CI--10RISTERS' GUI Lfl

1•

Dear One-of-several-thousand Directors,

Some of you are old friends. To others, this letter may be the first indi-cation of the wide interest in children's choirs. I have been especially fortunate in having seen so many of you at work, in festivals, workshops, and summer Pchools. You have expressed your feeling for a need of closer relationship among directors. For a long time I have been promising to be-gin some sort of children's choir guild. This letter is proof that I am attempting to keep my promise.

The Choristers' movement needs the strength of unity now more than any one other thing: unity of Purpose, unity of Standards, unity of Effort. On these three we can build a unity of Fellowship from which each affiliated choir can draw strength. Study the attached page of this letter carefully. Can you enter wholeheartedly into such a program of advancement? Then you and your choir are eligible for charter membership in the CHORISTERS' GUILD.

'The four major projects for this initial year of the Guild

I. To send regular Guild letters to all those who want to keep in touch with the rest of the children's choir world.

II. To sponsor as many festivals in as many cities as possible.

III. To give directors a chance for special training. IV. To get an album of children's-choir recordings on

the market.

I. Guild Letters. There will be a Guild magazine sometime, we hope, but who wants to wait until that materializes to hear about what others have done successfully in special services, discipline, parties, awards, getting new members, holding old ones, escaping monotones, memorizing, vocal train-ing, finding good music, publicity, etc., etc., etc.? It is the purpose of the Guild Letter to get that information to you. If you send your name and address and enclose $1, you will get the 1949-50 letters regularly. (We haven't a cent. You'll have to send the dollars)

ci

II. Festivals. This is the most unifying medium we have at present, but in spite of the many held, we are not getting full value from them in inspira-tion or in comradeship. To make the festival serve its purpose more fully, hero is a plan:

A. Use music that the individual choir can use effectively throughout the year. For the festivals I shall be oondueting this winter I am suggesting the following numbers.

KNIGHT OF BETHLEHEM, Thomson Novello(Gray) Sheet music, Db key MIDWINTER, Milford Oxford Univ. Press #161 two-part CHRISTMAS ROUNDELAY, Marryott Row Music Co. #304 YE WATCHERS AND YE HOLY ONES, Riegger Flammer #84251 COME YE FAITHFUL, Thatcher Oxford Univ. Press #EAll

(VV. FOUR OLD CHORALES Choir Publications, 134 South Van Ness 4-\1_ Ave., Los Angeles 4, Calif. (Must be ordered direct) 120

Choristers' Guild - 2 October, 1949

B. Hold small, informal area festivals in which the choirs can meet each other socially and hear each other sing. C. Let the area festivals culminate in a city-wide festival, and use the same music. Edward Shippen Barnes is writing continuity music which will bind these numbers (those listed under paragraph A) into a beautiful service.

III. Special Training. In connection with the city-wide festival, hold a work-shop for directors, with classes in the late afternoon or evening. This plan was followed last May in Charlotte and Atlanta, Georgia, and was very much worth while in the general interest it aroused. Charlotte intends to repeat the plan this year. There should be at least ten other cities with enough vision and gumption to venture out on such a project.

(Plan right now to attend one of the special training seminars the Guild intends to organize. More of this in a later letter.)

IV. Children's Choir Record Album. In England this summer, the direct- or of the educational department of His Master's Voice told me off their pro- gram for the improvement of choral music in the schools of England. They made an inclusive survey of all school choirs. The finest were selected to make a recording. From these recordings only the very best were selected for release. In the series are small country schools and large grammar schools represented, primary and high school choirs, boys choirs and girls choirs. I selected six double-faced records which I thought would be of most value to our children's choir directors and brought them home with me. They are amazing in their tone, diction, rhythmic vitality, and musicianship. Your children will love them. I think the company will agree to release these six records in album form for the American market, but they will probably want to be assured of several hundred orders. Will yours be one of them? (If you have looked as fruitlessly as I have for model recordings to use in rehearsals, you will welcome such an album with a torrent of "Alleluia"s.)

Besides the two Christmas numbers in the festival recommendations, you may have need of others. Here are some that are worth investigating.

CHRISTMAS SONG, Holst G.Schirmer unison Easy, bright; bell effect in accompaniment. 100 CHRISTMAS CANDLE, Bitgood H.W.Gray unison Prayerlike, unusual. 120 GRASMERE CAROL, Somervell Edward Arnold Co. two-part Easy but ef- fective. 160 WHEN THE CRIMSON SUN HAD SET, Mansfield Arthus Schmidt two-part Easy, joyous; interesting harmonization. 100 CROON CAROL, Whitehead Carl Fischer unison with descant Familiar melody well treated. LONG, LONG AGO, Nagle Oliver Ditson Co. SSAA (can be used in uni- son Lovely. CHRIST WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY, Mansfield Schmidt two-part or unison Easy, grateful. 80 NOEL, ALLELUIA, Father Finn J.FAscher SATB Melody in men's parts; SA is a joyous ripple of "Noel, Alleluia". 150 WARP. NOW, YE SHEPHERDS, Winslow Carl Fischer SATTBB with children's choir unison Children's part easy; exceptionally interesting when well done. 150

Choristers' Guild — 3 October, 1949

Several jewelry manufacturers are submitting designs for an exclusive Chor—isters' Guild pin. By Spring, when most of you will be looking for some appropriate award, there will be available for you a beautiful emblem to represent the four C's for which the Guild stands: "The Chorister builds through the Church for Christian Character". No standard of requirements for awards is being imposed here by the Guild, but when a Guild pin is given it must represent honest achievement.

We are on the move. If you are interested in what the Guild can do for you, here is what you do:

Send in your application for membership Enclose $1 for the 1949-50 Guild Letter Invite the directors of your neighborhood to join you in an area festival Order the festival music immediately Tell your choir and your church about the Guild

(?Tease note: The Successful Children's Choir is published by H.T.FitzSimons Co., Inc. 615 North La Salle St., Chicago 10. All orders sent to me for the book have to be forwarded to Chicago. Please order direct or from your local music dealer.)

