileges, one more beautiful than to attend the most brilliant concert.
Your attitude should be a deeply religious one, otherwise there will be neither piety, appeal nor sympathy in your harmonies - your music will be dead.
Do not permit anyone about you to converse in church, neither should you yourself hold conversation.
Every Sunday on awakening say to yourself, ?What a great privilege is mine."
Albert Schweitzer
ALL ABOARD FOR ADVENTURE
If you want to know more about a wonderful radio series for children, or would like to have recorded transcriptions to use in your rehearsals, write to the Protestant Radio Commission, 297 Fourth Avenue, New York 10, for information on "All Aboard for Adventure". This program has won three first awards from the Institute for Education by Radio.
1947 Citation "For the realistic use of the medium for the presentation of solidly documented intercultural information, with real contemporary impact".
1948 Citation "For adapting significant incidents from religious history in such a manner as to interest and inform young people".
1949 Citation "For a religious program tailored to the needs and interests of children and presented with the skill necessary to win their enthusuastic attention".
Is "All Aboard for Adventure" available on your local station? It might be if you and other church leaders requested it.
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II FFIT.RE) Christian Character through Children's Choirs Vol. 4, No. 3 November 1952
Ruth Krehbiel Jacobs 204 N. Second Street Memphis 3, Tennessee
TAKE TIME for TEN THINGS V
1. Take Time to Work it is the price of success
2. Take Time to Think it is the source of power
3. Take Time to Play it is the secret of youth
4. Take Time to Read it is the foundation of knowledge
5. Take Time to Worship it is the highway of reverence, and washes the dust of earth from our eyes
6. Take Time to Help and Enjoy Friends it is the source of happiness
7. Take Time to Love it is the one sacrament of life
8. Take Time to Dream it hitches the soul to the stars
9. Take Time to Laugh it is the singing that helps with life's loads
10. Take Time to Plan it is the secret of being able to have time to take time for the other nine things
And then * * * Take Time to express your Thanksgtving for your ability to Work, and. Think, and Play, and Read, and Worship, and Help, and Love, and Dream, and Laugh, and Plan *.* * * * * * * *
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SIGHT READING
Lesson III
1. Explain dotted notes and tied notes. Use an apple again, as illustration.
2. Flashcards: notes, rests, dotted notes, time signatures.
3. Write a series of simple measures on the board, using several tied and dotted notes. Let the class tap them, (always counting) first individually, then together.
PRIMARY CHOIR
Lesson III
1. Let two children bounce a large ball to each other in rhythm, while the rest sing:
Bounce, bounce, bounce, ball bounce, bounce, bounce, catch catch catch the catch catch catch the
2. Same song: use ball, drums and cymbals
3. Telephone game
4. Continue songs learned in Lessons I and II
5. Let class respond to walking, running, galloping and skipping music
6. Scarf game. Have two children hold the corners of a large silk scarf, and let it balloon up and down in time to music with a smooth rhythm.
7. Show pictures of the instruments of the orchestra. Children learn to recognize the members of the string family. Instrument charts are available from: J. W. Pepper & Son, 1423 Vine St., Philadelphia 2, Pa., $8.00 a set.
Lesson IV
Vocal exercises 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1 on ma 1-3-5-3-1 on fa
2. Songs begin training in following a director signals for rising and sitting, soft, sustain.
3. New songs
4. Flash cards: note values child raises his hand as soon as he recognizes the note. See who will have the most cards at the end of the game.
5. Review the string family of the symphony orchestra.
6. Play the music for walking, running, etc. Let the children pick out the picture that represents that music. Find quite large pictures of a child skipping, swinging, running, etc., and mount them on heavy colored paper. Put the pictures on the board before the rehearsal begins.
7. Difference between happy and sad chords. (Major and minor)
8. Raindrops, Draw a picture of a house on the board, Let the children, take turns marking raindrops on the roof in response to the music played: slow, fast: heavy, light.
9, High and low. The doggie has chased the kitty up a tree. Whenever he barks, (cluster of low notes) put a mark on the doggie. When kitty meows (cluster of high notes) put a mark on the kitty.
Kitty
CHOIR DIARY V
It is one thing to have a theory of education. It is quite another matter to make that theory function. In order to keep in touch with realities, I have adopted a choir, and in the diary of our experiences, you may find the reflection of some of your own situations.
Our choir is made up of children from a small, and rather disorganized Junior Department. There is no supervised music in the public schools, and comparatively few of the children study privately. About a third of them have difficulty carrying a tune, and there seems to be no outstanding talent to set the pace.
The sanctuary of the church is a barnlike auditorium; the congregation is social rather than worshipful; there is no choir room for rehearsals. That is the picture.
There were about 20 at the first rehearsal: far too few. I showed them my Choristers pin, and told them they would find out next Saturday how they could earn one. Next week, everyone is to bring a notebook cover. Gave them each a sheet of paper to show proper size.
Sat. Oct. 11. Gave them first three pages for their notebooks. Used colored paper. First page: space for name and address, and for picture of the church, Second page: outline of credit system, with space for a record of credits earned. (Pointed out the credits for bringing a new member. Built up some enthusiasm for making this the best choir in the city, and for having as many boys as girls.) Third page: meaning of the design on the pulpit hanging, explanation of vestments, cassocks, cottas, how to act when wearing them. ,Statements regarding them with blanks for the children to fill in.
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Had the music on their chairs before rehearsal began. It was a disturbance rather than a help, because the children don't read music at all, and words only haltingly. Will pass out music only as it is used next time; must be careful that it doesn't become a chance for general talking.
Have to go slowly on rhythm work. They can tap whole notes, half and quarter, but are all off on eighth notes, Next week, I'll concoct a tune to the three words: running, walking, strolling, and see if they can keep time with those movements. But first, we will review quarter, half and eighth notes on the board.
4-- . Running running Of 00 go oo go Ago oo .0 .. .. ..Walling,
Sat. Oct. 18. Five new members; three boys and two girls. None of the boys can carry a tune. Both girls have clear voices and good range, but they are only 8 years old, and their voices are small. Got some of the boys around the piano before re-hearsal; had them match tones with each other. Didn't get much tone, but established the will to try, which is more important. Tomorrow is Founders day, and the choir is to sing. Important that they should begin to develop good church behavior. Told them that some people don't like to have the Jr. choir sing because they can't sit still. I don't agree with them, because you can do most anything, no matter how hard if you know that you must. Just like an Indian baby. Did you know that an Indian baby never cries? Long ago, the tiniest sound from a baby might give away their hiding place, and the whole village might be killed because of it. So, when a newborn baby begins to cry, the mother quietly puts her hand over its nose and mouth. If it begins to cry when she gives it a chance to breath, she does it again, and again, until the baby learns that it must not cry. If a tiny baby can learn never to cry, I think you can learn not to talk or wiggle for an hour, don't you?
Sunday, Oct. 19. Most of the children were pretty good Indians, but as usual George and Miakie did more talking and squirming than all the others put together. But here is the pay-off. After service, George presented me with a list of all the children he had seen talking.
Oct. 25. Before rehearsal got George and Mickie off in a room by themselves to dis-cuss between themselves how they could manage to sit beside each other, and not talk, or whether it would be better to give them separate seats.
Several absences again today. Must map out a program of parent education on that matter. Am reading one story from ”Birdlife in Wington" each week. One of the boys (who won't join the choir) made a model church for us. We call it the Wington church, and set it up for the story hour. Wish they were as interested in the whole rehear-sal as they are in the story hour.
For note work we used the scale, drew a picture of a flight of 8 steps, and sang:
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alkin Strolling
The scale is such a sim-ple thing.It walks right up and down a - gain. step, step, step, step, step, step, step, 1.12.. step, step, step, step, stepodown.
step, step,
Four children won a candy by singing it correctly alone. before they can all sing the scale correctly.
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Wonder how long it will be
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Edward Johe, First Congregational Church, 444 E. Broad St. Columbus, Ohio "The opening session of our Church Arts Class will be Saturday, Nov. 1. This year's course will be "Our Heritage of Great Music." It is designed to acquaint the children with great choral and instrumental literature and to introduce them to the personalities and nationalities of the composers. This class follows the rehearsal period. The class is optional this year, and the registration shows 88% of the choir electing the course."
Rev. George Litch Knight, West Side Presbyterian Church, Ridgewood, N. J. Rev. Knight, who is editor of "The Hymn" and president of the Hymn Society, has agreed to write an article for us on "A Hymn Festival for Childrens Choirs."
A. L. Jacobs, First Methodist Church, Memphis, Tenn. His Junior Choir has made almost $150.00 this Fall by selling memorial plates of the church. The plates have a sketch of the church in the center, and an outline of its history on the back. They cost about $1.00 each and sell for $2.00. Those interested in trying a similar project can write to the manufacturers: Worldwide Art Studios, Covington, Tennessee
Canyon Press, 17 Kearney St., East Orange, N. J. is holding a contest for composers under 25 years of age. The composition must be an original religious anthem suitable for young people (high school age), written in unison, two, or three parts with organ accompaniment. Write Canyon Press for further details.
SYMBOLISM * * * The Sign Language of Christianity
The Church Year
Advent * the four weeks before Christmas
* Christmas * celebrating the birth of Christ
* * Epiphany * the coming of the Magi
* * * Lent * penetential period before Easter
* * * * Easter * celebrating the Resurrection
* * * * 4 Ascension * celebrating Christ's ascension
* * * * * * Whitsuntide * the coming of the Holy Spirit
jt * * * * * * Trinity Season 44—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
THE CHURCH COLORS
WHITE * * * is the color of happiness and rejoicing. It is used at Christmas, Easter, Ascensiontide. It is the proper color for baptisms, marriage and confirmation.
GREEN * * * is the universal color, the color of nature, and is used in the season of Epiphany, because it teaches that Christ came for ALL mankind, not only for the Hebrews. It is also the color for the long Trinity season, during which the whole general course of Christian doctrine is presented.
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VIOLET * * or PURPLE, is the penetentian color, and is used for Advent and Lent
RED * * * is for Whitsuntide, as a reminder of the tongues of fire on the first Day of Penticost.
BLACK * * is the color of mourning, and is reserved for GOOD FRIDAY, and for burials.
THE MAIN VALUE of the Christian Year is that during every period of twelve months, the principal events and teachings of our Lord are brought to the attention of the worshippers, thereby preventing undue emphasis on certain features of the Gospel to the neglect of others. The CHANGE IN COLOR is a visible sign that all parts of the Gospel are important. Such changes are often made in the hangings about the altar, the drapes on the lectern, or the pulpit, and in the vestments.
Although in many of our churches there is no altar, and both the Church Year and the meaningful use of color are disregarded, nevertheless these are all symbols and traditions that are the rightful heritage of all followers of Christ, and an integral part of the knowledge of the church musician.
* * * * * * * * * *
We kneel for prayer, we stand for praise, we sit for instruction.
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FESTIVAL AND SEMINAR SCHEDULE
date
for further information
Nov. 17-19
Nov. 20-23
Feb. 9-13
Oklahoma City
William Lemonds, Westminster Presbyterian Church 43rd and N. Shartel, Oklahoma City 6.
Tulsa, Okla. Marvin Reecher, Boston Ave. Methodist Church, Tulsa 3, Okla.
Ft. Worth, Texas Mr. J. Campbell Wray, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Seminary Hill, Ft. Worth, Texas.
Mai,ch 28 Arkadelphia, Ark. Mrs. B. W. Nininger, 212 Baptist Building, Little Rock, Ark.
April 17-20 Kansas City, Mo. Dr. Lewis Carpenter, National College for Christian Workers Truman Road at Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1, Mo.
April 25-26
May 2-3
Columbus, Ohio Mr. Edward Johe, First Congregational Church, 444 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio.
Fort Wayne, Ind. Miss Mary Wigent, First Methodist Church, 326 East Wayne St., Ft, Wayne, Ind.
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May 15-17
Reading, Pa. Mr. Fred McGowan, St. Thomas Reformed Church, 711 N. 5th Street, Reading, Pa.
Aug. 22-31 Green Lake, Wis. Dr. Richard libiland Music, Arts and Drama Conference, 1703 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia 3, Pa.
Other seminars are tentatively planned for South Carolina and Florida. Perhaps you, or your local A.G.O. chapter could plan one for your community, and help in that way to stimulate the respect for an interest in CHILDRENS CHOIRS.
If getting Mrs. Jacobs for a seminar is too ambitious an undertaking, you can encourage the directors in your neighborhood to work together on some musical program.
* * * *
You can help each other by having informal meetings, and sharing experiences.
* * * *
And if you can't do that, you can tell someone else about the Guild.
If you want to make sure that your Choristers Guild Letters reach you regularly, make certain that we have an EXACT ADDRESS: street, number, and zone. The name of a church, corner of This St. and That Ave. is the kind of address the postal service dislikes. Besides - our addressing machines takes only three lines clearly.
Christian Character through Childrens Choirs Vol. 4, No, 4 December 1952
Ruth Krehbiel Jacobs 204 N. Second Street Memphis 3, Tennessee
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CHOIR DIARY
Nov. 1 . "The scale is such a simple thine was a good idea. We tried it again today, and this time practically everyone could sing the scale correctly. Last week, only four.
Caught George and Mickie before rehearsal to get their decision on the matter of talking. Their decision . We've decided to keep on sitting together, and just not talk."
Jerry taught me today that high and low are poor terms to use in relation to pitch distinction. When I asked him which of two notes I played was the higher, he asked which end of the piano was high, and which low. I'm quite sure that high and low are arbitrary terms in music, and no help to the children at all. In fact, the very thought of singing high can be the cause of some of the usual tightness on those tones. I'm going to be very careful of my use of high and low, and gradually substitute fast and slow, (if we must have terms) for that is what pitches actually are: faster or slower vibrations.
Nov. 2 - Sunday. Children in the service again - good chance to test the boys' decision. It worked; neither George nor Mickie said a word. They were the best behaved in the whole choir. Afterwards George explained the phenomenon: Mickie had a funny book. On the benediction, the children were all set to dash for the door. They looked more like an athletic field than a church. More education necessary.
Nov. 8 - Three new notebook pages today, much to their joy, They would like to have them every week, Two pages were words of Christmas songs they are to learn. The two solid pages were lightened and made more palatable with Christmas designs. The third page, however, was a result of last Sunday's benedictional scramble, Page 7 of this letter is a copy of the page. I hope the parents will read it; maybe some of them will discover, as well as the children, that there are purposes other than sociability in the worship service. Asked Mrs. Brett, one of the mothers, to hear the childrens' words for credit before and after rehearsal. She will be responsible for starring their songs and memory work,
Purely by hapinstance we have started a club . the Hoo-Hoo Club - that meets around the piano before rehearsal for some voice training, Hoo-Hoo Owl is one of the favorite Wington characters, and one time when the children were singing a rather flat oo vowel, I told them to sing it like Hoo-Hoo Owl. The tone improved, and our pre-rehearsal session had a name.
