way. Aldrich, the accomplished scholar, the acute polemic, the skilful logician,-in addition to all his other labours as a member and champion of the Church, and in addition also to his duties as Dean of Christ Church,—was, of all these, the most abundant contributor to our stock of devotional music. Dean Aldrich's management of the Christ Church choir is thus related by one of the Oxford Professors of Music :

"1st. He never admitted a boy chorister, unless he had given sufficient proof of his abilities; by which means he had always a good supply and a complete set; for parents, seeing that children who had merit were certain of being preferred, were very solicitous to get them previously instructed. 2ndly. In admitting a singing-man or chaplain, he made it a rule to give the preference to one who had merited his favour in a lower capacity, provided he was qualified for his new station. By a strict observance of this method, there was not a useless member in his choir; for the chaplains had then an equal share of choral duty with the singing-men; nor was there the least grumbling or complaint on that account; the Dean himself setting a noble example to the former, by constantly singing a part in all the Services and Anthems. 3rdly. In order to keep up the spirit of music, and to promote social harmony, the whole body attended him duly on a certain evening in the week, when he not only appointed the pieces that should be performed, but assisted in the performance himself. What an admirable example was this! Could any of the band be remiss or negligent when animated by such a leader ? ” *

Dr. Hayes, who states that this information was given him by a member of Christ Church in the time of Dean Aldrich, thus describes the conduct of Cathedral dignitaries in his own time:

"What protection can the organist of a College or a Cathedral expect from one who has no relish for music, which is often the case, or from one who apprehends he is placed in his stall for no other purpose but to play the bashaw over the inferior members? Such an one, in case of a vacancy, will pay more regard to the person who recommends, than to the merit of the candidate. Parts and abilities are no qualification nowadays; some previous questions must be answered to the satisfaction of the Dean; as, how did his father vote at the last election, or how does he intend to vote at the next? And unless these questions can be satisfactorily answered, no other arguments will avail. The organist, failing in his attempt, retires, with this mortification added to that of being obliged to endeavour to make singers of those to whom nature has denied the necessary requisites,—a slavery equal to that of the Israelites in Egypt. And without a proper supply of Singing-boys, what Chaplains, Minor Canons, or Lay Clerks can be expected as useful persons in Cathedral duty? This is a most un

* Remarks on Mr. Avison's Essay on Musical Expression,' by Dr. Hayes.

comfortable reflection to all lovers of Church Music, and to those who wish its advancement; and what affords no better, is the mean and scanty remuneration annexed to the office of Lay Clerk in every Cathedral in the kingdom, excepting the very few where the Minor Canons and Lay Clerks have retained their ancient privileges of letting and renewing their estates, and of making the same proportionable improvement in them as the Dean and Chapter make in theirs. For the generality, the salaries belonging to these inferior members remain identically the same as at the Reformation; the Deans, with their brethren of the Chapters, being careful to monopo lize the profits arising from the improvements of these estates to their own private advantage. Hence the miserable performances which we hear in Cathedrals: as it cannot reasonably be expected that the poor men, who have obtained these places merely to eke out a pitiful maintenance, should neglect their necessary employments to study the art of singing properly. Thus, if the Dean on the one hand be regardless how the state of music stands in his Cathedral, the singers are equally so; and in such a disgustful situation the organist will have little appetite to set about the work of reformation. He has little probability of being reimbursed for purchasing music, or paid for having it transcribed into the choir-books, while he knows the impracticability of getting it performed with tolerable decency.

Dr. Hayes in this passage was describing his own position, and relating facts which never were impeached or disputed. The corporate privileges of the few choirs who had retained them are all swept away by that zealous defender of the sacredness of trusts and the inviolability of endowments-the Bishop of London †.

Every measure which has been devised for the destruction of Cathedral music has originated from men profoundly ignorant of its worth and beauty; other, worse motives have conspired, but a musically-educated priest was never known as its assailant nor ever appeared in the character of an innovator. In this class we certainly do not include the Cambridge students who have learned the flute, nor the Oxford ones who blow their more favourite cornopean; but we mean such as have applied themselves to the study of the art in its highest character and for its noblest purposes. Among such will uniformly be found (as far as our inquiry and experience extend) the zealous advocates and ardent admirers of the Cathedral Service.

The fact to which we have alluded would not have the

smallest influence on the conduct of those who framed the recent act of Parliament. With presumptuous folly, or in unpardonable ignorance, they pursued their headlong career, overturning prebendal stalls and minor canonrics, trampling upon the spoils of genius and the ruins of art, their cager eyes only fixed upon the golden prize which their outstretched hands were ready to clutch. But what excuse can be framed for the conduct of statesmen and legislators, who, without hesitation or inquiry, precipitated the work of destruction? They were invited to legalize certain novel projects, coming from a suspicious quarter and having a most suspicious tendency,-among others, to uproot and overturn the Cathedral Service. Did these questions never occur to them? "How comes it about that this scheme is now propounded from episcopal authority for the first time? The Cathedral Service must have been planned by the fathers of our Church-it has existed ever since-it has received the sanction of her most eminent divines from that time to the present, why is it now proposed to destroy it? We ought, at least, to inquire before we proceed; at present we are in the dark, and therefore ought to tread cautiously; we are ignorant, and therefore ought not to legislate*." If they needed authorities, the concurrent opinions of the most eminent dignitaries of the Church in every successive reign were at hand; if documents, the Statutes of every Cathedral were at their command, and the decisions of courts of law; if oral testimony, that of Minor Canons, Organists and Choirmen was at their door; but if they sought a precedent, they would find it only in the journals of the Long Parliament. But they cared for none of these things, and with indecent haste and unpardonable indifference rendered reform impossible and ruin certain.