This letter will reach directors in every state in the Union. Future issues should be a clearing house for good ideas, and new methods. If you have done something original, give us the opportunity to share it with others. The ef—fectiveness of the Guild will be in proportion to our individual cooperation. Together we can and WILL make it a vital force.

Yours faithfully,

Ruth Erehbiel Jacobs

Choristers' Guild — 4 October, 1949

Purpose of the Choristers' guild To stimulate interest in children's choirs To make the children's choir more worthy of respect To train adequate leaders To encourage friendly relationships among choirs To establish an office to which directors can turn for information To make the children's choir an effective force in the development

of Christian character

(Purpose of.,1ffiliciteci Choirs To make the church conscious of the value of the children's choir To reach as many children as possible To encourage a sense of personal responsibility To present worthy music, adequately prepared To develop a sense of reverence To train the choir in Bible history and Christian ideals To make the choir a religious, artistic, educational, and recreation—

al factor in the lives of its members To support the purposes of the Choristers' Guild

!Proposed 5)tx) grain. of guild Services (to affiliated choirs) To keep Affiliates informed of new ideas and methods To acquaint them with the latest and best music To make available standard choir emblems at minimum cost To make available standard vestments at minimum cost To make recordings of children's choirs To organize a training school for children's choir directors To promote children's choir festivals

fili ationt Requirements To maintain conscientiously the standards of the Guild To use the Guild ritual for the public dedication of choir members,

and for the presentation of awards whenever such are used To set aside one Sunday in the year as Music Sunday To join with some other choir or choirs annually in a public perform—

ance To present the offering from this performance, or from Music Sunday,

to the Choristers' Guild for the furtherance of its program

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP in the

CHORISTERS' GUILD

4 Name of Name of Director: Church:

Address: Address:

Number of Church Members: Number in Church School:

Number c4 Age Name of Choir(s) of Members Range Boys Girls Both

1.

2.

3.

••••4•••••••••1.1.

4• (list any others at bottom of page)

Date of organization: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Choir season begins and ends . Rehearsal time:

Does the choir sing regularly? What services?

Special services?

Is the choir robed? Kind of vestment: (if possibloi send small photo of child in vestment)

Do you use awards? What kind?

What are the requirements for awards?

I enclose $1 to help cover costs. (Your application for membership automatically Places you on the mailing list.)

Your signature:

Are you interested in the album of children's choir recordings?

111/11 Please send names and addresses of direotors of other children's ohoirs whom you think may be interested.

5

6 IOW

CHORISTERS' GUILD January 1950

The Choristers Guild already has members in twenty three states and the District of Columbia. Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylva nia, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Washington D,C. are on the roll. Perhaps by the time the next letter is due, the whole of the nation will be represented.

One of the greatest factors in the growth of the Guild is that so many of you have sent in the names and addresses of other directors. Each person recommended by you receives an announcement of the purposes of the Guild, and many thus contacted 1,,ve become members. Send a post card today; help to build the Guild.

Music for Lent and Easter

From the music that various publishers have sent me, representing their best publications for children's choirs, the follow ing were selected for Lenten and Easter use. All are good; many are excellent.

UNISON The Lord is Arisen - Behemian-Dickinson; H,W. Grays Easy hymn-carol .15 S one for Easter - Eichhorn; H.W. Gray: excellent, strong melody; singable. .15 Sing songs of praise - Gaul: H.Zi. Grays easy, unison or s.a. .15 An Ea ster Carol - Holler: H.W. Gray: optional descant, nice effect, strong

melody .15

S.A. 0 Savior of the world - Gillette: Neil Kjos: parts nicely balanced, fine

for older children, not diff-

icult .15 Legend - Tschaikowsky: Neil Kjos: fine translation, exceptionally clear

print .15 Christ the Victor - Rossini: J. Fischer: optional s.s.a.; combination of

three distinct melodies makes for

interest. .20 Christ Triumphant - Yon: J. Fischer: excellent for combining children and

H.S. choir, with children taking solo part; effective .18

Cur Paschal Joy - Yon: J. Fischer: a trifle high in spots; accompandment adds interest .16

Alleluia of the bells - Marryott: H.W . Gray: optional s.a.b; spirited, excellent for H.S. age .16

Blow golden trumpets - Walter Wild: H,W, Gray; optional s.s.a.b.; excellent for H.S. .16

The strife is o'er - arr. by Runkel: Harold Flamer: s.a., melody in different parts, arranged from Palestrina .12

COMBINED CHOIRS All glory,laud,and honor - Gillette: Neil Kjos: children with easy s.a.t.b;

very effective .15 Alleluia, Christ is risen - Gillette: Neil Kjoss children with easy s.a.t.b.

fine effect with simple means .15 Hosanna to His name - Gillette: Neil Kjos: children with easy s.a.t.b. .15

7 Page 2

Welcome happy morning - Olds: Hall McCreary: major part for s.a.t.b.; .20

Sing all ye Christian people - Olds: Hall McCreary: closely knit; choirs must be near each other; good for children's choir that is not too secure .20

THE TREBLE CHOIR is one of the finest anthem collections I have ever reviewed. Every one of the 32 numbers is usable; all are interesting but within the capacity of the average children's choir. The range of subjects, moods, and styles is excell-ent and wide. It is published by Hail and McCreary and costs only 40

HYYN OF THE MONTH

Jean Maxwell of the 7irst Presbyterian Church of Meridian, Mississippi teaches the whole church school one selected hymn a month. A mimeographed sheet with the text, gives interesting information about the hymn and the tune, and the authors of both, as well as some notes on the character and purpose of the hymn, and is dis-tributed to all the church school teachers with the request that they help their children to learn the hymn. At the end of the month, the children are given a hymn-quiz.