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Started on the Christmas music. Have found it wise, since many of the children read very slowly, to read the words together, and discuss some of the texts, before introducing the music.
Nov. 9 — George sat with me in church today. After the offertory, he leaned over and whispered "That's in 4/4 time, isn't it". Sure enough, it was. The music training is beginning to take.
Nov.15- My husband's birthday. Considerable commotion before rehearsal. All explain-ed when Gay Brett came down the aisle to him at the piano, with an enormous birthday cake. Everybody on his birthday gets a little bluebird tag that makes him an honorary member of the Wington church. The children insisted that Leslie get one too. The chairman of the music committee, a wonderful old man, appeared with a present too. We made him our guest of honor, and sang one of our Christmas songs for him. A good chance to put them on their toes, musically.
Nov.22- Leslie took the rehearsal alone, since I was in Tulsa for the festival there.
Tulsa Festival Program
A Musical Meditation on John 3:16
Prelude - Air for G String Bach Call to worship . • • • Hymn - 0 Worship the King Scripture Reading
*.=.**For God So Loved The WorldiH8R- Praise - Rowley - Oxford University Press MA24
(used adult choir in antiphonal manner) ****That He Gave His Only Begotten Son****
Four Christmas Songs - arr. Lynn-Jr. Choir Christmas Collection - Ditson 332-40082 ****That Whosoever Believeth In Him****
Hymn - All hail the power of Jesus' Name tune - Miles Lane All in the April Evening - Roberton - G. Schirmer No. 8837 Offertory Prayer Organ Offertory: - Prayer - Boellman Short Talk to Parents
****Should Not Perish**** Dona Nobis Pacem arr. Wilson - Rounds and Canons - Hall & McCreary
****But Have Everlasting Life**** All Hail to Christ, Our King - Rawls - J. Fischer 8533
Participating Directors Paul Green - Immanuel Baptist Paul Shulz - First Presbyterian Marvin Reecher - Boston Ave. Methodist David Williams - First Christian
David Williams and Marvin Reecher laid the plans for the festival at the Lynchburg Summer School, One of the finest features of the seminar was a luncheon meeting of the staffs of the four churches. It offered a fine opportunity to reveal to the ministers and financial secretaries the value of the childrens choir to the church.
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Christmas Symbolism
The Five-pointed Star
"And lo, a star appeared in the East, and shone over Bethlehem".
"There came wise men from the east to Jeru-salem, saying, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star, and are come to worship him". In the representations of the Nativity and the coming of the Magi, the star is an almost unfailing accompaniment of the scene.
The Rose
"Lo how a rose, ever blooming, From Josses stem hath sprung."
The rose has been used only since the 13th century as a Christian symbol, and is used usually in conventional form. It is often seen in Gothic architecture, and is known as the Gothic Rose. Among its many meanings are: Messianic Promise
The Nativity (Christmas Rose) The Virgin (White Rose) Death of Christ (Rose on a cross)
The Nimbus or Halo
a. The halo with the three arms of the Greek cross is used only for the Deity.
b. The double halo is frequently used for the Virgin Mother.
c. The plain nimbus appears on representations of angels and saints,
The Eternal Question - What to do with Monotones
Possible reasons: Some speech impediment: adenoids Inability to hear differences Lack of coordination Lack of tonal memory - unable to remember phrases Lack of experience - told they couldn't sing, and haven't tried Fear of ridicule Failure to find singing voice or head tones
Treatment: distinguishing between tones very far apart distinguishing between tones within an octave let them sing a tone, and you match theirs ask them to sing a different one, and you match again sing a short phrase on his tone, and have him repeat it combine sight with hearing, flight of steps, xylophone, etc. sing a fairly low tone, ask them to match it let them imitate a fire siren (helps to break into head tone) call roll on musical phrases; they answer with same notes
ex. Johnny Brown (mi do do)
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you are tapping
In Class: put them in front and beside good singers encourage others to help let others sustain tones for them to match in songs, be sure they have the first tone right be matter of fact about the situation
Sight Singing C--
Write the following series of 4/4 measures on the board Tap them, while everyone counts Let children tap them with you Call on different children to tap one measure each Repeat the series, everyone tapping and counting Tap measures at random, and let a child point out the measure Let one child tap a measure, and another point it out
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) Primary Choir Rehearsal - Lesson V
0
1. Recognizing pitch: two notes on the piano. Same or different? Same procedure with voice
2. Five tones up and down on: ma, la, mo, ho, moo, loo, poo, foo, too, soo, boo.
3. Songs: correct mistakes in pronunciation or pitch, etc.
4. Flash cards: notes and rests show them to the children and tell what they are called write same values on the board, and show flash card to match
5. Flash cards: treble clef, bass clef, measure, bar, double bar p. pp. PPP• mp. f. ff. fff. mf.
6. "The elephants walk is steady and slow, His trunk like a pendulum swings just so, But when there are children and peanuts around, He swings it up, and swings it down."
Have children in small groups imitate the elephant, while others recite the jimgle in rhythm.
7. Speech rhythms: "Fitter, patter, pitter, patter, hear the raindrops fall".
"Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been? I've been to London to visit the King."
Children mark the rhythm with chalk on the board, or with rhythm sticks. 8. Pass out little pictures of a doggie. The children who make up a song
about the doggie may keep the picture.
Ex. "This little doggie saw a cat. Guess what happened after that."
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FROM THE MAILBOX
Mrs, Ernestine Peebles of Delaware, Ohio sends a copy of the Third Annual Youth Choir Festival of the Columbus Presbytery. The program included the following numbers:
Anthems Hymns Jesu, Jesus gently sleeping - Black 0 Come, 0 Come, Emmanuel Brother James Air - Jacob Rejoice ye pure in heart Were You There - arr. Burleigh Lo how a rose e'er blooming Fairest Lord Jesus - arr. Christiansen We would see Jesus
All glory, laud, and honor Jesus Christ is risen
(The director was Richard Johnston, who, besides his church choirs, has two city- wide girl choirs of 100 members each. He is doing exceptionally fine work in that city of choirs.) R.K.J.
Donald Malini _president of C. C. Birchard. "You may have noted that we are grad-ually giving more attention to choral music for junior and youth choirs and for combined choirs. You are on our preferred list of directors to receive sample copies of such publications, and we hope you will find them of interest."
Robert McGill Garden City Communit Church, New York: "Our Fall program has been going exceptionally well. We have some 1$0 in four choirs. The Youth choirs are closed because they are overflowing already. -The Nassau County Teachers Training School was held in our church for six consecutive Tuesday nights this Fall. There were 352 volunteer workers in the field of religious education registered. I talked on Junior Choir work, and mentioned the Guild. I am enclosing the names of those who wanted to join."
H. T. FitzSimons, 615 No La Salle St., Chicago 10: "Please rush all possible haste corrections you may have for the revision of your book; "The Successful Childrens Choir". We must get the new edition into press at the earliest possible moment."
NEL.... Lynne ...._71^rnerBroadwaMetodistChurchPaducahzK. "The question has arisen in our church about the value of an orchestra. I have 5 choirs - 3 are youth choirs with large membership. The questions are - where could an orchestra be used? Would it interfere with the choir program?"
(The church that has enough talent for an orchestra is fortunate. Instead of interfering with the choir program it should add to its interest. The Orchestra can be used in special services, both alone and as accompaniment for the choirs. But to direct an orchestra, one must have a basic knowledge of instruments. Perhaps some instrumental man would be willing to train the orchestra for you.) R.K.J.
Dr. Federal Lee Whittlesey, Highland Park Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas. "Our winter program is very heavy but stimulating. Our "Jesus Shall Reign" program went beautifully. I am using a new little Christmas number with my youngest group -A Child's Wish at Christmas - Brown - Boston Music Co. No. 2692. Its charming. Unison."
Rev, Dennis Whittle, Neve Halle R.F.D. 3, Charlottesville, Va. "Do you know our new Episcopal Hymnal? It has some excellent hymns. I am glad that through Mr. Murson, the organist at St. Stephens, Richmond, we have learned of your organization."
Corinne Monroe, First Baptist Church, Worcester, Mass. "Have you mentioned Beatrice Landeckts book, "Children and Music" published by Sloane Assn. N.Y.? $3.50. Excellent for parents as well as teachers and choir masters."
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Mrs. Everitt Sheldon, First Congregational Church, Brattleboro, Vt. "Had I been on the ball, I would have sent in this dedication service immediately after it occurred. Four choirs participated, totaling 90 voices (only 15 of these were seniors). My husband, who is minister of the church, composed the spoken parts of the service. The service of dedication was explained and gone over reverently in each individual choir the week before. There was a fine spirit in the service as we joined in the hymn "I would be true". I felt that the service had achieved its purpose. I heartily recommend the dedication service as a means of education the congregation as well as focusing the minds and attitudes of the choir members on the true pur-pose of their activities. Our church has a membership of 250, our S. S. 109.
Next Spring our town is to have a Junior Choir Festival. I have been asked to conduct it. As soon as possible I will follow the good advice given in one of the Letters on how to organize and conduct a successful one."
(Quite a number of people have written that they have used the Guild Dedica-tion Service, or an adaptation, and have found it impressive and rewarding.) R.K.J.
Eva Stales First Ba•tist Church Hu h Point N.C. had several girls in her Junior High Choir who constantly interrupted rehearsal to complain about almost everything. Patient explanations did no good, so she tried another approach. "Last week a Gripe Box appeared, and the girls were told that there was to be no interruption of rehearsal to register complaints. Instead, they were welcome to write their com-plaint, sign it, put it in the Suggestion Box after rehearsal, and I would discuss the matter in an indivicual conference. The results: no vocal complaints - no written complaints - the BEST rehearsal we've had all Fall."
Mrs. Sherman Crawford, Beal Heights Presbyterian Church, Lawton, Okla. "Our choir is through the preliminaries, and ready to plunge into hard work. They are clamor-ing for more part singing. We've used Gregor's Hosanna. Where can I find more like it? Do you know anything new on the monotone. We have 2; Last year we had four. We'd all give our eye teeth if Judy could really sing; her speaking voice is un-usually good."
(At Thy Feet - Bach - B. F. Wood can be used as an antiphonal anthem, one group taking the text, and the other taking the phrase "Lord be near us." You would find a lot of interesting material for them in Rounds and Canons - Wilson-Hall McCreary. Your question about monotones is a frequent one - we've given it more space elsewhere in this Letter.) R.K.J.
Mary Malone of Flammers informs me that "An Outline of Physical Education for First and Second Grades" which we have frequently recommended, is out of print. If your personal letters sometimes go unanswered, please understand that it is only because there is not time enough to keep up with them all personally, and not money enough to employ a secretary. Understand that your letters are all most welcome, and frequently very helpful. R.K.J.
We'd appreciate a Christmas Greeting from every member of the Guild * * * * * * Just a plain postcard with your favorite Christmas number
composer, publishers number, voice parts ------------------- PLEASE And a note about your most interesting Christmas choir-celebration
AND TO ALL OF YOU 1 ij
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OUR WORSHIP SERVICE
Organ Prelude***It reminds us that we are in God's House.
Collect***A prayer we all say together
The Lessons***Readings from the Old and New Testaments.
Apostles' Creed***What we Christians believe
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven 0 and earth, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord, who
was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried, the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come tojudge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
Lord's Prayer***The prayer Jesus taught us
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom O come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day
our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Offering***We gladly give back to God, a part of all we own.
Doxology3H'rwA short hymn of praise
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, O Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Gloria Patri***Glory to the Father
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. O As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen.
Benediction***Ask God's blessing on us.
A GOOD CHOIR MEMBER Goes to church regularly
O Treats the church as the house of God Sings the hymns Joins in the prayers and lessons Listens to the sermon And gives a tenth of what he earns.
(0 — Marks the place for a star when you have memorized that part of the service)
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Christian Character through Children's Choirs Vol. 4, No. 5 January, 1953
Ruth Krehbiel Jacobs 204 N. Second Street Memphis 3, Tennessee
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ONE of the things about my church that brings me the most satisfaction is its interest in young people - I like young people and feel that they are the hope of the church - - It is fine for a church to manifest interest in its youth and to make adequate provision for them, but it is equally important to understand the many ways in which they make a contribution to the church.
PERHAPS the most significant thing about them is the power of their idealism. No one takes a more vigorous outlook toward the Christian faith than they do. Once they have committed themselves to the Christian way of life, they have no patience with littleness and petty things. They help to keep the church Christian in spirit and idealistic in action.
ALSO HIGH on the list of their contributions are enthusiasm and a forceful way of taking hold of things. They see a Christian idea that ought to be put into practice, and they want to do it right away, whether it is practical at the moment or not. I admire their zeal even when I might not agree with their judgment.
YOUNG PEOPLE give to the church the fine gifts of friendliness and laughter.
I AM GRATEFUL for their naturalness, their straightforwardness, for their directness that borders on rudeness. I am glad that this generation has no time nor inclination for pretense or affectation. One of the evidences of their whole-someness is that they have so few inhibitions in their religious practices.
THEIR ACTIVITIES remind me that the program of the Church is a full-time business, something that should be going on all the time, not just on Sunday. Throughout the week, our YOUTH CENTER is abuzz with craft classes, choir rehearsals, devotionals, planning groups, Church School classes, inter-church and inter-faith meetings, parties, sports, and many other activities.
YOUNG PEOPLE also make a very personal contribution to ministers, teachers and other leaders. They bring them the tremendous sense of satisfaction in seeing youth develop as Christian persons. They keep them on their toes, and alert to responsibility. They keep the minister from becoming a stuffed shirt.
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SUNDAY after Sunday it stirs something deep within me to see the young people kneel for our Altar Prayer Service. I have a renewed sense of their basic good-ness, of their almost unlimited possibilities. To me, this voluntary act is a very real demonstration of the reality of their Christian life and faith.
4141-X-814f*-X-Yr3SHHE-X-***X-X-3t-X-X This New Years Declaration of Faith comes from Dr. Warren Johnston, pastor of
the First Methodist Church of Baton Rouge. The following New Years Story comes from Fred Holler, the Minister of Music in the same church.
"How does one go about organizing a choir where there has never been one? It isn't easy, but with hard work and great enthusiasm it can be done in any church.
Announcement was made in the newspapers and church bulletins, in church and church school. The minister furnished the names of people who sang or might know of singers. I began making calls; I called on 96 prospects, but it took twice that many calls to find them all at home.