There is another circumstance connected with this Act of Parliament which, whether originating in ignorance, carclessness or design, will equally contribute in no inconsiderable

* "A foolish divine, here and there, blind to his own interest, may have hinted that he was content with the method approved and practised by Barrow, Tillotson, Juxon, Tenison, Sherlock and Wake. But what ignorance and perverseness to oppose such men as these to the mighty Trismegistus! Vicarages and rectories are in his right hand, and in his left endowed chapels and stalls-therefore he is infallible."-Letter in the Times, signed 'Sottosopra,' March 30, 1844.

degree to accomplish its general intention with regard to Cathedral music. It contains no provision for the appointment of a Precentor, nor even any recognition of the office or its duties. The Service of the Cathedral (essentially and, with the exception of the Lessons, altogether musical) is thus left without any director or head. The office of Precentor is one of great antiquity and of prime importance. "Paulinus," says Bede, "leaving York and returning to Rochester, left "behind him one James, a priest, who, when that province "had peace, and the number of the faithful increased, being "very skilful in ecclesiastical song, began to teach many to "sing after the way either of Rome or Canterbury."-"That " is," says Dean Comber, "he taught clerks to chaunt the "Liturgy of St. Augustin to its proper notes*."

The office of Precentor of St. Paul's was afterwards separately endowed :

"As the former kings did by their several charters confirm all the lands and possessions which had been given to this Cathedral, so also did King John by Charter, dated at Shoreham, 16. Junii, give sundry lands for the founding of a chief Chanter heret."

The duties of the Precentor have been adverted to in our former article. To the importance of these, Church history, Cathedral statutes and choir-books, and the writings of our best divines concur in bearing testimony. The responsive choirs of every Cathedral are named after the Dean and the Precentor: every Service in existence, from the time of Tallis to the present day, is constructed with a reference to this arrangement, and the words "Decani" and "Cantoris" occur repeatedly in every page of each, the stall of the latter being on the side opposite to that of the former officer.

The following passage from Bishop Beveridge will show his estimate of the dignity and responsibility of a duty which is now quietly abolished:

"Besides the stated Psalms, there is another Hymn or Anthem appointed to be sung in such places [Cathedral and Collegiate Churches]. But what that shall be is not appointed by the Church, but is left to the

Beda, Histor. lib. ii. cap. 20 (quoted by Comber).

+ Dugdale's St. Paul's, p. 8. (Ellis's edition.)

The British and Foreign Review, No. XXXIII. p. 90.

discretion of one who presides there, to choose such as he shall judge most proper to set forth the glory of God in general, or upon any particular occasion. In which great care ought to be taken that it will be such as will answer its end. Otherwise, instead of furthering, it will interrupt devotion; which, whosoever shall be the cause of, either by his carelessness or indiscretion in the choice, ought to be called to account for it by his superiors here, as he assuredly will by the Supreme Judge of the world at the last day*."

The Statutes of every Cathedral prescribe the qualifications, and define the duties, of this important office. The latter are unceasing and various, and demand suitable attainments. The entire economy of the Cathedral is arranged by the Precentor; he (as a Recorder to the Mayor of a corporation) is the Dean's adviser; every appointment should be virtually made by him, because he is required to be a fit and competent judge of every candidate's qualifications; the "combination," as it is called, for every week is made by him; he is to select every Service and Anthem for performance-to see that they are diligently prepared and efficiently sung; he is to allot every singer his place in the choir, and assign to every Minor Canon or Lay-clerk his part in whatever he may require to be performed; he is to select such music as he may see fit to be purchased or copied; the library is to be under his care, and he is responsible for its preservation, renewal and increase. He is to select Anthems and Services suited to the various festivals of the Church, and on the greater feasts he is to intone or commence the church hymns.

Now, we ask, who, henceforward, is to discharge these duties? Not our Deans,-for of them they are not required, nor are they competent to the work,-neither the (two) Minor Canons, for we have it from Bishop Blomfield's own lips, that "there is no intention of taxing their musical powers." By whom then are these daily and onerous duties to be discharged? A Choir without a head is as an army without a leader; and no one member of the body, save the Precentor, has any more power than his fellow. Nothing remains but that the Lay-clerks and boys should sit in council (the organist, in many Cathedrals, not being a recognized and statutable