A Hymn-of-the-Month can be an interesting game for your choir, too. Give each child a copy of the hymn with some interesting information about it, simply stated. As the season progresses, short spontaneous review quizes can keep the hymns and the information alive, a nd a final general quiz, a la the Quiz Kids or old-fashioned Spelling bee could be the excuse for special guests and special prizes or extra points in a point system.

POINT SYSTEMS

In a well-planned Point system, the childrem have a means of checking their own progress. A number of our own members have developed very satisfactory systems; others have asked for advice in planning one. In the next issue we would like to publish a review of such systems, but to do so, we will have to have an outline of all those in active use at present. We would appreciate your co-operation.

NAME IT

Sometime when you need to spark up a rehearsal or choir party, play the seoond or third phrase of a hymn and see who can name the hymn, or repeat the words of a phrase. It's not easy as it sounds, but it is fun.

SINGING SCHOOL

Albert B. McConnell of Central Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, maintains a summer choir camp. One of his means of financing the camp is an old-fashioned Singing-School. With an uninhibited song leader, box lunches, old costumes,square dances, a fiddle and a reed organ, the whole church could have a grand time together, and fill the choir camp PIGGY-BANK.

TUNES WITH RUFFLES

Choir music, like people, can be overdressed. Much music intended for children's choirs is trimmed with ruffles and bows tc mask the lack of quality and design. If a costume is made of fine material and skillfully cut, it needs very little trim to make it interesting. Neither do the fine old chorales of our Protestant heritage.

Page 3 You can get a wardrobe of four fine chorales by writing direct to Choir Publications, 134 4, California. Ivith the order, you will also to extend the chorales for anthem use. These for the Choristers Guild.

varied in design and mood, all for 12f/ South Van Ness Ave. Los Angeles receive a list of suggestions for ways were chosen and reprinted expecially

STUDY IN BEkUTIFUL SWITZERLAND

On June 3 a group of musicians leave by plane for Montreux, Switzerland for three weeks of intensive study and vocal methods under Dr. J.F. Williamson. The cost is 8790 inc:usive and the schedule permits three extra weeks of independent travel for those who desire it. The group is limited and the applications must be in before February 1. Does any AFFILIATE want to take advantage of this exceptional opportunity?

CHOIR RECORDINGS

The recordings of English School Choirs mentioned in the last Choristers Letter can be ordered from Rhapsody Record Shop, 1723 N. Highland Ave. Hollywood, Calif. One must count on about ten weeks for delivery from England. There is an advantage in ordering from one shop, because large orders take priority over individual ones. I had hod to get a special reduction for you, but was not successful. The price is $1.94 for each record, with $1.00 extra if you want an album. You may order as many or as few records as you choose.

C 3523 0 Salutaris, Penis Angelicus, Adoremus plainsong, unison Of sweet and dainty flowers - Youll three part madrigal Sing ye to our Lord - Byrd three parts

Northern Convent School Girls 13 to 18

C 3524 Sound the Trumpet - Purcell 2 parts Old Mother Hubbard - Hutchinson (in the style of Handel) 2 parts Fain would I change that note - Hume-Keel Unison Blow, blow, thou winter wind - Quilter unison

Northern Convent School Girls 13 to 18

C 3525 The Oak and the Ash - arr. Stanford

unison folk song The Cuckoo - Cecil Sharp

Small Industrial Area School

girls 11 to 13 Unaccompanied carols 'aassail Song - arr. Martin Shaw Withers Rocking Hymn - Vaughan Williams Patapan - Dutch carol Primary School in South girls 7 to 10

C 3526 Pro Peccatis; Fac ut Ardeat (from Pergolesi's Stabat keter) two parts Praise to the Lord - hymn tune two parts Orpheus with his Lute - Vaughan Williams unison

Large Grammar School girls 14 to 18

C 3528 All people that on earth do dwell Jesus, Goof above all Others Jesu, Joy and Treasure - Each The Strife is O'er - Valpius

four part singing Large Grammar School boys 12 to 18

Page 4 C 3680 Once in Royal David's City - Alexander

A Great and Mighty Wonder - Praetorius The Holly and the Ivy - arr. Valford Davies

Large Grammar School Boys 12 to 18

FESTIVAL-WORKSHOPS

If you are looking for a climax on which to conclude your choir season, con-sider the Festival-:Thrkshop. There is no better way to increase choir enthusiasm, encourage co-operation, aroL:se community interest, and replenish the exchequer. I can personally direct a limited number, on my way east in Hay. Mrs. T.D. Newell 2400 East 5th Street, Charlotte 4, N.C. can tell you how to manage it. She and her committee from the Guild of Organists held a four day workshop, trained a choir of 450 children, paid all expenses, inspired a new civic respect for the children's choir movement, and had a substantial surplus in the treasury.

Proposed Festival-Workshop Schedule

Monday 4 p.m. 5:30 6:30 7:30

Tuesday- 4 p.m. 5:30 6:30 7:30

Wed. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 7:30

festival rehearsal How to get good tone informal supper meeting how to develop musicianship

Festival rehearsal How to manage children informal supper meeting How the choir can influence the children, the church, the community

How to apply good business methods to the choir. How to make the choir serve the future. FESTIVAL

Thurs. 7 p.m. How to get good tone 8 p.m. How to develop musicianship

Friday 4:30 6 p,m. 7p.,1 8 p.m.

Sat. 2 p.m. 3:30 4:30 5:30

Festival rehearsal infolial supper meeting How to manage children How the choir can influence the children, the church, the community

Festival rehearsal How to apply good business methods to the choir How to make the choir serve the future Informal supper meeting

Sunday afternoon FESTIVAL * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **

This schedule is tentative, and can be changed to pes,t local needs. The music suggested in the last Choristers Letter is not obligatory but I& GOOD.

The Choristers Guild can become just as strong as you are willing to make it. Write us about your ideag suggestions, problems; someone else may welcome your ideas, And have a solution to your problems. The Choristers Letter is your medium of exchange. Swell the membership of the Guild, plan your festival for its support, and eventually, this LETTER can become a JOURNAL, and the Guild an agent of International Goodwill.