As I approached the completion of my calling, I became increasingly enthusiastic about the large, fine choir we were going to have. Everyone was so glad we were to have a choir at last, and nearly all my prospects were interested in joining. I was elated, and told the minister that 55 people had definitely promised to be at rehearsal.
Friday night came: 7:30 was the hour. Arriving early was a middle-aged alto. At 7:30 there were five people present. I was disturbed, but did not allow the faithful to sense my dismay. Two men came in - both tenors. We began the rehear-sal with eight people. A little later, one more alto came. A doctor came in quite late. We finally had a grand total of ten people - five sopranos, two altos, two tenors, and one bass. And 56 had definitely promised' I was disillusioned -everyone had been so willing to have a choir (that is if someone else did the work).
But by noon the next day I had recovered and was vigorously calling - to find out why the miscreants had not appeared. This steady plugging produced results. The people began coming in from outside our church as well as our own members. We worked hard at rehearsals - we had an ideal to fight for - and we won out."
And the moral of the tale is this: He called on all prospects He didn't make the faithful suffer because of the unfaithful He worked with those present He recovered from his disappointment, and redoubled his efforts He had an ideal, and instilled an ideal And the work prospered. It's bound to.
AS OTHERS SEE US
Twelve British ministers who visited the United States have returned home thrilled and impressed by the "enthusiasm for religion" in the United States. Some of their observations follow.
"You are not faced by a cold front of seeming defiance, which one sometimes meets in this country. No wonder every preacher from Britain feels the thrill of preaching in America today."
"Religion is taken much more seriously in America than in Britain. Nearly 60% of Americans are church members. The figure for Britain is under 10%."
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"In America the churches are packed; in Britain they are usually half empty, especially on a rainy Sunday."
They made special mention of the enthusiasm in American churches especially among the young. In Britain religion tends to be the solace of the elderly.
They praised American church music which made possible "Highly trained semi-profesaional choirs. It is quite normal to have two or three choirs for a church, and one had seven."
They made special mention of the warm friendship they felt in American churches as compared to the strange coldness in the English churches now.
CHRISTMAS GLEANINGS
The First Methodist Church of Glendale, Calif. printed all of its Christmas programs in one booklet, under the title: "The Christmas Festival, for the Season of Advent and Christmastide". This is becoming increasingly the practice and a fine one it is, making the services and the carol sings, and the dinners and the church school celebrations an integral part of one great Festival Season.
Candlelight Services - J. William Jones at Redlands University has developed a Service of Lights that combines music, drama and pagaentry and makes use of all the faculty and student body. It attracts visitors from all of Southern California. Edith Lovell Thomas has sent me a copy of a Christmas Service prepared by Miss Gladys Gray ofeneva, N. Y. It appears to be an exceptionally fine and devotional service, and closes with the following service of lights; THE SERVICE OF LIGHTS
(Immediately at the conclusion of the responses, the minister goes to the communion table, and the acolytes, carrying unlighted candles, stand behind him. The minister lights the single candle, using the vigil lamp.)
Minister: Come, Heavenly Child, and on this place Shed the sweet halo of Thy grace. 0 burning Love, 0 Heavenly Fire, Consume me with Thy deep desire.
Congregation: As in the Holy Christ Child's name This blessed wax shall feed the flame, So let my heart its fires begin And light the Heavenly Pilgrim in.
(Here the minister, using the single candle, shall light the candles of the acolytes, who in turn will light the tapers of those sitting at the end of each pew, and those in turn will pass the light to those beside them until all the candles are lighted.)
Choir: (during candle lighting sings "Silent Night")
The Benedictions The benediction of silence The Choral Benediction - Nunc Dimittis
Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word,
For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of Thy people Israel.
The Pastoral Benediction Choral Amen — 3 —
In Columbia. S.C., the youth choirs of sixteen churches participated in a Christmas Vesper under the direction of Robert Van Doren, at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. The service closed with a kneeling hymn.
The Art Museum of Fort Wayne, Ind. made a contribution to the significance of Christmas, with a special display during the whole month of December of 48 paintings telling the Christmas Story. The paintings were loaned by the museums of other large cities. In other rooms of the museum toys from Vienna, and special Christmas trees were shown. The exhibit was free, and guides were provided for visiting groups.
At St. John's Reformed Church in Ft. Wayne, the children of the Primary and Junior Departments took home a prepared suggestion for family worship during the Christmas season.
Dr. Newman, at First Methodist Church in Memphis is building up the custom of having the Young People celebrate New Year's Eve at the church. The program begins at 7:30 with an excellent dinner which is without cost to the guests. This is followed by a well planned program of nonsense. (This year it was a truth and consequence program with lots of good laughs for all and plenty of audience participation). At 10:30 there is a special feature, either a speaker or a film, and at 11 o'clock they go to the sanctuary to participate in the communion service. Last year the young people were rather hesitant about celebrating New Year's Eve at church. Now they begin to prefer it to any other.
We Received copies of many Christmas services, but very few names of favorite anthems used.
Lillian Thompson, Dallas: The Shepherds Song - Elliot - Raymond Huffman Co. Chicago, No. 45621 ssa
Mrs. Woodbury, Fond du Lac Carol of the Sheep Bells - Kountz - Galexy Mary Wigent, Fort Wayne: They Sang that Night in Bethlehem - Franz Schubert
G. Schirmer, sheet music: low, med., high Mrs. A. J. Johnson, Macon Ga.: Wind through the Olive Trees - Macfarlane
Sleep of the Child Jesus - French Carol (publishers not given)
The Carols most widely used were: Selections from Hymns for Primary Worship - Westminster Press Selections from Carol Book - Hall and McCreary Christmas Song - Holst - G. Schimer No. 8119 Selections from Oxford Book of Carols Welcome Yule - Eric Gritton (probably Ox. Univ. Press) Child in the Manger - Gaelic Melody The Little Jesus - Holler - H, K. Gray 2042 unison Venite Adoremus Sowerby - H. W, Gray 2238 unison with desc. Song of Bethlehem - Hampton - Hall and McCreary Rocking - Czeck Carol Christmas Candle - Bitgood - H. W. Gray
Please remember to list publisher, number and voice parts when sending us your special programs. Incomplete information is NO information.
January, 1953 and the Choristers Guild
Our membership represents 14 denominations: Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, Congregational, Christian, Evangelical and Reformed, Community Churches, United Brethern, Church of God, Mennonite, Moravian, Unitarian. (Listed in order of number of members).
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All states are represented except nine: Arizona, Delaware, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North and South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
The Letters go to the following school libraries and denominational headquarters: Boston Univ., Union Theological Seminary, Westminster Choir College, Moody Bible Institute, Anderson College, Temple University, Roberts Wesleyan College, Johnson Bible College, Luther College, N. Y. State Teachers College, Atlantic Union College, Rural Church Center, Board of Education - Baptist, and Church of God.
PRIMARY CHOIR REHEARSAL NO. VI.
1. Practice in following directions for rising and sitting
2. Familiar songs: sing them at different speeds to keep them alert
3. A "Listen Song" (The song used was "Listen to the Song-Birds Sing") play and sing it for them have them sing the melody on la show picture of birds (preferably in color) play a recording of the song; have children join in the chorus
4. Song: "God, our Loving Father" (a question and answer song) play recording of the song; children sing answer Have someone in the choir sing the questions
5. Prayer Song Teach them to bow their heads and fold their hands when they sing it
6. Review familiar songs 7. Rhythm: ear training
class sings:- '
Up the lad-der we must go, etc. Down the lad-der we must go, etc,
children take turns tapping the ladder steps in rhythm while others sing. •
g. Picture Charts of Tuba, Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn
9. A box of blocks with a letter of the alphabet and a picture of something beginning with that letter.
Children form a circle, each takes a block and makes up a song about the picture on his block
They have a tendency to repeat the same tune; suggest new intervals
10. Postoffice Each child comes to the mailbox (skipping, running or walking, as the music being played suggests) he draws a card out of the mailbox, and does whatever it tells him to do: play the ladder game, find the trumpet, find the French Horn, choose a partner and mark pitter-patter on the board, choose a partner and keep time with the scarf, find the cello, play the telephone game, find the harp, find the trom-bone, tell if this tune goes up or down, find the tuba, point to the picture the music plays (sleeping, swinging, etc.) find the violin, etc. until you have covered all the work to date, and each child has drawn a card.
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II. Children file out to music
Sight Reading Lesson for the Junior Choir
Write the ascending scale in a variety of singable rhythmic patterns on the board. Let the children sing them, first in unison, and then individually. When they can sing them with assurance, let one child tap one of the patterns, and another child point to the pattern being tapped.
Example:
All in the Family
Bob McGill - Community Church, Garden City, N. Y. - has taken care of the after Christmas let-down. He has scheduled for a March performance, and is already working on (quote) "Animated Fairy Tales" with music and dialogue and plenty of sound effects.
Dave Williams - First Christian, Tulsa, Okla. - has planned and posted all the services and music to be used for all his choirs until Easter Sunday. This offers very little excuse for conflicting week-end engagements.
Arthur Hatch - First Presbyterian Church, Passaic, N. J. - used safety electric candles for the first time this year, and he writes besides, "My choir work has been so much more enjoyable and productive this season. Much of this is due to better ways of teaching and doing things which I learned at Lynchburg. I am very grateful to you for opening my eyes further as to the possibilities of youth choirs. My choirs have grown in numbers as well as musically, and I believe they will continue to do so. I have found that the children take more interest in singing when each one is helped to realize the importance of his own singing - such as having each child make a recording, and having solos before and after choir occasionally."
Laurette Cotton - Trinity Methodist, Milwaukee, Wis. "I wish I had more time to write you a long letter about our music program this year. It seems that in trying to carry on in spite of the strain at home that the message has been greater and I have been blessed double-fold. The children and young people have loved the music so much that they have carried it over into the schools. What missionary work can be accomplished in this way." (Mrs. Cotton's husband is hospitalized, and she has the care of another invalid at home. Where there's a will, there's a way.)
Fred Holler - First Methodist, Baton Rouge, La. - sent us a copy of the Baton Rouge publication "The Register" for Dec. 6, which featured the choir system of his church, and which provided the first page material for this LETTER.
Ruth K. Jacobs - Memphis, Tenn. - thanks all of you for the Christmas cards and programs, and expressions of gratitude and good will.
Miriam Berry - College Park Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Ga. - had a dedication service at which every member of every choir was present. It was an impressive occasion both for the choirs and the congregation.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS
The Guild's SOUTHERN SUMMER SCHOOL will be held at COLUMBIA SEMINARY in DECATUR, GEORGIA (a suburb of Atlanta) AUGUST 12-19. Put the date in your calttidar and plan to come or to send someone from your church.
The Guild needs ADDITIONAL FILES and an OFFICE TYPEWRITER badly. It needs FUNDS too to reach a larger number of MINISTERS and MUSICIANS. Your $2.00 dues come back to you twofold in the Letters. There is nothing left over for EXPANSION or SECRETARIAL HELP. If the GUILD has helped You, you must HELP the Guild. The need is urgent. The work is TOO MUCH for one lone person, and there is NO MONEY for paid help.
It's a choice: GENEROUS GIFTS or GIVE UP
You can HELP, and you WILL if you believe in the value of YOUR childrens choir.
You can, and You MUST HELP, because there is no one else to do it.
You can make a personal contribution.
You can take out a $10.00 membership for your church.
You can give a special service for the benefit of the Childrens Choir Movement.
You can encourage your choir to undertake some project for the Guild.
Choristers Pins
There is every indication that there will be a big demand for pins this Spring. We want to be able to fill your orders promptly. If we had some general notion of the number that will be required, we could have them on hand before the rush begins. If you are using, or planning to use the pins, please drop us a card indicating the approximate number you will need.
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Christian Character through Children's Choirs Vol. 4, No. 6 February, 1953
Ruth Krehbiel Jacobs 204 N. Second Street Memphis 3 Tennessee
"MIRROR, MIRROR, TELL ME TRUE"
Are you enthusiastic? Do you really enjoy your work? Are most of your pupils interested and eager? Do you set a definite goal for each pupil, and work toward it? Do you have a sense of responsibility toward your pupils? Do you encourage them to ask questions and express themselves? Do you help and encourage creative work? Do you always praise or reward sincere effort of any sort? Do you go out of your way to help and to advise pupils? Do your pupils voluntarily come to you for advice and conference? Do you especially like children? Are you genuinely interested in your pupils? Are you acquainted with the parents of your pupils, and do you occasionally visit
their homes? Do you receive parents? cooperation in securing adequate preparation for lessons? Do you greet your pupils with a cheerful smile? Do you often laugh and joke with them? Are you fair-minded, giving every pupil a square deal? Are you sympathetic? Do you honestly try to see things from the pupil's viewpoint? Do the lesson periods pass quickly? Do you accept obstacles and hard knocks as a challenge? When your path is blocked by some difficulty, do you devise a way of overcoming it? Are you constantly on the alert for new teaching material and new methods? Po you spend at least an hour a day in study and practice? Do you take advantage of master classes or work-shops that come to your region? Do you take at least one music course each year on subjects in which you need
brushing-up? Do you have at least five informal student recitals each year? Do you honestly try to hold your interest in the less talented pupils, working
with them as hard as you do with the more gifted ones? Are you a member of any organization of music teachers, or do you have teacher
friends with whom you discuss mutually helpful matters? Do you constantly vary the teaching material you use?
(from a personal evaluation test compiled by Guy Maier for piano teachers) to be continued next month
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Two Unusual Lenten Anthems
The Bird of Christ — Ross — H. W. Gray 1626 (unison on the melody; omit soprano solo)
Holy, holy, holy; Christ upon the Cross; My little nest is near, hidden in the moss.
Holy, holy, holy; come near, 0 wee brown bird, Christ spoke, and lo, I lighted upon the Living Word.
Holy, holy, holy: I heard the mocking scorn; But holy, holy, holy, I sang against a thorn.
Holy, holy, holy: Christ's bird shalt thou be, Thus spake the dying Savior, there on Calvary.
Holy, holy, holy, a wee brown bird am I, But my breast is ruddy, for I saw Christ die.
(the melody is easy to learn, but it must be sung with imagination to match the text)
Ex Ore Innocentium — Ireland — Boosey and Hawkes H. 15698
It is a thing most wonderful, almost too wonderful to be, That God's own Son should come from heavIn, and die to save a child like me. And yet I know that it is true: He chose a poor and humble lot, And wept, and toiled, and mourned, and died, For love of those who loved Him not.
I sometimes think about the Cross, and shut my eyes, and try to see The cruel nails, and crown of thorns, and Jesus crucified for me. But even could I see Him die, I should not see a little part Of that great love, which, like a fire, is always burning in His heart.
And yet I want to love Thee, Lord; 0 light the flame within my heart, And I will love Thee more and more, Until I see Thee as Thou art.
(unison, but fairly difficult)
Quiz
What is the origin of the word Easter? How long have people celebrated Easter? Why do people wear new clothes on Easter? Is there a reason for the custom of coloring Easter eggs? How is Easter Sunday determined? Why is it a movable feast? Do other people besides Christians celebrate Easter?
(Read the article on Easter in Encyclopedia Britanica for the answers.)
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Music for Lent and Easter
Legend - Tschaikowsky - Neil Kjos 8258 fine translation, good print All Glory, Laad and Honor - Bach - Oxford Univ. Press No, 17a
(wi•hh organ accompaniment as in the Bach Cantata No, 95 Aurora Coelum Purpurat - Yon - J. Fischer: brilliant and big Alleluia of the Bells - Marryott - H. W. Gray; sa or sab: spirited, good for H.S. Alleluia, Christ is Risen - Gillette - Kjos: 5085 children with easy satb
fine effect with simple means All Hail to Christ, our King - Rawls - J. Fischer 8533 Palm Sunday An Easter Carol - Holier - Gray 1946 nice effect, strong melody Come ye faithful - Thatcher - Ox, Univ. Press EaII Easter Carol - McLain - Edwin Morris Co, 1619 Broadway, N. Y. 4090 sal
joyous and singable Choruses for Easter-tide - Arthur Schmidt Co. 5 sa choruses .25 This Joyful Easter-tide - Somervell - Boosey and Co. No. 15 easy and joyous The Whole Bright World Rejoices - Hill - Gray 1861 easy, bright Song for Easter - Eichhorn - Gray 2057 excellent for children Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones - arr. Slater - Concordia Tr. 119
Easter Projects t .
Make small crosses from palm fronds, and let several of the children give them to the congregation as they enter the church on Palm Sunday.
Get a bulb and an individual pot for each child to water and tend. Plant in time for Easter blooming, Use the flowers in the Easter service and let the children give the flowers either to their mothers, or to some hospital or old-people's home.
Have an Easter egg coloring party.
Let the children sing at the sunrise service, and hold an Easter breakfast for them afterwards.
Make a sand-table model of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives
Study the events of Holy Week. Guide the children in preparing a booklet, with the events, a scripture reading, and a prayer for each day of Holy Week.
Learn appropriate Holy Week hymns Palm Sunday
All glory, laud and honor - Teschner Hosanna, loud hosanna - Hartig's Vollstandige Sammlung
Gethsemane Into the woods my Master went - Lutkin
Last Supper Bread of the world in mercy broken - Hodges or Franz
Crucifixion 0 sacred Head now wounded - Hassler Bach I bind my heart this tide - Conant
Easter Christ the Lord is risen today - Lyra Davidica The strife is o'er - Palestrina
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Diary of a Choir
Attendance just doesn't hold up. In spite of the prospect of choir pins, and the interest in their notebook material, only a nucleus of the choir is dependably regular. This is proof to me that the cooperation of the parents is absolutely essential; and it can be done, even in a choir with as mixed a background as this one.
The enthusiasm over rhythm work is amazing. The progress and increased assur-ance are noticable at each rehearsal. Must be partly because we have added only one thing at a time, and kept repeating (with variations) the things they could do fairly well. Besides, it gives them a chance to do something alone. Saturday we introduced dotted notes. Around the room we went with running j and limping steps . Rhythm travels best from the feet to the head, rather than the other way around.
We're developing some notion of tone. Played a recording of two English boys singing Brother James Air. They listened attentively, and the first question was "Was that just two boys, or a whole choir?" This was the chance to work on tone projection. With their minds on the job, they got quite a clear, ringing tone. They liked the sound of it - their expressions said so. Then we tried to put that same tone quality in a song. It wasn't nearly as good as the arpeggios had been, but a good deal better than it had ever been before.
We've finished all the useful stories in "Wington", and I've learned something about childrens stories since. 1. They must be short. 2. Within the experience or imagination of the children. 3. In their phraseology. "Peter, the Adventures of a boy chorister" left them figiting. Palestrina from "The Boyhood of Great Musicians" was no better until fate played into our hands, and brought a model of St. Peter's in Rome to the city. We're going down to see it after rehearsal next week. And instead of reading the stories about the great musicians, we're playing Musical Sherlock Holmes. I tell them the story and then ask them questions to see if they are good detectives. You should hear them snap back at me that Palestrina got his name from his home town; that he was born in 1524; that he was a composer and a choirmaster; the kind of music he wrote is called polyphony; polyphony is several different melodies going on at the same time. We experimented with a little polyphony of our own - namely, Three Blind Mice. We had some trouble with it, and wondered how people could manage some of Palestrina's music that has 8 or 10 melodies all going at the same time. Next week we'll play some polyphonic music. Everybody is excited about going to see the model of St. Peter's, and we've invited the other Juniors to go along. You'd think we were actually going to Rome.
Discipline just doesn't stay put. Sent Mickie out of the room today because he persisted in talking. It doesn't pay to get irritated to that extent. Publicly disciplining a child doesn't improve his attitude, nor your own, and it disturbs the rehearsal more than the whispering. We'll have to come to an understanding of what each one has a right to expect of the other. "I have to try as hard as I can to interest you, and you have to try as hard as you can to be interested." Fact of the matter is - I hadn't prepared that rehearsal as carefully as I should have.
Well, we went to Rome today, and had a wonderful trip. And we know about three phony kinds of music: monophony, polyphony, and homophony. Mickie is a traffic patrol at his school, so he was put in charge of the procession down to the exhibit. He was most efficient and business-like about it, and used good judgment at the street corners. I made it a point to compliment him.
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All in the Family
Mrs. Richard Smith, Lima, Peru. "Although I have no immediate use for this material now, I do want to keep abreast with the latest ideas, and found the Letters so inspirational that I do not want to be without them. There are two English speaking churches here, an Episcopalian (very British high church) and the Union church which we attend. It is inter-denominational, with 40 denominations represented and people from 32 countries attending. A young minister from Kentucky has just came, a very fine man."
Ruth Rudebock, Walden, N. Y. "Please donut let us let the Choristers Guild expire. There is literally no place else to turn for inspiration and encouragement. (And she enclosed a check for $5.00 to help keep it going.)
Mrs. R. Y. Ellison, Miami, Fla. "The enclosed $10.00 is really a personal contri-bution to the Guild, but since that amount will take care of a membership for my church, I would appreciate your crediting the church. I hope you will receive generous response to your appeal for funds." (So do I.)
Mrs. J. L. Steffensen - Corona del Mar, California: "It is a pleasure to enclose 10.00 from our church for a membership in the Guild. - Here are two ideas I have used successfully: a choir mothers, coffee hour twice a year, where they sign up for different jobs like telephoning, robing, etc. and second: a music circle in the Womans Fellowship whose purpose is to assist the choir program. They have raised money for Robes, and are now planning to buy candelabra for our special services."
Ruth Turner,L Texarkana Ark. presented "Thirty Minutes with the Pilgrims" as a prologue to the Community Thanksgiving Service, held in the Paramount theatre.
The Choristers Guild is pleased that so many members have sent in preliminary estimates on the number of pins they will need. With this information it will be possible, we hope, to fill your orders without delay.
Correction. In listing the various denominations last month, we somehow missed the Protestant Episcopal Church, which has 12 Guild members.
Mrs. Charles Melvin, Portland, Oregon called my attention to the oversight. She also writes: "In my choir I have 41 girls, with 9 on the waiting list. Two of those 9 attend rehearsals regularly, and act as alternates, singing when any of the others whose vestments they fit are absent. They range from the 5th grade up thru and including seniors in high school. They work beautifully together. Our rector, who is a fine singer himself, sets a very high standard for us, I'm happy to say; and their singing and chanting must be every bit as good as that of the senior choir."
A Cause, not a Charity is the Choristers Guild. And because it is a Cause in which you share a common responsibility as constructive church musicians, we urge your support. Since the announcement, last month, of our urgent needs, three gifts have come in. This month there should be thirty-three. Remember what the vision of the Christ said to Sir Launfal? "He who gives of himself feeds three: himself, his hungering neighbor, and Me." Permit yourself the joy of giving rather than getting.
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1111.11•11•••••••••11011.1.0 Primary Choir Rehearsal
11 3
1. Five tones up and down on ma: moo Arpeggios on ha: ho
2. Sing the songs that they have learned so far
3. Introduce a new song by Bach
4. Learn meaning of word "composer" — one who writes music Introducing the three Bts.
Repeat: Bach, Beethoven, Brahms; in unison and in rhythm
5. Flash cards. Divide the class into two contesting sides. Instruments of the orchestra Instruments of the orchestra: name instrument and family to which it belongs
6. Picture of a little boy with three kittens What shall we name the little boy? They make up a little poem about the kittens. They make up a tune to go with the poem.
7. Another picture: same procedure
8. Clapping note values: always demonstrate first.
Rhythms and Note—values for the Junior Choir --------
At the close of the rehearsal give each child a card with a simple rhythmic pattern on it, and a number. At the next rehearsal copy the same patterns and their respective numbers on the board. Each child taps his rhythm. A prize to the one recognizing the largest number of patterns.
1111.1111.11,11••••• Just a Taste 11,M••••••101110
"I am inclined to think that if we could suppress most elementary school music education for twenty years, not only church music, but all music in this country might benefit."
"--that incredible stupidity which refuses to admit or to encourage in children the one faculty in which they are supreme, the faculty of imagination."
"--that dearest common heritage of childhood, the capacity to create and to live in a world beyond their senses."
"Music, of all subjects, offers the greatest opportunity for the training of the imagination."
"Beauty, mystery, religion, music: the thread which runs through all these words, the element which they possess in common, is imagination."
"The ultimate motive power -- in religion is the sense of importance. It takes the various forms of wonder, of curiosity, of reverence, of worship, of tumultuous desire for merging personality in something beyond itself."
If you want to read a provocative book on church music that will either provoke you to thought or just provoke you, read --
Church Music — Illusion and Reality by Archibald Davison — Harvard University Press 6
HOW BIG
is your world of experiences and memories?
Are you interested in an opportunity to make it
/ ? Do you want to visit the great cathedrals of England
Winchester, Salisbury, Gloucester, Westminster Abbey, Canterbury
? ? Sail down the Rhine, past its village churches and castles
? ? Revel in the incomparable beauty of the Swiss Alps
? ? Taste the romance of Italy Venice, Milan, Lake Garda, Florence, Pisa, Genoa, Rome
? ? Hear the bells in Malines, the city of bells
? ? Have a private recital on the great organ at Basle
? ? Hear a Catholic Mass at Notre Dame in Paris
? ? Visit Geneva, the cradle of Protestantism
? ? See the sunlight through the magnificent windows at Chartres
? ? Spend seven weeks of exciting travel with a small group of kindred spirits
? ? Enjoy the relaxation and the food on an ocean voyage
Then write your name and address and interested" on a card and send it to me promptly. There is no time to dilly-dally.
CHILDRENS CHOIR SUMMER SCHOOL
Columbia Seminary Decatur, Georgia
August 12 - 19
Tuition - $17.50 Board and room per week -$17.50 payable upon application payable upon arrival
Information - Inspiration - Fun - Fellowship Demonstration Choir Air-conditioned class-room
L Come yourself, and bring someone else along
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Christian Character through Childrens Choirs Volume 4. No. 7 March 1953
Ruth Krehbiel Jacobs 204 N. Second Street Memphis 3, Tennessee
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IN THE VANGUARD
About two years ago, Howard Swan, a very successful Los Angeles Church musician, predicted that the time would come when the determining factor in getting a church position would be onets ability to work with children. Very few people believed him then, but from the vantage point of the Guild office, we can see that time coming -and coming rapidly. And here is some of the evidence.
1. The increasing number of childrens choirs, and youth choir festivals through-out the country. Diapason, the official publication of A. G. O. has frequent reports on such events, whereas, only a few years ago, there was seldom a mention of childrens choirs.
2. The increasing demand for full-time ministers of music, capable of working with children as well as adults.
3. The interest in special training courses in childrens choir methods. The Guild summer schools, devoted entirely to youth choirs, attract both volunteer and professional directors in increasing numbers.
4, The interest and the sense of destiny of those attending is steadily mount-ing.
5. One denomination, the Southern Baptist, has appointed a national music director with a staff of assistants, and has full-time music supervisors in 13 states.
6. The yeast-like growth of the Guild. Without publicity or advertising, we have grown steadily. Last September there were only 150 paid memberships. This has grown to 600, and every day brings requests for membership.
As a member of the Guild, and a childrens choir director, you are in the VANGUARD. But unless you constantly improve your methods, and increase your knowledge, the procession will overtake you, and pass you by.
You must base your work on sound educational principles.
You must give increasing time and thought to your work.
You must keep in touch with new methods and materials.
You must widen your circle of related interests.
You must be willing to experiment - and to share.
ANIMATED FAIRY TALES
There were so many inquiries about Bob McGill's Animated Fairy Tales that I asked him for a report. This is it.
We are acting three fairy tales that everyone knows or that is a familiar story to everyone. The first will be The Shoemaker and the Elves, followed by Little Black Sambo. The characters in this and in 'Peter and the Wolfe all come from my Junior and Intermediate choirs (ages 9 to 13). The first two tales will be read aloud by an adult and the boys and girls will act out the story as he reads. Sound effects in this will be supplied backstage by anything we can think of to do the trick. Costumes, for the most part, will be rented from New York. For 'Peter and the Wolfe we are getting honest-to-goodness animal costumes with fur, hair and all. We are using the record to tell the tale and provide music and sound effects. Our staging is being done by the high school choir under supervision. We shall have real props such as trees, small house, fence, etc. At the moment we are trying to devise a mechanism whereby the bird can actually fly - it is taxing the imagination and ingenuity of all of us. The children are most enthusiastic about this, and we are planning to make it nothing short of a professional job. A lady in the church who is good at such things is helping me direct it, and the rehearsal schedule is something to behold, but the parents now know that I'm a stinker for perfection and hard work, and that it pays off, so they are willing to let the kids come.
I got my idea from seeing "The King and I" in New York. In that, they acted out the story of Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Of course we are charging for this. We shall present an evening performance for adults and older children and a matinee for children 12 years old and younger. We are using the entire group of choristers.
Believe me this is exciting. I who always vowed I'd stick to "music in the chancel" am finding this great fun, and something I shall never NOW stop doing."