Send this application NOW to 134 South Van Ness Avenue, Los .Angeles 4, California and make sure that you.wt1Lreceive the Choristers Guild hilletins for the remainder of the season.

0

Name of Director:

Address:

Name of Church:

Address:

Number of Church Members: Number in Church School:

Number Age Name of Choir(s) of Members Range Boys Girls Both

1.

2,

3.

4. (list any others at bottom of page)

Date of organization: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Choir season begins and ends . Rehearsal time:

Does the choir sing regularly? What service?

Special services?

Is the choir robed? Kind of vestments: (if possible, send small photo of child in vestment)

Do you use awards? Vihat kind?

71hat are the requirements for awards?

I enclose $1 to help cover costs. (Your application for membership automatically places you on the mailing list.)

Your signature:

Please send names and addresses of other children's choir directors who should be interested in the Guild,

•••• 11 1 I: - _

if •

Juristers/ Judd Letter s _

`'''',.'?/'•

:.'",'''' .4c ,, A study of our affiliates' information sheets forces us to some rather significant deductions, Only the most

N) alert directors are interested in such an organization

.) 14

_.----

as the Guild, so even in the most progressive leadership the children's choir influences a very small percentage \C..f.. of its potential membership. In most cases the church school attendance is from 10-505 of the church member-

ship, and the percentage of choir to church school is considerably :mallet still, The deduction is obvious.

The largest general proportional size of church school,(of choir, too), is in the South and Southwest. In a few isolated casos, the church school outnumbers the church membership. These are undoubtedly in churches that have follouod the popu-lation. The new church in the now residential area generally has the largest church school. The old, downtown church has, in general, the.smallest. Some affiliates did not know the size of their church school. If we are to interpret your reports honestly, there is only one conclusion: the choirs represent too small a part of the church school, and the church school is too small for the church. It is our responsibility, and it should be our purpose as individual directors, to change that situation. To do it, we must have a sense of nission, ge must be apostles of the impossiblo.

APOSTLES OF THE IMPOSSIM

THE PATTERH 0.7 THE 1120SSIBLE

1. Each child in the parish a regular member of the church school;

2. Each child in the church school receiving training in music and worship;

3. A choir in every church school; 4. A dedicated and educated director for every

choir,

Booms

Why doesn't the choir appeal to boys? Does any one of you have more boys than girls in his choir? The best over-all proportion of boys goes to Hubert Taylor of Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Ga, H has in the Cherub Choir (3-5) 10 boys anel. 15 girls; in the Carol Choir (6-12) 20 boys and 35 girls; in the Chapel Choir (13-16) 10 boys and 10 girls. His is an old, downtown church.

at can be done to interest boys in the choir? That is a question we will have to answer satisfactorily sonetimo.- A father who was having trouble with his adolescent son called on a noted psychologist for hclp. After some time he phoned the psychologist and said, "That didn't work. What shall we try no::t?" That was the measure of his quality as a parent. To got and hold the interest of boys in the choir, we have to be willing to try and keep on trying.

What shall we try next? Discard all music that is pansy in tort or music. Stress the historic importance of the boy singer. Treat the boys as a separate unit of the choir. Never e.s: them to sit or march with a girl, Be sure the vestments used are dignifiod and have historic sanction. Get some virile college-ago chap to act as recreational director. Got 'the non of the senior choir to take a personal interest in the boys, Start a separate boy choir. What have you tfiod? What will you try next? Or have you given up?

Point aystoms

The following affiliates report the successful use of a point system:

Alice Bliss - Box 142, Deansboro, Y. Y. Oliver Cook - 312 North Chestnut St., apt. 305, Charlotte, Y. C. Glenn Shields Daum e 160 Main St., Goshon, H. e. Dan F. Kammeyor - 4 Chester Place, Staton Island 4, 7. Y. Amy E. Park - 6 Adams St., Whkefiold, Mass. John Quimby, Jr. - 217 McDonald Ave., Charlotte 3, ,.. C. Hubert Taylor - 201 Washington St.,S.W., Atlanta 3, Ga. Mrs. Harry B. Welliver - 202 Fifth Avo,S.E., Minot, N. D.

All those systems arc different. Probably none is perfect. Yet, each one gives the child a ruler by which he can measure himself accurately. Perhaps if you sent a -tamped, self-addressed envelope, tho-c directors would ,ond.you a mim-eographod copy of their point system.

Out of those and other plans we should be able to evolve one that would be applicable to all our affiliated choirs, and enable us to hoop an accurate record of our progress. On the basis of such .a plan, we could sot up a uniform award system. Eventually we should have a Choristers' pin, which will represents equal achievement no matter whore it is earned, and regardloss of the size of the choir.

Pr4T111- 1-0.11 v Hi. J. O. Williams of Bosse:lor, Alabama, is a business man as yell as a ch6ir

director. The following outline shows how he hoops his choir mothers purposefully employed. The parents are ossontial to your most effective work. Only the short- sighted overlook the: but most of us forget thet there are fathers as 'tall as mothers.

Chairman Mothers Committee

1 Chairman Chairman Chcirman Chairman Chairman Group I Group II GrOu_p III Group IV Group V Robes Social

Activities Attendance, Records

Telophono Publicity

Chairman Group VI Membership

Bach Group

etc Crosby-Group

Each committee member has one group of five to eight children to look after. Each group (he doosn't like "group", but can think of no batter word) con-sists, generally, of the child of that mother and several other children of the neighborhood. This is not iron-bound, however, and children that associ-ate with oach other should be grouped together as much as possible. This is for outside activities other than rehearsals and performances. The group is =all enough that the Mother can have it in her home.

In addition to her group oath Mother has a definite duty: I heaps robes in good order, in cooperation with others. II - has charge of social activitios for ontire choir, usually two outings a year. III- calls mother of child whose attendnnce is not good to find the trouble. IV - telephones all members (through group Mothers usually) if practices arc changed

or there is sudden demand for the services of the choir. V - handles publicity with papers and through church bulletin. VI - seeks new members through the dopartmonts of the Sunday School.