VARIATIONS ON THE SAME THEME
The children of Joel Chandler Harris School in Atlanta dramatized the Uncle Remus Tales for the Story Book Fair at one of the large down-town stores. Margaret Kendrick and Dorothy Guy were in charge, but the children had a hand in planning the episodes, and making the scenery. Some 90 children were transported to the store to take part in the performance.
Mrs. Phillips of the First Baptist Church in Texarkana let her choir children create musical plays on Old Testament stories. Not only did everyone have a good time, but the plays were actually GOOD.
JUNIOR NATURE SERMONS
In looking for a successor to Wingtoes I finally came upon "Junior Nature Sermons" by Sessler, published by Fleming H. Revell Co. The sermons are very short and are drawn from interesting and unusual facts of nature. We started using them last Saturday, and the children responded well.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Julie Hanson Stine, Minneapolis has an article on childrens choirs "And A Child shall lead them', in the Feb. issue of News Bulletin, A Lutheran publication.
Elaine Brown. Temple University has an invitation for her University choir to sing at the International Music Educators Conference in Brussels, Belgium in June. The Choir is giving a series of concerts to help finance the trip.
Viola Worrell. First CongregationalLILLgE220121u_gaujA has been busy this winter planning a series of dedicatory servaCeifozehanOel and educational facilities, pulpit and communion table, the lectern, chancel arch and chancel rail, the chancel cross, choir seats and hymnals, and a family fellowship service.
Barbara Tuttle, First Presbyterian, Elizabeth, N. J. "Our choirs are planning a program sometime in April or May for the benefit of the Guild." (Wonderful news)
Mrs. Theodore Brown. Atlantic Union Collsge, S. Lancaster, Mass. "You might be interested to know we enjoyed doing Dvorak's "God is my Shepherd" in the Junior Choir. I used different age groups in different parts to vary the color - all unison except in 2 or 3 short sections sa.
George Litch Knight, Ridgewood, N. J. "We did "Brother James Air" and had the 90 children in the gallery sing the melody in the third stanza where the sopranos and altos are singing something else. It made a lovely effect to have the melody coming from the tenors in the choirloft and from the gallery as well."
Charles Fisher First Methodist, Westfield, N.J. in spite of weather and flu can report the following attendance records for January: Jr. Girls - 98%, Sanctuary -97%, Crusaders - 92%, Chapel - 90%, Wesley Boys - 89%, Youth - 85%, Jr. Boys - 83%.
Mrs. B. M. Arington' Glade Spring, Va. "This year I've lost several boys who are the oldest and best reained. Do you suppose they were afraid their voices would change before the year was up? Three of them really have. I have one boy who still sticks even though his voice has changed. He lacks only until the end of the year finishing his third year and getting a second pearl. He doesn't sing, but comes regularly, memorizes all music, words, and scripture, and encourages the other boys to come. Thanks for the Symbolism in the Letters. Are you acquainted with "We Gather Together" by Grace MoGavran? It is a book of little stories, true for the most part. There is one story "The Language of Symbols." Are you reading James Sydnor's articles on Congregational Singing in the Presbyterian Outlook? Last Fall my choir boys studied the life of Jan Sibelius. They concluded their study by sending him a greeting for his Dec. 8th birthday. Imagine my surprise the other day to have a letter addressed to the Glade Spring Choir Boys, and signed in Jan Sibelius's own handwriting. We are now studying the life of Handel."
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Mrs. Ruth Knannlein Bethlehem Evan. Lutheran Church, Indianapolis "We need some good exercises to help breath control. Also the sopranos in the H.S. choir do not have enough volume or vitality to their tone. Does anyone else have the same trouble." (Who has a suggestion for Mrs. Knannlein?)
One of our Family was sufficiently aroused by the quotation from "Church Music, Illusion and Reality" in the Feb. Letter, to register violent protest. I hope others, particularly church musicians, will be sufficiently incensed to read the book.
Alice Hewlett, First Lutheran, Glendale, Calif. writes that for on Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday and Easter her choirs will sing: The Palms - Faure, arr. Howorth sab Bolwin 0 Savior of the World - Pears arr. Riogger Harold Flamer Collection Vol. I Christ the Lord is Risen Today - Young - Anthems for Youth Choir Vol. I,
Westminster Press Sing to the Son of David - Rawls - J. Fischer Come Ye Faithful - Thatcher - Carl Fischer Hosanna be the Children's Song - Hymns for Primary Worship - Westminster Press
Mirror, Mirror, Tell Me True
Do you plan your rehearsal one week in advance? Do you try to find the individual needs of your students; or put them all through the same routine? Do you teach convincingly, authoritatively, being able to back up your statements with sound reasons? Do you insist on musical quality, whether in exercise or song? In your criticism, do you first speak of the good features, and when pointing out defects, show clearly how they can be remedied? Do you emphasize the imaginative qualities of the music, by frequent word-pictures of the mood of the piece? Do you make it a point to teach some musical fact or term at each rehearsal? Do you devote a part of each rehearsal to some musical activity or rhythmic game? Do you originate or try out new methods of teaching - do you experiment? Do you let your children hear good music at each rehearsal? Do you insist that all anthems sung publicly, be done as musically as possible, and from memory?
(Guy Maier's personal evaluation test) continued from last month
LET'S HAVE A PARTY
Party Planning Made Easy would be a good sub-title for "The Junior Party Book" by Bernice Carlson. It gives full instructions for 24 widely varied parties -invitations, decorations, games, refreshments. All of them are unusual and interest-ing, and easy and inexpensive to carry out. The book is published by Abingdon-Cokes-bury Press, and is well worth the price - $2.00.
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171
PRIMARY CHOIR METHODS
Now that we have come to the end of Mrs. Boyter's demonstration classes, you are on your own. By this time, let us hope that you have established a system of your own, but to keep you from feeling stranded in a cold and cruel world, we re-commend two books to use as guides in planning the first stages of group music education.
Discovering Music - Wadley and Allison - Boston Music Co. $1.50 The Child's Unfoldment Through Music - Knapp - Willis Music Co. $1.00
A CHILDREN'S HYMN FESTIVAL SERVICE
(All Hymn numbers refer to the 1933 Presbyterian Hymnal)
Prepared by the Reverend George Litch Knight, Assistant Minister of the West Side Presbyterian Church, Ridgewood, New Jersey. Editor of The Hymn, Quarterly magazine published by The Hymn Society of America. National Chairman of the Members' Interests Committee of the A. G. O.
ORGAN PRELUDE: "Prelude on 'Jewels'" Bitgood (Based on a familiar Sunday School Song of an earlier time)
PROCESSIONAL HYMN 411 "0 Beautiful for spacious skies"
CALL TO WORSHIP "0 come, let us worship and bow down...Surely the Lord is in this place. .And Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
COLLECT AND THE LORD'S PRAYER
EXPLANATION OF THE SERVICE THEME
"0 Sing a Song"
Based on Hymn Number 138 "0 Sing a Song of Bethelehem" By Dr. Louis F. Benson.
I. BETIELEHEM (Here the Minister reads some appropriate scripture) Hymn 138 Stanza 1 (Sung by a small group of singers in a gallery,
or separated from the rest of the choirs)
Hymn 454 "Once in Royal David's City" (Stanzas 1, 2)
Anthem: "0 Saviour Sweet" Bach-Dickinson (1st Stanza only, with Quartet or Adults taking Chorale)
Hymn 448 "The Shepherds had an Angel" (optional)
II. NAZARETH (Here the Minister reads some appropriate scripture)
Hymn 138 Stanza 2 (Sung as before --in unison)
Anthem: "By Nazareth's Green Hills" J. Frederick Bridge (Novello) (Can be arranged for children; also might have parts of it sung by adult group for contrast)
Hymn 140 Stanza 2 (um, to the tune Materna) (Good for boys to sing alone; might preface it with first stanza if desired)
Hymn 452 (optional) "Saviour, Teach me Day by Day"
III. GALILEE (Here the Minister reads some appropriate scripture)
Hymn 138 Stanza 3 (Sung as before)
Hymn 444 "It fell upon a summer's Day" (Sing as a dialogue)
Hymn 442 (optional) "I think when I read that sweet story"
IV. CALVARY AND EASTER
(Here the Minister reads some appropriate scripture)
Hymn 138 Stanza 4 (Sung as before)
Hymn 154 "Behold the Lamb of God" (Stanza 1 by a mixed Choir and Stanza 3 by the children alone in unison)
Anthem (optional) "While my watch I am keeping" Adapt from the Gounod "Redemption." Very good for boy choir solo.
Hymn 157 "There is a Green Hill" or Hymn 156 "0 Jesus, we adore Thee" (Latter good for atilt participating also)
Hymn 168 "Come, ye Faithful"
CLOSING PRAYER
RECESSIONAL HYMN 431 "Hark, hark my Soul" (My Junior Choirs' favorite hymn; they love "Angels of Jesus, etc.")
BENEDICTION
ORGAN POSTLUDE
Purpose is to have children see the Life of Jesus alb a unity; so often they think of disjointed parts--Christmas, Easter, etc., and do not see the thread of continu—ity which runs through from Bethlehem to Calvary. These suggestions should not literally be followed, but provide a basic skeleton for adaptation.
— 6 —
Igo
HOPEFUL SIGNS
The number of $10.00 Contributing Memberships already sent in for 1953-54 is a most encouraging sign of the growing group responsibility.
Plymouth Church - Miami, Florida First Presbyterian Church - Elizabeth, N. J. First Lutheran - Glendale, California Beal Heights Presbyterian - Lawton, Okla. First Presbyterian - Meridian, Mississippi Children's Music School - Atlanta, Ga. Palma Ceia Presbyterian - Tampa, Fla. First Baptist - Miami, Okla. Boston Ave. Methodist - Tulsa, Okla.
Mrs. R. Y. Ellison Barbara Tuttle Mrs. Alice Hewlett Mrs. Sherman Crawford Jean Maxwell Mrs. Haskell Boyter Mrs. Sydney Hutto Ervin Keathley Marvin Reecher
Some of these people made the contribution themselves in the name of their church. Others have persuaded the church authorities of their obligation to help promote the cause of childrens choirs beyond their own parish.
Besides these Contributing Memberships, outright gifts ranging from $1.00 to $40.00 have come in since the first of the year, from:
Dr. Whittlesey - Dallas, Texas Mrs. Brown - S. Lancaster, Mass. Naomi Earhart - Norwood, Ohio Margaret Imbach - South Pasadena, Calif. Viola Worrell - Old Greenwich, Conn. Mrs. Alberta Westby - Toledo, Ohio Marvin Reecher - Tulsa, Okla.
If every church represented in the Guild would become a Contributing Member in 1953-54, not only would it assure the paid help that the growth of the Guild necessitates, but bring closer the increased service the Guild is anxious to give you.
Pins
There are already tentative orders for almost 700 Choristers pins. We are having 700 new pins manufactured, and they will be ready for presentation at the close of the season.
Pins returned to us for the addition of pearls or guard should be in our hands by April 15. Since Spring is the rush season for emblem manufacturers, we must allow from a month to six weeks.
One way to avoid this delay would be to order new pins with the pearls or guard, and pass on the plain pins to those children who have completed their first year of service.
SUMMER SCHOOL FACULTY
Those members who attended the Lynchburg Summer School last August will be happy to know that both Dr. Newman and Mrs. Boyter are to be on the faculty again this summer at Decatur.
CHOIR STERSIGULD
j
Christian Character through Childrens Choirs Volume 4, No. 8 April 1953
Ruth Krehbiel Jacobs 204 N. Second Street Memphis 3, Tennessee
THE PRINCE OF PEACE
There lives at this time in Judea a man of singular virtue whose name is Jesus Christ, whom the barbarians esteem as a prophet, but his follow.. ers love and adore him as the offspring of the immortal God * He calls back the dead from the grave and heals all sorts of diseases with a word or touch * He is a tall man, well shaped, of an amiable, and reverend as—pect, and his hair of a color that can hardly be matched, falling in grace—ful curls, waving about and very agreeably touching upon his shoulders, parted on the crown of his head, running as a stream to the front fashioned after the Nazarites * His forehead high, large, and imposing; his cheeks without spot or wrinkle and beautiful with a lovely red; his nose and mouth formed with exquisite symmetry; his beard of a color suitable to his hair, reaching below his chin and parted in the middle like a fork; his eyes bright blue, clear and serene, look innocent and dignified, manly and mature * In proportion of body, most perfect and captivating, his arms and hands are most delectable to behold * He rebukes with majesty, counsels with mildness, and his whole address, whether in word or deed, being eloquent and grave * No man has seen him laugh . . yet his manners are exceedingly pleasant, but he has frequently wept in the presence of men * He is temperate, modest and wise; a man for his extraordinary beauty and divine perfection •surpassing the children of men in every sense.
THIS DESCRIPTION OF JESUS CHRIST WAS WRITTEN BY PUBLIUS LENTULUS, PRESIDENT OF JUDEA IN THE REIGN OF TIBERIUS CAESAR, TO THAT MONARCH IN ROME AND WAS FIRST SEEN IN THE WRITINGS OF SAINT ANSELM OF CANTERBURY IN THE ELEVENTH CENTURY.
This Matter of Discipline
Several weeks ago, I visited one of Dr. Whittlesey's rehearsals in Dallas, and tried to discover the reasons for his amazing discipline. It was an extra rehearsal of about 50 boys and girls of Junior High age. They came in, took their places, and waited quietly (without one poke or giggle) for the rehearsal to begin. At the opening signal, a tone on th chime, everyone, without excep-tion, straightened up and was at attention. Such discipline doesn't just happen. The ability to get it is either a gift or an achievement. With Dr. Whittlesey, I think it is a natural gift, but for most of the rest of us to attain such an orderly rehearsal would be an achievement. And so, for us less gifted directors, I tried to probe the qualities that made it possible. They might be summarized into the four P's: poise, prevention, and purpose, and for lack of a better word -politeness.
Dr. Whittlesey doesn't speak of his kids; the boys are addressed as gentle-men. Nor does he shout and rail at them. If he ever did, he would have to for-feit his most valuable quality -:poise, Whenever we get angry enough to interrupt a rehearsal to reprimand a child, that child has taken charge.
I came in before starting time; some of the children were already in their places, and Dr. Whittlesey was standing quietly at the piano. Everything was in order; there was no last minute housekeeping to distract him from the immediate job of conducting a rehearsal in which every minute counted for something gained.
I am sure that Dr. Whittlesey works on the theory that prevention is better than cure. The children were to leave their coats in the hall, and pick up their bulletins and hymnals at the door. Those who forgot were reminded before they got to their seats. Every detail of the service was rehearsed: how to stand, where to put their hymnals, how to hold the head and hands, and there was no levity or deviation. The service was to be televised, and this rehearsal of minute detail was to eliminate any chance for distraction.
Attention to detail can become picayune unless it fits into the pattern of an over-all purpose, and it is obvious that the purpose of this man is synonomous with dedication. As leaders in public worship every member of every choir must be willing to give his very best - not occasionally, but habitually. And because he himself exemplifies that kind of dedication, the children have no choice but to follow.
If the children think of discipline as something forced upon them by the whim of the director, there will never be any discipline. But if discipline means behavior demanded by the importance and dignity of the office they fill, and exemplified by the director - then there's hope.
It might seem from this report that a sense of humor in a choir director is a mortal sin. Not so. And Dr. Whittlesey knows too how to teach with a smile. Turn to the last,page of this letter for evidence. When I commented on his "Process with Finesse" he offered to have some printed for the Guild. He was a little taken aback at the necessity of furnishing 650 of them, but came across in true Texas style. Perhaps when he thinks of his art work dis-played to 650 choirs in 650 choir rooms, he will feel repaid for his Generous Gesture.
••••••••••••
i-J
Choir Diary
The millennium is not yet here - Sunday behavior is not perfect by any means, and some of the children are still not convinced that Saturday
/means Saturday, not Sunday. Two girls could not sing Sunday because they were not able to repeat the words of their song Saturday - in spite of due warning. And they reacted differently. Donna came back the next Saturday with her words memorized for two weeks hence. Shirley didn't appear at all.
Life /i is never dull in a childrens choir. Rather that scold Mickie and Rusty
1 -IN publicly for misbehaving in the service, I called a special meeting ; of all the boys after rehearsal. I hadn't counted on the curiosity of the girls. The boys played up of course, and implied that a very special ' .N‘ (2,: club (for boys only) was "in the make'. That was too much, so the next -Saturday. morning before rehearsal, Mr. Jacobs was called into a very -. special conference with half a dozen of the girls -
secret. The net result of the boys conference was that real offender, came up with a plan for improv-
not have an army plan, like the Scouts have. (' (1' Sundays gets to be a Sergeant, and so
t:e4 try Mickie9s plan, mainly because
give himq4 •' the job of making the chart and 7
There are three sets of twins in the choir, and two of the sets look exactly alike. We took a picture of them in their vestments, and the Press-Scimitar used it along with a story about the confusion caused by not knowing who's who.
Now that we are singing so frequently, we've neglected our note and rhythm work. But we did try an experiment Saturday. Our processional hymn for Palm Sunday is Hosanna, Loud Hosanna, and we introduced it by using it as a rhythm exercise. The staff confused the children but when I wrote the same rhythm on the board it
ri e ,4 0:elide; J
They were quite pleased with themselves when they discovered that three of the four phrases were exactly alike. The rhythmic patterns learned, Mr. Jacobs played the hymn while we clapped it. (Tympani section of the orchestra) Next we read the first stanza. I've found with this group that it is always best to get the words before we attempt to sing any song, because their reading is slaw. Then we sang and clapped it at the same time; gave ourselves two minutes to learn the first stanza; sang it again without our books; and by that time it was pretty well learned.
The Saturday before Easter, 're are going to surprise the children with an Easter Egg Hunt after rehearsal.
P.S. After Easter, I think I'll write the rhythmic pattern of all the songs the children have learned, on the board, and see how many they will recognize.
object, top Mickie, the only ing behavior. "Why Whoever is good for five on up." I'm tempted to it came from Mickie, and keeping the records.
was easy. j
Some More Test Questions (from Guy Maier's Self-rating QuestionaiDe)
Equipment and Management
Is your studio neat, clean, attractively and conveniently arranged? Is it well lighted? Are windows and doors adjusted to give the best possible ventilation? Is your general appearance - posture, dress, and so on - good? Is your voice musical, and do you enunciate clearly? Do you maintain an even disposition during the rehearsal? Are you there in time to arrange all materials before rehearsal? Do you start on time, and dismiss promptly? Do you avoid all interruptions during rehearsal? Do you have the right size chairs for the children? Do you keep your records, reports and roll book up to date? Do you have a bulletin board, well filled at all times with attractive
and interesting material? Does each child have a note-book? Do you keep good books and magazines on music in a prominent place,
always accessible to the children? Do you subscribe to one or two music magazines? Does your enrollment steadily increase? Does your work advertise itself?
? DO YOU TALK TOO MUCH ?
The April Coronet tells the story of a young mother who in order to avoid a very delicate operation had to maintain absolute silence for six weeks.
"I made my first discovery within two days: mothers talk too much. We besiege our children with an unremitting barrage of words, mostly ineffective."
How about us directors? At your next rehearsal check to see how much of what you say is really indispensible.
"Wear your hat and rubbers", I used to tell my son when I saw rain. He balked, and I insisted. This whole battle is by-passed now when I silently deposit his hat and rubbers next to his books."
Another version of Dr. Whittlesey's prevention policy.
It might be good practice for all of us to think twice before we speak -and then maybe not speak.
MOTHER'S DAY
The Mt. Hollywood Congregational Church in Los Angeles adds dignity to its Mothers Day celebration by making it A Festival of the Christian Home. The ser-vice includes a series of short talks on "What the Family Means to Me" by a father, a daughter, a son, and a mother. The minister speaks on "Religion in the Home", and all repeat the unison prayer:
"Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is sadness, joy. 0 Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."
7---------, -f-, Mrs. Hugh Porter, Union Theological Seminary. N. Y. "Have
e,131,Ez.,... just read through the last issue of the Guild Letter. Thought
, / .- \...) you might like to know of two books of sermons which Mrs. - ( 4,V,.. -;-, • , 1 ,' . . Bowie gave me - sermons which her husband gave during the
\ years he was rector of Grace Church - just in case anyone \ ,A
,:.;. / r- needs such material. I'm not sure they're still -) i • ,
%tt! available but here are the titles: _.,'
r ' IN I q1:-.: ''.--1-Jii Chimes and the Children
_....„ , \...)s - - eAr., i -
I by W. Russell Bowie (Fleming H. Revel Co.)
Sunny Windows .,/./ k • - -, , fr --4 i'.4A1/ c
.------,., Don't you think your readers would enjoy "The ---J Art of Teaching" by Gilbert Highet?" (A word to the wise: anything Mrs. Porter recommends is worth investigating.)
"../ Carroll Kelly. First Baptist Church. S. Boston.Va. had a Ceremony of Dedication and Awards, in which new choir vest-
ments were dedicated, and 64 Choristers pins awarded, for perfect attendance. Mrs. Laurel Watkins, Second Presbyterian Church. Evanston. Ill. used the
following numbers in a Vesper Service recently. Now Our Evening Winn Ascendeth - Dickinson: Gray No. 84
sa with solo and then unison Give Ear Unto Me - Marcello: Gray-Novello No. 1522 ss Lord God, We Worship Thee - Bach-Harts: Birchard No. 1270 sa God My Shepherd Walks Beside Me - Bach-Dickinson: Gray 216 unison 0 Clap Your Hands Together - Turner-Harts: Birchard No. 1273 sa Jerusalem - Parry: Schirmer No. 8110 unison Savior Hear Us We Pray - Brahms: FitzSimons sa
Mrs. Dana Wells„ Park Temple Methodist, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "Please count on our church for a $10.00 membership. You haven't heard from me before - not because I'm not interested - but becuase I'm terribly busy. I learn something from every Letter, and enjoy them immensely."
Jean Browne, Barton Hei4its Methodist Church, Richmond, Va. "Do you know of Margaret Applegarth's book - Missionary Stories for Children? They are told delightfully - some for primary and some for Juniors, and the titles capture interest too. Our children are enjoying them greatly."
Hattie Schatzman2„1716 Scott St., Covington, Ky. "We have decided that all the children in Church School should have good leadership in the period devoted to music in their departments. My assistant, a capable musician with a solo sopra-no voice, visits each department each Sunday. We call her the Traveling Music Teacher. The results are amazing. We had a combined program at Christmas; each department had a special number, and all the groups sang several carols together. The enthusiasm was contagious; the parents came, many of whom never attend any special meetings."
Walter Hewittl,Prospect Presbyterian Church, Maplewood, N. J. "Do you know the little unison anthem: 'Little Lamb' by Alison Demarest? A lovely little number for childrens choir. Canyon Press, 132 Beekman St. N. Y."
Marvin Reecher, Boston Ave. Methodist Church, Tulsa, Okla. made a profit of more than $1700.00 on his Choir Jubilee.
Fred Holler. First Methodist Church, Baton Rouge. La. writes that his church is planning to send seven people to the Atlanta Summer School.
Hubert Taylor, Central Presbyterian Church. Atlanta, Ga. sends a certifi-cate to babies born to church members, inviting them to become members of the 1957 Cherub Choir.
S«,
GUILD NEWS
During the non gifts ranging from $1.00 to $5.00 were received fr
Arthur Hatch, Passa'c, New Jers Mrs. G. W. Jacobs, De atur, Georgi Mrs. Mildred Raney, Os rne, Kansas Carroll Kelly, South Bo- on, Virginia Irene Moore, Deep River, 'onnecticut Sara Newport, Lafayette, Louisiana Mrs. Williams, Norfolk, Virginia Mrs. Alberta Westby, Toledo, Ohio
Contributing Memberships received during March
Mrs. Hattie Schatzman, Covington, Kentucky Rev. George Litch Knight, West Side Presbyterian Church,
Ridgewood, New Jersey Mrs. Ruth Floyd, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts Spurgeon Memorial Church, Norfolk, Virginia (Mrs. Irey
Williams) Crown Heights Methodist Church, Oklahoma City, Okla.
(James Camp) Westminster Presbyterian Church, Beaumont, Texas (Mrs. E.D.
Fredrick)
JUST THINK what we could do if every 1952-53 member became a CONTRIBUTING MEMBER IN 1953-54.
Pins, Pins, Pins, Pins, Pins
Please enclose your check with your order for pins. It will save us a great deal of time and trouble, if you do.
$1.00 each for plain pin ($1.25 for less than 10) $1.00 for each pearl $1.00 for the guard
If you return pins to have pearls set in them, please allow us a month for delivery.
SUMMER SCHOOL
Who's planning to be in Decatur August 12-19? The Faculty is Tops
The Costs are Low The Classes are Planned to give you
Just What You Need to put you to work in the Fall with New Energy, Enthusiasm and Knowledge
You will learn a lot, but what's more You will Have Fun doing it. Plan your vacation to include
The Childrens Choir School at Columbia Seminary, Decatur, Ga.
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Christian Character through Children's Choirs Vol. 4, No. 9. May, 1953
Ruth Krehbiel Jacobs 204 N. Second Street Memphis 3, Tennessee
CAUSE and EFFECT
The Cause * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dear Mrs. Jacobs,
We are planning to use the Choristers pins this year. How should they be awarded? Is any service for such an occasion available?
The Effect * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Service of Consecration
(Written 20 years ago by Dr. Shepherd Knapp for the presentation of awards at Cen—tral Congregational Church, Worcester, Mass.)
Charge to the Choirs, by the Minister You are called to your work in the worship of the Church of Christ, not only by your fellow—Christians, but by the voice of God Himself. He needs you, to lift men's hearts to Him in prayer and praise, to give to truth the strong wings of feeling, to stir our human consciences to new energy, to send men forth to live in hope and faith and Christlike love. Above all else, and as the indispensible foundation of all your service, do you take Jesus Christ for the Leader and Inspirer of your lives, and pledge to God, your Father, your ardent devotion to the building of His kingdom and the doing of His will?
The Answer of the Choirs I pledge to God my devotion. Then the choirs sing the first stanza of "I bind my heart this tide."
The Minister Today our choirs bring to a happy close another year of service, and already they are looking forward to the year ahead. I call upon them now, as presently I call upon you all, to consecrate themselves anew to Christ's service.
Choirs of Church, once more I set your own ideals before you, the ideals given you from the beginning by your leader, and by you loyally adopted and striven for: Steady musical improvement., including readiness to do anything that will advance your musical standards, constant fidelity to the meaning of all the music studied, and dissatis-faction with any but the highest attainable results; The Establishment of true fraternit amon all the members of the rou•• a Deepening love of all beauty; fuller understanding and wider sympathy, as the true basis of song; and the acceptance of this fourfold personal responsibility: responsibility... to the work, in regularity, honest effort, sincerity, cooperation; responsibility to the choir, in consideration for all others in the group; responsibility to yourselves, in holding yourself firmly to your best; res4onsibilitto the church, in seeking for yourselves the experience of reverence, of worship, of devotion, which you would inspire in others. I call upon you now to renew your pledge of loyalty to this ideal, Taking it as your guide, will you give yourself and all your powers to the service of God both in His House, and for your Fellow Man?
The Answer of the Choirs I pledge myself to the service of God both in His House, and for my Fellow Man. Then the choirs sing the first stanza of "Now I resolve with all my heart."
Presentation of Awards The minister of music takes his place beside the minister in the chancel. As the minister of music reads the names of the choir members, they come forward to receive the award from the hands of the minister, who says, "In the name of this church which you have served with distinguished faithfulness, I give you this award." The choir members remain at the chancel steps until all awards have been made, whereupon the minister offers a prayer of dedication.
Minister In the worship of the church, the spirit and purpose of the worshippers in the pews is no less important than the spirit and purpose of the choirs in the chancel. When Sunday after Sunday, the people of the church come, truly seeking God, truly opening their hearts to Him, truly giving themselves to be moved by His spirit, eager not only to enter into vital fellowship with Him, but to share that experience with all who have come with them into the House of God, then does the worship of that church become indeed a reality, a vital moving force. Therefore in our final pledge of loyalty and devotion let all join who call Church their church. To the challenge which I shall voice, let us reply in the words of the hymm "I bind my heart this tide."
All rise
Worshippers of Church, by your faithful and reverent participation in the worship of this church will you help to make it a true house of prayer? Taking Jesus Christ as the Leader of your lives, and making His ideal of faith and love the guide of your spirits, will you seek to draw all who enter here into oneness with God?
Congregational hymn "I bind my heart this tide"
Prayer and Benediction
110
Guy Maier's Self Evaluation Test (Concluded)
Do your pupils attend class regularly, and on time? Is the routine of passing music, etc. so organized to be done without delay
or confusion? Do you make use of your blackboard at each period? Do you keep each child busy all the time? Do you give some ear-training, harmony or rhythmic drill at each period? Do you call on children frequently for their own criticism of the work? Do you pleasantly insist on strict discipline and good behavior in class? Do you give time outside the class to pupils who need extra help? Is your procedure so carefully planned that all the necessary work is covered
in each period?