The Ligon plan of character training, which is being adopted so widely in. churches of all denominations, has as one of its basic requirements tho active cooperation of both parents. Before children will be accepted in Ligon classes, parents must agree to attend a weakly parents' class, spend ono owning a wool in preparation of the lesson with the .children, and make carofUl reports on the effectiveness or faults of the lesson material.

For a now horizon on the . character-training opportunities of a children's choir, road A GPI tiam GISMATIO1q, by Ernest Ligon, published by hio.chillan.

Fostivols

Los Angeles is now in the procoss of promoting a city-wide Chomisters Fosti-val progran. Since Greater Los Angeles is some 75 miles across from one corner to the other, the obvious solution is area fostivals. Ton strategic areas have been sot up, and area managers era contacting all the Children's Choir directors of their district to arrrngo an informal festival in which the choirs will have a chance to got acquaintoj with orch other musically and socially. The offerings will be presented to the Choristors' Guild. In the early Fall, all the choirs of all the areas will be brought together for one huge, massed sorvico.

Ono object of tho Guild is to encourage churches and choirs to work together. You and your neighbor .n choirs can tog ether present a musical service that will be twice as int.:resting to the childron, and twice as wide in its influence.

Do you, like the painter in the adjoining column, need help?

Hero is a teacher's inventory to en from "Tho Spectator" 0„ column in one of. tho Los Angelos papers. If you're not satis-fied with the way things are going choch over the following five qualities, [aldose:: if you have them ell.

1. 7,nthasiaam. Do you have onthusiasm for your work, or is it dull and dead for you? If it is the latter, you may bo aare that it is dull and dead for the students, too, for a teacher without onthusi-asm is a lamp of learning without oil.

In your little room you and your pupils aro locked up for a certain rum ber of months. The degree they improve in thattine depends almost ontiroly on you. A single idea at tho school age may change a whole lifo.

Teaching is one of the foe occupations in life really worth getting en-thusiastic about. neop youroyo'on tho big ends, and lot the petty irritations go by.

2. Pan you overlook? Benjamin Franklin once sagely said, HThoro is a tiro to mink as well no to see. "° Keep tho rospoct of tho pupils, but differentiate be-tween insubordination and wiggling youthful spirits.

Overlook a f ow things late in the afternoon. The no;:t morning both you and the pupils will fool restod.

3. Inter) Ito Discipline, anyhow, is a sign of failure. If you could nieko tho work interesting enough there would be little trouble. Can you make the work interesting - or is it dry as dust?

Bring out the human side. Road biographies of tho men related to the work. Uso stories to mcko points. When a day's work scams to intorost the students study to find why, and then apply what you learn as much as possible. Road such a

1 2

book as Phillips' 7,77ECTIV: SP:A=G to got tho factors of interestingness v uhat interests people.

A- PunoK.. If you can't soc a joke, wor'c on yourself until you can. Read hug-' moroul books. Cultivate a sonrye of huaor for yoursolf. If a humorous situation arigos in the classroon, see it. A good laugh raroly hurts a recitation if ovory-one lang1-17, together - not Dart laughing at onmeono olso.

5. Hupan. Be hun;'..n. Don't sot yourself up C.S infallible. Adnit a Ldotako if you ino.sk., one. :cop a kindly, :1=1:0 attitua. An act of kindnoss brings truer rospoct than a harsh disci-Dlinary AL:as-aro. One toachor who is lovod doos moro real good than a whole schoolhouso full of on.-Js that aro foared.

Use 3aar131-1 sense. Renamber your own past. A school isn't a nechino which turns out a required number of toys cock year. It is a human institution, and por- sons uho lest the human touch have no place in it.

17ivery teacher shoUld DOSSOSO these five qualitics in son::• .J.o r7 groo.

Individual nods diff-r, but if y-m fool that your work in not going just right it uill pay you to thin': over tileoc points and chock up on your self.

Affiliates

Every day the mailman brinEs now affiliates into the Guild. Norfolk, Virginia, has the distinction of having the greatest numbor of Guild affiliates. It is first by a wido margin. Congratulations, Norfolk.

(Will tho no :t mail bring us ;dour affiliation?)

Choristers' JUi I ci Letter Vol. I, No. 4 April, 1950

RELIGION IS GOOD COPY

During the Lenten season, the Chicago Daily Press and the Detroit Free Press printed front page religious articles. "The Greatest Story Ever Told", Fulton Ousler's story uf the life of Christ, has sold more than 550,000 copies,

Its use in serialized form has increased the daily circulation of the Now York Journal American by 10,000 copies, and has brought 20,000 now readers to the Chicago Daily News. In serialized newspaper copy it has at least 35,000,000 readers. Editors are amazed, but convinced. Religion IS good copy.

- a 0 - Thore aro more Children's Choirs in the country than one would guess,

and church federations arc beginning to recognize their worth. A recent issuo of DIAPA3ON reports two chilflron's choir festivals, both sponsored by church federations: ono in Albany, Now York; and the other - an annual event - in Toludo, Ohio.

The Church 27.deration of Los Angeles is promoting 12 regional festi-vals, to be held in :lay. Offerings from thosduill be prosentod to the Choristers' Guild, and will help to finance a Fall festival in which all the participating choirs of all the areas will appear.

Thoro aro some 200 children's choirs in the Los Lngolos area alone. How many are there in your comnunity? Do they all know about the Chori s-tors' Guild? Does the Guild knew about thou?

-000- "There's Music in the Air"

Find these programs on your radio dial. Liston to them, and if you find than worthwhile, try to incorporate thou into your choir-training program.

/111 Aboard for Adventure religious dramas for childron Radio Edition of the Bible

Tho Greatest Story 3vor Told - on all ABC stations

World without End - dramatic stories of Christian service in Asia and AfrIca

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"Make every goal Whon reached a starting point for higher quests." -- Browning

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ry

guild letter - 2 april 1950

WHO'S WHO IN THE GUILD

DAYTON YORD:N: author of a practidal little volume titled The Choirmast- er's Workbook, published by Augustana Book Concern, Rock Island, Ill. Record pages for each Sunday and rehearsal

of the year. If one kept those outlines regularly and promptly, he would have a wook-by-wpok record of tho year's work -- anthems rehearsed, hymns used, what the rehearsal accomplished, attendance, numbers used in each service, details of the performance, choir attitude, of cetera. Short articles on pertinent subjocts, a list of =commended church music, an anthem index.

DONALD KETTRIPG: another of ouf associates, whose book, Stops Toward a Singing Church;Apublishod by Wostminstor Press, Philadel-

phia. This publication is considered the best available prosontation of the aelrinistration of an inclusive choir program.

EDITH LOVELL THOMAS: Director of Churel School Music at Christ Church Mothodist, Now York City, is one of our new associates.

Her position is unique today, but the time will come when too interrola-tionship of music end religious education will demand that directors be trained in both fields. Only when music is a moans to develop Christian character can it aporoximato its potential value to the church and to the children.

JOHN S. QUINN: Dilworth Mothodist Church, Charlotte, N.C., and JAMDS BERRY: First Baptist Church, Austin, Texas, have each compiled

a fine outline of their church music program for distribu-tion among their church members. What methods have you used to make the congregation awaro of the thought, time, and cooperativo endeavor that a good choir represents?

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How much does your choir moan to your children? Would your choir bo worthy of the tribute paid Gordon Stearns in a recent issue of Christian Century? Of his high school choir, the Century said, "Those 75 youngsters get more than music out of their choir work. They got a personal religious experience which helps to account for the fact that while various instances of the confused moralities of the day have cropped up in nearby high school student bodies, not a single episode of the sort has occurred in the ranks of the choir....0no observer, at least, vont away from West Hartford con-vinced that, by the tine a youngster roaches high school ago, such a choir program as Gordon Stearns directs can do moro to put the stamp of Chris-tian character on him than any church school?"

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Among the many letters that come to the Guild office, the most welcome aro those which include lists of prospective mombors. As a result of such lists scarcely a day goes by without the arrival of a new application.

And so - forward into the future.

mild lottor 3 b april 1950

Do you sometimes bacon-) discouraged won you compare your work with that of larger and morn prominont churches? Take heart - you arc not ro-sponsiblo for tie larger crop that grows in the vineyard across the way. You ARE responsible for ovary grape in your own. The measure of your suc-cess is the adequacy with which you neat tho conditions that exist in your own church: nowhere also. No two directors have quite the same problous or the same opportunities. You can learn from others. You cannot success-fully imitate. Every find achievement is the result of good judgmont in matching a procodurc to a specific situation. It takes imagination, cour-ago, and common sense to build and hold a good choir. The practice of all throe, will hurt no ono.

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.911. tee 112../a.- Ac:‹1444..e. 1. Namcs of all contributing choirs; 2. A choir recognition service with mhIch to dignify the close of

the choir ':cason; 3. 1. questionnaire through which you will hole to formulate the fu-

turc politics of the Guild.

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There is so push that the Guild can do. Its program will expand in proportion to your faith in its purposes. But "fait's without works is dead." The most conereto ox-prossion of faith you can mak° between now and the closo of the choir season is to fulfill the full roquiremonts of an associate in presenting a musical service and dedicating the offering to the Guild. Char-ter ncybel" certificatos will be mailed to all choirs thus contributing.

Last summer it was interesting to visit the cathedrals and parish church- es of England and to look for the certificate of nemborship in the St. Nicho- las Guild (our English counterpart). Tho certificate on tho wall of the choir room was always an indication of a superior and progressive choir. It is tho many contributions from the many musical services of the many Guild choirs throughout England and the provinces that have made possible the ortonsivo program of the St. acholas Guild.

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Doc your choir over hear itself? Perhaps your childron have hoard recordings nada by good children's ch,irs, and perhaps you have told thou that they should try to make their voices sound like that 'or did you say, "Now, choir, that is tho kind of tone wo should have.") But how do they know whothor they arc devoloping that kind of tone? Do they have any way of chocking up -n therlsolves?

Sone typo of recording apparatus is the answer. Tape recordings arc small in bulk and thus easy to store. Records can bo cut from then. In-vostigato the possibilities in your own locality. Those in the Los Angeles area nay rent a tape recorder by phoning OLynpia 7689 and making the neces-sary arrange fonts.

guild letter - 4 aril 1950

"When it comes to doing a thing in this world I don't ask mysolf Whether I like it or not, but what is the best way to get it done."

-- Ellen Glasgow.

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9 "I caP. certainly vouch for the effectiveness of

a hot hors' Guild. I have only recently organized my nothers, and interest and attendance in ny Junior Choir rehearsals has risen sharply. At present my mothers

&aro serving refreshments at a play period before each

(04. my rehearsals. hy children come from various schools all over the city, and it is the only time during the

week that they are together as a group. The recreation period has served to let them worh off the c=itenent of seeing their friends again and has made ny rehearsal tine much more effective. During the recreation period I try to show the children an educational movie, sometimes about music, but usually on other subjects: manners, object lessons, foreign countiies and peoples, health habits, etc. Iiy supply for these educational films is the University of Texas."

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PINS

Quito a number of our associates use choir pins. Many others should. We are having a Guild pin designed in black enamel and gold, with the let-ter "C" superimposed on a Forme Cross. The proportions are such t; hat the letter can be studded with a pearl for each additional year of service.

Wherever the Guild pin is used, it should represent an exceptionally fino personal choir record, be awarded in a ptblic recognition service, and preferably be paid for by the children themselves.

If enough associated choirs are interested, we can include with every initial order for 25 pins, an extra one without charge for the director.