A CAE/AT STORY ABOUT A GREAT EVENT This is Chicken Little. He's running to tell all the members of the Chancel Choir the sky is falling 1 You'll think the sky is falling when you hear this news - the Choir is about to have
,„.; that long over-due party - the one which was to be given the Tenors and Altos by the Sopranos and Basses along about Christmas time: Well, it's finally coming off. John Chapin is in charge
of plans and he reports that progress is being made. REALLY BEING MADE111
Oh, well - you don't have to believe it if you don't want to. But knowing John Chapin - we believe PROGRESS IS BEING MADE1
Clever isn't it. It's from the Central Chorister, Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta.
CAUSE and EFFECT
The Cause * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dear Mrs. Jacobs,
I am interested in procuring a list of slides or moving pictures that can be used in my Choir School.
Films on choir programs, church programs, the organ, and choral work.
Is there such a list for us Choirmasters?
The Effect * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Audio Visual Material for the Children's Choir available thru Methodist Publishing House, Nashville 2, Tenn.
Primary Children and their Homes around the World - Picture Set 1 sale - $1.00 When Jesus was a Boy - 35 Film strip: color sale - $5.00 Mexican Children - 16mm film rental - $1.50: also 35mm filmstrip, sale 42.50 Sumo, - 35mm filmstrip Story of an African boy sale - $3.00: rental - $1.50 Nonebah of the Navajos - 35mm rental - $1.50: sale - $3.00
-3 -
Your Family - 16mm rental - $3.00 Isaac of the Tents - 35mm color sale - $5.00 Making Home a Happier Place - 35mm sale - $3.00 Boys of the Southern Mountains - 35mm rental - $1.50: sale - $3.00 Sammy - 17 slides: color: Church of All Nations in New York: rental - $1.50 Josie - 21 slides: color: Church of All Nations in Los Angeles: rental-$1.50 Children at Worship Around the World - Picture Set: sale - $1.00
Junior Two Thousand Years Ago Series: The Home, The Day's Work, The School: Rental
$6.00 each One God - 16mm: The Catholic, the Protestant, The Jewish Way: rental - $10.00 The Story of Dr. Carver - 16mm sale - $2.50 The Greenie 16mm: rental - $3.00 (an imigrant boy finds new friends in America) Christmas Around the World - 40 frames: sound: sale - $10.00 Albert Schweitzer . 35mm: sale - $2.50 An End to Darkness - 16mm sound (Son of an African Chief, and Christian teach-
ing) rental - $8.00 People of the Congo - 16mm rental - $3.00 (shows crafts and musical instruments) Pygmies of Africa - 16mm rental - $3.00 Fire Upon the Earth - 16mm: color: rental - $10.00 (History of the Protestant
Church) The Story of the Christian Church - 35mm filmstrip: 53 frames sale - $3.00 Days of Wonder (full color nature film) with sound sale - $10.00 A Journey thru the Holy Land - (a sightseeing tour thru Palestine)
Jerusalem and its Holy Places; 64 frames sale - $6.00 The Holy Land from Nazareth to Jericho: 45 frames: sale - $6.00
Eastin Pictures, Davenport, Iowa. Instruments of the Orchestra: London Symphony, Malcolm Sargent. 16mm film: rental $2.50
Encyclopedia Brittanica Films, Inc. 20 N. Wacker Dr. Chicago, Ill. String Choir: Brass Choir: Woodwind Choir: Percussion 10 minute film each
For other music films and films of countries and peoples, customs and ways, consult Educational Film Guide, Annual Edition. Probably in your public library.
Catalogue of Vacation School Supplies, Costello Church Supplies, 303 South Main St., Memphis 3, Tenn.
Recordings
Educational Records Boston Music Co., 116 Boylston St., Boston 16, Mass.
Listening CU 106 Tubby, the Tuba - Danny Kaye $2.10 DU 90022 Nutcracker Suite - Fred Waring $2.10 YPR 311 The Wonderful Violin (for ages 7 to 11) $1.45 YPR 1007 The Emperor's New Clothes - Douglas Moore $2.90 YPR 409 The Chisholm Trail (for ages 7 to 11) $1.45 YPR 407 Stravinsky (ages 7 to 11) $1.45 YPR 710 The Bells of Calais (ages 2 to 6) $1.45 YPR 713 Circus Comes to Town (ages 2 to 6) $1.45 YPR 408 Music of Aaron Copeland (ages 7 to 11) $1.45 Y 357 Why the Chimes Rang $2.36 Y 345 Peter and the Wolf $2.36 Y 344 Pee-Wee, the Piccolo $2.36
I
E 88 Christmas Album Lilla Belle Pitts and Gladys Tipton $5.00 The Listening Program Lilla Belle Pitts and Gladys Tipton
each album - - $5.00 Primary Grades: E77, E78, E79 Upper Grades: E80, E81, E82
113
Rhythms
YPR 317 Country Dances - Mozart YPR 715 Waltzing Elephant (2 to 6) YPR 619 Little Indian Drum (2 to 6) E 89 Indian Album (elementary grades) Pitts and Tipton
The Rhythm Program Pitts and Tipton each album -
Primary Grades E71, E72, E73 Upper Grades E74, E75, E76
Singing Games
RR 4 Songs and Singing Games (5 to 8) E 87 Singing Games (primary grades) Pitts and Tipton Y 335 Singing Games (6 to 12)
Songs for Children
$411:4455 $1.45
$5.00 - $5.00
$2.36 $5.00 $1.31
J 26 CU 100 CU 101 CO S. 4 Y 337 YPR 404
$2.36 $2.10 $2,10 $2.36 $1.31
ages 7 to 11) $1.45 each album $5.00
Nursery Songs Mother Goose Songs Nursery Rhymes Sleep, Baby, Sleep (quiet music) Songs of the Zoo Letts All Join In (American Folk Songs. The Singing Program Pitts and Tipton
Rhythm Band Records
E 90
$5.00
1. Amaryllis - Old French Minuet in G - Paderewski
2. The Secret - Gautier Pirouette - Finck
3. Gavotte - Thomas Rendevous - Aletter
4. Rataplan - Donizetti Serenata - Moszkowski Waltz No. 5 - Koschat With Castanets - Reinecke Shadows - Schytte
The House of Brason, 945-947 West George Street, Chicago 14, Ill.
Young People's Records 10" 78 R.P.M. Standard Speed Unbreakable Records $1.24 each Age Group: 2 - 5
Dramatic Play 222 Hooray Today is Your Birthday 725 When I Grow Up 225 Twelve Days of Christmas 726 The Neighbor's Band 611 The Sleepy Family 728 Chugging Freight Engine 615 The Little Fireman 730 Singing in the Kitchen 619 Little Indian Drum 735 Little Grey Ponies 703 Little Brass Band 805 A Walk in the Forest 715 Waltzing Elephant 807 Happy Little Farmer 721 The Runaway Sheep 809 Three Little Trains
Activity Records 617 When the Sun Shines 701 Around the World 705 Happy Birthday 706 Trains and Planes 712 Rainy Day 713 Circus Comes to Town
Sound Records 501 The Magic Clock 601 Muffin in the City 603 Muffin in the Country
Age Group: 6 — 10 Fact and Folklore
403 Let's All Join In 404 Birth of Paul Bunyon 410 Jazz Band 425 Adventures of Daniel Boone
Music Masterpieces 313 Mozart Country Dances 317 Everybody Dances - Mozart 405 Folk Songs for Orchestra 431 Round and Round
Instrumental Series 309 Lentil and His Harmonica 311 The Wonderful Violin 411 Said the Piano to the
Harpsichor
714 Whoa Little Horses, Lie Down 718 Winter Fun 722 Sing-Along 724 Out-of-doors 729 More Playtime Songs 802 Letts Play Zoo
609 Penny Whistle 710 Bells of Calais 720 Music Listening Game
435 Little Hawk, the Indian Boy 438 Around the Campfire 504 Timber-r-r 508 Christopher Columbus
432 Concerto for Toys and Orchestra 1001 Haydn Toy Symphony 1003 Summer Day 1009 Rondo for Bassoon and Orchestra
421 The Hunter's Horn 407 Igor Stravinsky 408 Aaron Copeland
Magic Tone Records 10" 98O each 545 M6 Let's Go to the Circus M9 Children's Prayers - Children's
M15 Franz Schubert M21 Chopin for Children M23 Good Music Can Be Fun M24 Children's Songs of France
Record Guild of America 10" 490 R124 Play Games - Activity Songs
Lullabies
K113 Mexican Clap hands Music M25 Children's Songs of America M26 Children's Songs of Italy
R170 Marches for Children
Fifth Ave., New York 17, N. Y.
* Vox Records either 78 or 331/3 long-playing album - $4.00 VL2590 Johann Strauss - His Story and Music VL2570 Tschaikowsky - His Story and Music VL2550 Schumann - His Story and Music VL2540 Schubert - His Story and Music VL2520 Chopin - His Story and Music VL2510 Mozart - His Story and Music VL2500 Bach - His Story and Music
Haydn Society, Boston, Mass. $4.00 - long playing
* HSC -I Letts Listen to Haydn
Folkways Records and Service Corporation, New York City album - $4.45
*PF5 Songs to Grow On: Vol. 1
(l reported to be especially good)
Additional Educational Records
Music for Young Listeners - Silver-Burdette Co. blue, crimson and green albums (recommended by Rachel Ball, music teacher in the Dallas schools)
Unique Nature Study Record
Music and Bird Songs Comstock Publishing Associates $5.00 124 Roberts Place, Ithaca, N.Y.
You may have heard this record on the Sunday New York Philharmonic Broadcast, It gives the song of familiar birds, and then cuts them down to half, and quarter speed, to reveal the amazing range and intricate intervals of the songs. James Fassett is the commentator. This is a MUST in my catalogue.
10-inch, 33-1/3 r.p.m. record, two sides, on vinylite
Book-Of-the-Month Club, Children's Record Department, 345 Hudson St. New York 14. The Children's Record Guild was established to create musical materials designed to aid and encourage the young child to attain his maximum musical development. These materials are based on the latest and most authoritative knowledge in the fields of music education and child development. Two series: 2 to 5 years of age, and 6 to 8. Membership includes a booklet: "Your Child is Musical"
Anniversaries
Union Union Theological Seminary is celebrating it's 25th Anniversary this year. Graduates all over the country have been planning festival programs in honor of the occasion. Next season is the Fifth Anniversary of the Choristers Guild. If only half of our members honored the year with a Festival and Anniversary gift, we would be in a better position to meet the many opportu-nities for service that are opening before us.
Contributing Memberships for next season are coming in with gratifying regularity.
ORCHIDS for LYNCHBURG - the home of the first and only (so far) Choristers Guild Chapter. Their 15th annual Junior Choir Festival was held on April 19th. Does anyone know of an older festival? On March 8th, they held their first GYMANFA-GANU for Youth Choirs. The Welsh name was used to make a hymn-festival more attractive for high school people. The Gymanfa-Ganu was a rousing success.
—7
And orchids to Madeline Ingram, who Started the Festival Organized the Chapter Arranged for the Lynchburg Summer School
last year Taught without pay at both Green Lake and Lynehburg And offers to do the same in Atlanta in August. "A handful of pine-seed will cover mountains with the green majesty of forest. I too will set my face to the wind and throw my handful of seed on high."
* * * * * * * * *
Are you coming to Summer School? Of course you are. Mail your registration today.
The Seminary wants to know by June 1, about how many to expect.
Use the application in the enclosed folder.
8
Christian Character through Children's Choirs Vol. 4, No. 10 June, 1953
Ruth Krehbiel Jacobs 204 N. Second Street Memphis 3, Tennessee
This letter closes the fourth season for the Guild. Our fifth year should be somewhat of a celebration; and with all of us working together, it will be. The last page; is a renewal blank. Why not fill it out, and put it in the corner mailbcx totlay? Or better still, persuade your church to take a 1953-54 Contributing Membership.
This year you received about 100 pages of material thru the Letters. With your continued support, we plan next season to make available to you, a Guild Handbook, specially designed festival folders, detailed outlines for festival services, and recordings of recommended anthems.
Besides, we are suggesting a plan for honoring our outstanding members - of whom you may be one. See page 2.
The most important work of the season, I think, has been the seminars which a number of you have planned for your areas. In each case the cause of the Children's Choir has been strengthened. Besides, it is thrilling to see how and where you work, and to glean all the fine ideas you never have time to write about.
Others of you have become letter-friends, But all of us, all 656 of us, are friends in our common dedication to the cause of developing christian character through children's choirs.
If you come to Decatur this summer, this is the face that will greet you. But it will be looking more cheerful - I hope.
DEAR FRIENDS,
/
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( ,(261.J1
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\\ A‘.„..
• • -! , '1\7
Rif
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1
LOOKING BACK on
THIS SEASON
10 festivals and- seminars held 15 denominatfLons, and 41 states and foreign countries represented by 656 members, whose choirs earned 2065 Choristers awards
The Guild proposes to present a beautifully designed
HEAVY GOLD CROSS
to those who have rendered the Guild exceptional service, and to thoso mmbers who for three years meet the following annwil qualifications.
1. A contvibnting member 2. A spe.3iti o2Aring for the Guild 3. Use thn print s7stem 4. Throe ri.e.j,3r cher projects 5. Maintnance of Guild standards 6. A detailed annual report to the Guild
Those to whom the cross is presented shall be called
HONOR MEMBERS
LOOKING AHEAD to
NEXT SEASON'S GOALS
20 winter seminars 650 contributing members 650 new members 5000 children receiving awards
EVERY MEMBER-CHOIR
1. well vested 2. using the point system 3. participating in a festival 4. holding a Dedication and a RecognAtion service 5. larger at the end of the season than at the beginning.
LET
THEM
AVE FUN WITH M,SIC
T----is SLVMER
AIN.A1,4,11
3
MAKE YOUR OWN Rhythm Band Instruments
In April of last year, the Community Workshop of the Oklahoma City Libraries in cooperation with the Art Department of the Public Schools sponsored a Creative Craft Project on Making Rhythm Band Instruments. I am sure they would not object to Guild members sharing the information,
"People everywhere seem to have a feeling for rhythm. Savages, highly educated people, children and adults all respond to rhythm in sound. It is fun to make rhythm instruments from materials you have around the house.