If the Guild pin can be made available to you at would you be interested, and appro;drately how many would you need? Use the blank be-low for your reply, please, or a postcard will do. (Be sure to include the name of your choir.)

--(hail to Ruth 134 6911.1-21 Van Ness, Los Angeles 4. )

Choir:

Church :

Address: street city zone state

We arc interested in obtaining Guild pins if thny can be made available for j1.25 each. We would want approximately pins.

Signed: r c to r s name

Choristers' Judd Letter Vol. I, No. 5 May, 1950

17.STIVALS

There have boon nany Junior choir festivals this spring. Following are the choirs and their direc-tors which have participated in sone of these fes-tivals and given the offering to the Choristers' Guild. The list is not complete, since there aro sane such festivals still to be held, but includ-

ing then meant holding up this issue of the Guild Letter even longer. There-fore:

gha4otte, North Cqrolina: Allen Street Baptist, hrs. John Clark; Berryhill School, Judith Autry; Caldwell Memorial Presbyterian, Martin Ledoux;

Covenant Presbyterian - Second Church branch, Oliver Cook, Westminster brgnch, Mrs. Mae Baker; First Associated Reformed Prosbyttrian, Warren Babcock; First MothDdict, William Thomas; First Ward Community choir, Gertrude Go' or; Garr Auditorium choir, Dan White; Green Memorial Baptist, Mrs. B, G. Duncan; Hay- thorne Lane Methodist, Mrs. T. D. Newell; iiyors Park Baptist, Marilyn fenuick; Myers Park Methodist, Eugene Craft; St. Marks Lutheran, Mrs. J. M Lowe; St. Martins Episcopal, Jahn Morrison; St. Pauls Methodist, Mrs. C. L. Hilbers; St. Peters Episcopal, Richard .van Savor; Seigle Avenue Presbyterian, Florence Mat-son; Wosy Avenue Presbyterian, Kenneth Johnson; First Presbyterian (Gastonia, Y.C.), lire. R. M. Wheeler; Selwyn Avenue Presbyterian, Nancy Dandy; York, South Carolina, Mrs. D. D. Thonas.

GlendjA, Califorpias First Lutheran, Mrs. Alice Howlett; Presbyterian, Mrs. Harriet Bartholomew; La Creseenta Presbyterian, Wesley P. Beans;

North Glendale Methodist, Betty Penny.

Tqr.0-0140.0d, Maynard Manorial Methodist, Mrs. Kayo Sickbort; Holy Trinity Luth:ren, Mrs. Alice Baker; Westchester Lutheran, MDs. S.

Olson; Spanish-American Institute (Gardena), Mrs. C. W. Tryon. •

Lone: Poach, California: First Congregational, Hrs. Virginia Davison; First Baptist, Harald Agal; Belmont Heights Methodist, Hilda Sncblcy; Faith

Lutheran, lire. Georgia Buckingham; First Christian (Bellflower), Dorothy Rood; First Presbyterian, G. M'alcolm Groher; Westminster Presbyterian, Arthur Gilbert.

Kansas City, Missouri: First Presbyterian, Jessie McKay; Van Brunt Pres- byterian, Mrs. S. E. Hogan; St. Panic Presbyterian, Mrs. L. Charles Gray;

First Pr,sbytorian (St. Joseph, MO.), Larric Clark; Pasco Presbyterian, Mrs. R. E. Scruggs; Gashland Comunity Presbyterian, Martha J. McCormick; Linwood Presbyterian (Chapel and Carillon choirs), Paul S. Lefever; Second Presbyterian (Cherub, Carol, Cloister, Boys, and Chapel choirs), Richard J. Helas.

Pasadena, CalgorniAk Arcadia Presbyterian, B. J. Rockwood; Calvary Pres- byterian, Mre. Margaret 11:bach; Cypress Par::: Christian, Mrs. W. E. Rio-

bolclt; Chino Methodist, Margaret Shugart; San Gabriel Presbyterian, Mrs. Dorothy Brown; South Pasadena Methodist, Mrs. Claire Bennett; St. Lukcs Episcopal of Monrovia (Boys, and Girls choirs), Marcia. Hannah. (Carol and Wstminster choirs from Arcadia Presbyterian. Sorry their names are not in proper position.)

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guild letter - 2 may, 1950

North liellywqqd, Cc1iforylia: First Baptist, Alice Butterfield; First idothodist, Dorothy Tanker; Trinity Community Presbyterian, hrs. Lax: Fairchild;

St. Judos Episcopal (Burbank), Hrs. Jane Victaroon.

4.1141s, Bothlohon Lutheran, Hoary D. Rose; Central Roforncd, abort hcConnell; Er et Congregational, John Dexter; First Baptist (hus-

kogon, Mich.), Irene Kolhona; North Park Presbyterian, Beverly Davio; First Methodist, Carl Sonoma; Park Congregational, John Davis Jr.; St. Johns Evangeli-cal and Rofornod, Doris Janos; St. :darks Cathedral, Donald Pcztpin; Second Con-grogational, William Burhoin; Second Street liothodist, Howard Slay_:; South Con-grogational, Ursa Eoraco Con.

Exclusivc of the Grand Rapids and Charlotte festivals, for which no attendance figuros are availablg, tieso festivals involved a total of 41 choirs and 1026 singers.

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gec-444, stc )na4.110/ nou asked the question, 'Why doesn't the choir

apncal to boys?' In ny choirs hero I find that our boys are definitely interested. At the prcsont time I have a total of 52 children botwoon the ages of six and four-teen in the choirs. There arc 26 boys end girls in this group. There had flavor been any organized in this 4/. ) church boforo I ca no here about 2?1 years ago. There woro no boy choirs in this city of 52,000, so I decided that the first group I would organize, aside from the adult choir, would bo a boy choir. We lot the boys know that their choir was really somothing special, and they loved it. At the present tine we have two boy choirs (divided by ago), one girl choir, a cher-ub choir (mired), and a youth choir (nixod). The boys have sung the wedding march in twn weddings this wintor, have given two 25-minuto programs for the Optimist club, and for a DAR chapter at Christmas-titre. They will sing for a literary club on flay 2, at which time a tally will be prosented on husic and Re-ligious Education. Those cxtrccurricular activitios stinulato their interest to the =tont that they arc willing to cone to an entra ono-hour rehearsal ev-ery week to learn additional repertoire to their regular choir prograia. On the outside progress we usually slag a secular group and a sacrod group of nunbora. I think that perhaps the groatost factor in our success with the boys is having then separated from the girls after they are nine and until they are fourteen. My problon now is almost how to hold the girls' interest, because people are always asking the boys to sing for the a. I shall have to work on the girls a bit now. I hone. I don't sound li!ae a braggart, but I ust had to say a word for our boys."

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IT'S L. BEGINNING --

Thc close of the choir season givos us a chance to review the first year of the infant Guild's existence. Ono hundred veventy nine directors have sub-scribed their dollar and received the Guild Letter. They in turn have helped to build a mailing list of noro than five hundred prospective members, .hay of

guild letter - 3

nay 1950

who'4 should bosom active this Fall. Tho Guild has published for- 1;h° price of 120 FOUR OLD CHORLMS, 'which are being used in sevord fostivals. Two nusicel publications have printer' atones about the Guild. Rocorlings of Znglish school choirs have boon mad° available. Festival worlz-shops have been hole". in Grand Ranids, Michigan; and in Charlotte, North Carolina. Prolininary won': in •other cities has boon begun for next season. Ey the close 02 the season, ton region-al festivals in the lostAngolos area will have brought ninny churchca -nd chil-dren into happy cooperation. Sono of those fostivalsparticipants arc listed at the. first of this issue For the, choirs which have fulfilled the reouire-ment of participating in a public musical service and presonting the ofikring to the Guild, there will be certificates of uenbership for their choir root: pre-sented at the beginning of next SO.:%Soll.

The next Letter will arrive early in Septaaber, and will help you plan your next season's program.

A happy and productive summer to all of you;

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MRMONY FOR PR]S3NTATION OF CHORIMRS' :MIMS

Sorvioc of ..Ftcsa-ATAI-an Minister: It is a good thing to give thaaks unt-1 the Lord; and to sing praises

unto Thy natio, 0 Most high, To show forth Thy loving kindness in the norning, and Thy faithfulness ovcry night.

Choir: I will praise Theo, 0 Lore, with 1,y whole heart. I will show forth Thy :iarvollous works. I will be glad and rejoice in Theo. I will sing praise to Thy none, 0 Thou host Hig?1.

Congregation: Doxology. (Then shall the ninister adnonish tn.° choir on the moaning of service, and of-fer a Prayer of dedication).

Service of Recognition: (The minister of music shall risc and stand boside the pastor.) Minister: Whom do you present to be recognized for distinguishod service in thc choir of this church?

(Then shall• the p:Lnistor of nusic road tho nones of choristors who -Ierit the distinguished service rwards. These choristers shall stand as their 1.17:..co are called.) Minister: The Lord be with you. Choristors: And with thy spirit. hinistor: Ministering in the nf the Lord Jesus Christ cnd of this church in

which y ou servo Him, I bestow upon you this emble-1 of devoted and eutstanding loyalty to the responsibilities of your office as a chorister. licY the Lord Jesus Christ ::co-o you steadfast in your pur-yose and faithful in your endeavor, now and always. May the consciousness of His presence be and abide with you forever.

(Then shall all the choir stand.) Minister: The ministry of music is not one to be entered into lightly. To load

this congregation in sincere, oxprossions of praise and prayer deaands dcdics:-tion of self. But the rewards of such service arc a fincr self-respect, and a deeper sense, of the nearness of God. Dr) y-4,1 redodicato yoursolves to the Principles for which your choir stands - faithfulness to duty, thoughtfulness of others, and loyalty to Christ?

Choir: I do rededicate nysclf to faithfulness, thoughtfulness, and loyalty. Minister: 0 God, Luther of Eternal Life, bless these Thy servants and lead then in their worshipping that their lips nay praise Thoc, their thoughts glorify Thee, and their lives bless Theo, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. ;mon.

(.3 CHORIS2MS GUILD SURVEY

1. What do you consider the minimum requiroments for membors of Guill choirs?

2. What do you consider the essential qualities of good childrens' choir nusic?

3. The Guile contemplates the following services. Number them in the order of their value to you.

annual publication containing nhthwz, service music, related study :.aterial monthly journal training coursos for directors promotion of festivals handbook on dhildrons' choir training recordings of uso-blo anthons by a specially trained choir pamphlet on value of childron's choir (for distribution to congregation) special concert series for children and their parents ostablishmont of uniforn standards for choir momborchip stand .-rdization of choir nines, and vostncnts

4. List your favorito anthems. (Use this form on back of sheet) lb. of Title C_omposer Publisher Price Parts

Chri stncts: Lout: Easter: General: 5. List the subjects you would t have discussed in the Choristers' Guild

Letter.

6. What do you Iasi: most - eouipmonq___. trnining?___ church cooperation?

7. What vas your greatest success this season in discipline, performance, ori-ginal idea, cooperation? (Use back of dheot.)

8. Whrt is your contact with the church school?

9. Should the Guild plan to sot up sumner schools next season? Yos No State your reasons.

10. If your answer to (9) was Yes -- how lour should such schools be: area.__.., 10 days, two tree s other__

lintch month; June_ July.._ -__, !August_ which, area of the country would be most convenient for you? should they be held in a city..,,___, sualler tows summer resort_ what particular place do you recommond?__ ...._.. nu- ber the following; Possible subjects in the orCer of your intor:6.st:

child psychlloalr vocal training for children how t: be a good teacher correlatiIn of nusic and religious education public -einti-}as (good publicity, getting along with people, etc.)

11. Would your church consider paying your tuition in such a. summer school?

Nome: Church:,