The instruments that make musical sounds grouped together something like this: 1. Tinkling
2. Ringing jingle bells
triangles dinner bell
metal rods sleigh bells cymbals bells on straps or sticks
knives bottle cap bells
forks spoons nails
which are somewhat alike may be
3. Tapping castanets rhythm sticks wood blocks sand blocks wooden boxes wooden forks and spoons
4. Rattling 5. Booming tin can shakers
barrel drums cardboard shakers
kettle drums tamtourines (with buttons)
tambourines
1. Tinkling Sounds - A. JINGLE HOOP
Materials One 6111 dowel or other small stick 3 jingle bells 2 tacks 3it leather strap 4 pieces of thin wire
Procedure Punch holes in the strap and fasten the bells to the strap with the wire. Tack the strap to the dowel. Use small tacks to avoid splitting the wood, or a hole may be drilled thru the wood, and the strap anchored securely with the wire.
B. JINGLE STICK Material 2 bells wire tongue depressor
Procedure Drill holes in the depressor and wire bells to the wood securely.
C. BOTTLE CAP BELLS Material One 6" dowel, or other stick 2 very thin nails (about 1" long) 4 pop bottle caps
Procedure Remove the cork from the bottle top. Make a hole in each cap with a nail that is slightly larger than the one to be used, in order that the cap may hang loosely on the nail. Tack to the dowel.
D. JINGLE RING Material 6 or 7 jingle bells ribbon ring cut from the top of a gallon can.
— 4 —
Procedure To make the ring, cut the heavy rim from the top of a gallon can. Wrap this with ribbon or a strip of bright colored material, to protect the child's hand from the tin. Thread the ribbon thru the bell and tie to the hoop.
2. RINGING SOUNDS A. Cymbals may be made from the lids of cans. Make a hole in the lids
with a nail or ice pick and fasten to a spool or piece of wood for the handle.
B. Knives, forks and spoons make a good ringing sound when tapped against scrap metal. The metal should be suspended by a string because it loses its ringing sound when held in the hand.
C. A large spike, or a horseshoe, when suspended and struck by a large nail makes a ringing sound 10.mu
t-rt 3. TAPPING SOUNDS ,N,f z, A. Castanets
Material wood scraps - 3 ply or,- other thin wood' thin wire coping saw drill and small bit sandpaper
\ paint Procedure Draw desired shape on the board and cut with a coping saw. Sandpaper each piece. Drill holes in places indicated, and paint. Small pieces should be wired loosely to larger piece.
B. Sand Blocks Material 4 blocks of wood 4 nails or screws sandpaper Lepage's glue
Procedure Cut two pieces of inch thick wood about 2" x 3 3/4". Cut two pieces slightly smaller, about lk x 2i. Center the smaller block on the larger one. Nail or screw securely. Cut two pieces of sandpaper, and glue them to the bottom of the larger blocks.
4. RATTLING A. Shakers
Material Ice cream carton 3/4" dowel thin piece of wood or tin 1 screw beans or gravel glue
Procedure Decorate the carton with crayon or show card paint. Fasten the handle to the lid of the carton, placing a small piece of wood or tin on the inside to prevent the head of the screw from pulling thru the cardboard lid. Place beans or gravel in the carton, and replace the lid, which has been generously coated with glue on the inside rim. Metal spice boxes or baking powder cans may be used.
5
B. Tambourines Material 2 paper plates 16 pop bottle tops thin wire ice pick Procedure Punch two holes in each pop bottle top with an ice pick. Place the bottom of the plates together. Punch 16 holes in each plate. Space the holes evenly to correspond to the holes in the bottle caps. Wire the plates together, placing the bottle caps between the rim of the plates. Decorate the plates with crayons or paint.
5. BOOMING SOUNDS A. Barrel Drum
Material gallon can 2 pieces of inner tube (not synthetic rubber, or one that is heavy) 3 to 5 yards of heavy cord lacquer or quick drying enamel brush for lacquer leather punch or ice pick
Procedure Remove the ends of the gallon can and smooth the edges. Paint the can with lacquer or quick drying enamel. Cut two pieces of innertube, about 4 inches larger in diameter than the can. Punch the same number of holes in each piece at least one inch from the edge. Place the two pieces of rubber over the ends of the can and lace together. Tie a cord securely around the ends of the drum and adjust the lacing until it is very tight.
Be Kettle drum Stretch leather or rubber over a hollow seceptacle, crock or stew pan. Tie securely.
C. Tambourine Stretch rubber, wet leather or wet chamois over metal or wooden embroidery hoops.
Rhythm Band Music Boston Music Co.
Eighteen Folk Tunes - Churchill Boston Music Co. $1.50 Folk Tune Book - Diller and Page 11 It It $2.50 Rote Pieces for Rhythm Band - Diller and Page $1.50
Boston Music Co. North American Tunes for Rhythm Bands - Gest $1.50 Toy Orchestra Tunes - Jobson $ .75
A "MUST"
How To Teach the Rhythm Band - Diller and Page $ .35 G. Schirmer, 3 East 43rd St. New York
ALL IN T} FAMILY Barbara Tuttle, Elizabeth. N.J. had her children make Mother's Day cards in
which was copied the song they had written to the words: Gentle Jesus, hear my prayer, keep my mother in Thy care For Thou know'st I love her well, more than I can ever tell. Thou wert once a little child, loved Thy mother meek and mild; May the love which is divine on my mother also shine. Give her joy- in work and rest; help me Lord to do my best; Gentle Jesus, hear my prayer, keep my mother in Thy care. Amen
Alta Ice, Clarksburg. W.Va. whose church was destroyed by fire has been holding rehearsals and services in a theatre, and says that the difficulties encountered have only made everyone work the harder. From one of her bulletins:HA good hymn is some-thing like a good prayer - simple, real, earnest and reverentu.
* Mrs. Edward Rice, Los Angeles. Calif. writes that the proceeds from their third *annual S.W.Los Angeles festival are Co be divided between the Lutheran World Aid *Fund and the Choristers Guild; and that they are planning to start a chapter.
Copied from the choir paper of ED Karhu, Oklahoma City, Okla. Twelve things to remember: The value of time* The success of perseverance* The pleasure of working* The dignity of simplicity* The worth of character* The power of kindness* The influ-ence of example* The obligation of duty* The wisdom of economy* The virtue of patience* The improvement of talent* The joy of origination. Marshall Field
One of our members, Mrs. G.A. Lehmann. 500 Park Ave.. Rochester. N.Y. is repre-sentative for a fine line of vestments called Ireland Needlecraft. If you are con-templating new vestments, write to her for information.
The West Side Presbyterian Church. Ridgewood. N.J. has an annual Flower Communion, Each worshipper brings with him to church a flower of his own selection, significant in terms of some deep personal association or experience. Upon entering the church, he places it in a large basket. The flowers are placed on the Communion Table during the service, and are later returned to the narthex, where, each person, departing from the church takes a flower, thus symbolizing the common fellowship in which each gives and receives richly of the lives and experiences of others.
Arthur Wake and Caleb Cushing. Lyn burg Va. took part in the concerts given in the Ballroom of the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg.
Joy Lawrence, Cleveland, Ohio, reports the first West Side Junior Choir Festival with 170 children participating,
Mrs., Chester Morgan. Prosser, Washington, was chairman of the Church Choir Workshop sponsored by the Washington Northern Idaho Council of Churches, The follow-ing is part of her publicity program:
110 IP YOU WANT
To enrich your Services of Worship through music, To see the place of Music in the total program of Christian Education To discover new possibilities in different kinds of Choirs, To find authoritative guidance on problems of Church Music
you will be sure that you and•your workers, potential leaders of Children's, Youth, and Adult Choirs, Church MUsicians, and representatives of the Board of Education are present at the Church Choir Workshop.
*
* Freda Kopplin, Appleton, Wis. sent $15.00 from their festival offering, and *9 Guild memberships, one for each of the participating directors. They had 300 *children in the choir, and have outgrown all the churches in the city.
Robert Mitchell, whose Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church (Calif) is new, modern and very attractive, sends his Recognition Day program and writes, "Our church has 620 members, and a Sunday school of about 1000. Choir enrollment is about 325 with about 100 on the waiting list for various choirs. Things of particular value in our situation: 1. a choir mother for each rehearsing group (12 at present) who takes all organizational and social responsibility, leaving me free to concen-trate on the musical and spiritual training. 2. the numerous small groups which allow advanced training and provide models of tone, posture, deportment etc. within each large choir. At present about 55 out of 325 participate in such an additional group.
William Lemonds, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Oklahoma City sent a check for 7 memberships. "The church is interested in having some of my assistants become members of the Guild."
* Mrs,t Stefensen, Corona del Marl Calif. sends a copy of the Orange A.G.O. Youth *choir festival. We flatter ourselves that the Guild has had a part in making the *A.G.O. aware of the importance of childrens choirs. at
Mrs. Sherman Crawford, Lawton, Okla. has been one of the most generous *supporters of the Guild. She works in a difficult situation but manages each year *to send a contribution from her final program. "The choir mothers planned a re-*ception this year to follow the program. They sent special invitations, made a guest *book, served refreshments, and cleaned up. We had 125 present, 12 of them Korean officers."
Marvin Reecher, Tulsa, Okla. has a flair for good publicity. In his annual report, he had a graph of the whole II choir set-up, outlined the goals of the choirs, showed how many church families were active in the choirs, and then concluded by presenting all the choirs, 553 people, in a combined number. Rather convincing I'd say. Seeing is believing.
Alice Hewlett, Glendale, Calif. has a bank for each of her choirs. As the children have birthdays, they put money in the bank, for new vestments.
Anita Yearouta Portland, Ore. was responsible for planning the second annual Presbyterian Junior Choir festival for the Portland area.
* Helen Cole, Wilson, N.C. writes, "My work has been helped tremendously thru the *Letters and the summer school last year." And in turn, she helps the Guild tremen. *dous1y with her gift of $45.83, the offering at her Service of Awards. *
William Giles, Middletown, Ohio. "I suppose all directors are acquainted with the fact that there are music stencils with staffs on them, so that all one has to do is to add the notes and text?"
* Ruth Petersen! San Franciso, Calif. "San Franciso has done it' Our first *interdenominational Childrens Festival. We took in $35.92, and after paying our *expenses, are sending the balance to the Guild. Mrs. Estes said to me 'Lets do it *again, and do it better'".
Thanks to Richard Klausle, Lansing, Mich., David Williams, Tulsa, Okla. Winifred Cushing., Lynchburg, Va., and all the others who have taken the time to keep us informed regarding their work.
SPEC/AL ANNOUNCEMENT
Columbus Boychoir recordings specially recommended by ME No. 104 Familiar Christmas Carols No. 105 I Wonder as I Wander, and Lullaby of the Christ Child
featuring Chet Allen - soloist each record - $3.00 : order from Columbus Boychoir School
Box 350, Princeton, N.J. * * and films too : Order from Princeton Film Center, Princeton, N.J.
Program I Program III The Lord's Prayer Ave Maria 0 Divine Redeemer I Wonder as I Wander My Lord, what a Morning Spring Bursts Today
Program II Program IV Were You There Bring A Torch The Palms Lo, how a Rose Hallelujah Lullaby of the Christ Child
Adeste Fidelis
Program V. Jingle Bells Silent Night 0 Holy Night Merry Christmas
I Saw Three Ships
Two 30 minute films in color: ',Bastion and Bastienneft and %tory of the Columbus Boychoiro, are scheduled to be released in August. They will probably be distributed through the Princeton Film Center.
ABOUT CORONATION MUSIC
Music plays a very important part in all the state rituals of Britain. And the most important of all British rituals is the Coronation. Music is indispensable to the coronation - bands, orchestras, and huge choirs add greatly to the signifieance of the occasion.
For the coronation of George VI, no fewer than 27 compositions were played as the various processions entered Westminster Abbey. There were three conductors, three organists, an orchestra of 60, and a choir of 400. Because the Abbey organist traditionally has charge of the coronation music, the man who will conduct the music when Elizabeth II is crowned will be Dr. William Neil McKie, organist and-choirmaster of Westminster Abbey. He says, “A coronation is a huge, impressive, intricate pagaent requiring split-second timing. All the grandees enter the Abbey in procession. The order of entrance is enough of a problem, but added to it is the trick of making the- music precisely equal in time to the length of the pro-cession. Lesser guests, the choir and orchestra must all be in their places by 8 A.M. and they wont leave until 3:30, or so.
The first step in the preparation will be to organize a 400 voice choir trained to sing without accompaniment, and virtually without a conductor. The Queen herself will select the coronation music. Dr. McKie believes Elizabeth's choice will be excellent. uShe has impeccable taste in music; she is really a fine musicianp. Incidentally, she holds a B.M. degree from the University of London.
Boston Sunday Globe
AUGUST 12 - 19 . . . . . . . . . . •• . . . . . . • • . 4, is the date DECATUR, GEORGIA ..... .00• • • • • , is the place •
SUMMER SCHOOL. . ••••••• • • • • • • • . . is the excuse
fora
"WONDERFUL GOOD TINE"
name writ- .
4 your ten .,
Is there?
-
Summer School Application
PINS * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
In spite of ordering the first pins three months ago, in spite of telegrams and long distance phone calls, we have not been able to fill quite all your orders on the date requested. The pins are manufactured in California, and have to be re-packed and mailed to you. More than 2000 of them have been ordered, and just as soon as they arrive, we hurry them on to you, filling the most urgent needs first.
The approximate. orders many of you send in were a great help in estimating our needs. It helps immensely if you allow about a month for your order to be filled, and to send the check with the order. Many of you have done that, and we appreciate your consideration.
REMEMBER next year to: Send us a preliminary estimate of your needs Allow at least a month for delivery Enclose your check with your final order.
POINTS*************
HOW has the point system worked for you? Has it helped to sustain interest? Is it specific enough? Does it permit children to get by with poor behavior? We want something that will encourage all-round effort: and something definite enough to avoid a double interpretation. Have you a better system than the 100 point one? Tell us about it.
Please return that LAST PAGE today-today-today-today-today-today-today (excuse me if I seem to stutter)
And so, good-bye to 1952-53,
and may we all be together again for a 1953,-54 filled with
PROGRESS bur.. PRISES and PLEASURES
• 3D •
How many children under high school age are in your choirs?
Have you used the point system?
What changes would you suggest making in it?
List the 10 hymns you would want your children to know first of all title tune name
0•••••11,11111111Mpu.
What features of the LETTERS have been most helpful this year?
What changes would you suggest in the Letters for next year?
What place would you suggest for a summer school next year?
On the reverse side give the names and addresses of people who should join us.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL 1953-54
Name:
Street and No.
City, Zone, State
Church served
Church address
(check one)
I enclose $2.00 for my 1953-54 membership in the Chorister's Guild
I enclOse $10.00 for a Contributing Membership in the Guild
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