Moravian College - Benigna Yearbook (Bethlehem, PA)

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nouiicciiKiu usiiij; llu- iKimlioiir iluiir, (irii;iii atcJ is unknown. The use, Iidwcvct, o llic music of the trombone quintet to denote the death of a member of the Moravian congrega- tion is familiar to, and respected by, everyone who has heard the trombones from the belfry of the Moravian Church. Not all are familiar with the arrangement of the selections usetl in this ritual. The e]uintet begins by playing the Passion Chonile, followed by a chorale denoting the status of the deceased — man, woman or chiUl — and the Piission Chorale repeated con- cludes the playing. The words of each chorale represents some phase of the departeds station in life. In all probability the local trombone chorus is the only one of its kind in America. Certainly, the F-bass instrument used is ery rare; the so- prano trombone is the only one of its kind in the United States. Of the music used by the Collegium in colon- ial days, little is known. Haydn was played — uncatalogued copies ol his works have been found in Bethlehem archives. The period from 1750-1770 is devoid ol any- thing outstanding in music, but in 1770 John Frederick Peter came to Bethlehem. An accom- plished organist, violinist, flutist, and horn player, he knew music well — it was his devo- tion. Peter did some outstanding work for the music of the church service between 1770-1813. Peter was a real musician — the grandfather of all future Bethlehem musicians, lor he was the teacher of all who followed him. ' Following 1820, music in liethlehem went into an eclipse for the rest ol the century. True, Bishop Peter Wolle was composing cantatas during the period and |ohn C ' hrisliaii Till was writing anthems. The Collegiiini Mianiini hatl become a Philharmonic-Society, a society which was the center of activities ol the town, but which was not exceptional. It was not until Dr. J. Frederick Wolle (a relative of the Bishop) began his work in the eighties that music again resumed its prominent place in Bethlehem life. Dr. Wolle had studied in Germany, and had realized the greatness of Bach. In 1898, the first rehearsal of the WoUe-instigated Bach Choir was held. Bethlehem was no longer a . lora ian town, ,nul although Wolle lumsell was a member ol that church, most ol the members of the choir were non-Moravianites. The rehearsals, however, were held in the Moravian Church choir loft; the actual perform- ance of Bach ' s B Minor Mass, in the Central Mora ian ( hurcli — the hrst one in 1900. Since that date, the liach ( hoir has attained national fame; concert artists of great ability and talent have made guest appearances at the annual Bach Festivals. The Bach Choir has become the musical representative of this section of the state. In 1909, Dr. T. Edgar Shields began his work at Moravian. Organist of the Bach Choir and of Lehigh University; Organist and Choir Director of the Pro-Cathedral Church of the Nativity; Director of Music, Lehigh University, Professor of Music at Moravian College for Women, Dr. Shields has found time to continue Dr. WoUe ' s work in making music an integral part of Moravian hie. The Candlelight Service, now so well-loved by all Moravian students, immediately preceding Christmas vacation, is traced to the services held, in the first decade of the century, the Sunday before Christmas — a service marked by long sermons and poor music. In 1923 the service was changed, the leaflet revised to read as it

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USIC llUii IL isic ANt) MoK.w I AS — to .invdiic ever exposed to local customs anil iratluioin each term emlioilics jiart of tlic oilier; to all u ho ha e Iwcn stuilenls at Moravian the terms are msep- arablc. As no account ol the history ol the Moravian ( luirch in the L ' nited Stales is pos- sible without mention ol Cxjunt Zinzcndort, so the same history is inaccurate or incomplete without a tlescription of the Collegium Mii i- cuni or the trombone (|vniilet. Likewise, it is impossible to tell even the most sujKrlicial story ol the activities at Moravian College for Women without speaking of John Frederick Wolle or of the Candlelight Service. The Moravian C ' hurch was established and develo[Kd in a territory rich in musical heritage and ( copied with men and women of unusual musical talent. The Moravian ideal wa music lor all — music was for each indiviilual. W ' lien the Brethren and Sisters lelt l uroiK- to settle in America they brought their hymns with them — hymn singing had become a luiula- mental exjiression of their (Christianity and it remained so when they settled in the colonies. . n interesting example of the .Moravians ' complete laith in the individual ' s musical .iliilitx — -J A Ji l jj i llloninnu is the lact that, lollowing CCount Zmzendorf ' s example, many of the church members wrote hymns both lor their own and lor congrega- tional use. Sing Halleltijah, Praise the Lord, is just such a chorale. The Passion Chorale pre- sents an excellent example of the worth and value ol some of this early music. Not jeru- sdlcm, Loii ' ly Bethlehem, used in the Candle- light Service, is a hymn by Drcse, which was introduced by Zinzeiulorl. Zinzendorts ability as a writer ol hymns is illustrated by Jesus! Still L( id On. It was live years alter Countess Benigna, in 1742, liiunded her seminary that steps were t.iken toward more elaborate church music and the Collegium Musicum was founded. The name hail at one time Ix-en given to intormal gatherings ol amateurs [K-rlorming for their own pleasure. With the arrival of the second group of Moravian settlers came the idea of a more formal organization of musicians, . bout lourteeii players of outstanding ability were lound and the Collegium Musicum became the orchestra of the Moravians. It is interesting to review the instruments then used. ' iolins are noted early — joined later by Irench horns and llutes and oboes, used in some ol the first symphonies heard m . merica. It was these instruments which were useil hv the members ol the Colli giiini m pl.iymg tor church services. Troiiiboius were lie.ird 111 iHlhUheni 111 the ni! ldle ol the eighteenth ceiiturv, probablv .ibout 17s)- it w.is here lh.it these instruments were lust used in .HI outdoor service, a custom which is preserved in the use ol the trombones .it the l-.aster sunrise service. Most Mor.iv 1.111 stiuleiils ,ire l.imili.ir with the .ipocr ph,il story ol the routing ol the Indians who threatened to attack the town in the early eighteenth century. Hearing ol a propo.seil on- sl.iught hv the Iroc)Uois, the memlKrs ol the tiombone chorus assembled in the Hrethrens I louse, played Harl(! .1 ] ' oice From Yonder M ingci, and the lndi.ii s retired. Irightencd. just where or how the tr.idition.il de.ith an- I ' li r h.ii lil

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d Ks l()il,i . Il was tlic prcsiiu I ' rcsulciit, Dr. llcatli. «h(i inaugurated the (linslin.is ilimuT as a lovely prelude to the service. Under Dr. Cleweil who. In kjio. added the college branch. ,i chorus w.is lorincd. I ' .xeryone, regartlless ol .ige or i|U,ilit ol voice, who at- tended the school w.is e |ncted to ioin this chorus and the voices ranged Iroiii the shrills ol the young students, through the adolescent voices of the Seminary Seniors, to the more mature college voices. Each year a c.iiit.ita .is |iresented. the bass and tenor parts sung In men from the Nativity Choir. Despite the l.icl that the voices were so jioorly iii.Uclied, the an lui.il concert was well .ittcndcd both by town |K-ople and bv parents. It was in 11 25 th.it Dr. Shields organi ed the (ilee Club, choosing only the best oices. Since then membership in the club has been on a merit basis — no one is com|K-lletl to join. The Clee ( ' lub is now one ol the most active org.ini .itions m the school, liesides singing at school several times a year, the group gives a number of concerts in Bethlehem and surround- ing towns, joining, in late years, with the clubs of Moravian for Men, Cedar Crest, Ixhigh and Lafayette, the group has presented many joint concerts. The Triple Trio, an olTshoot ol the Club, has also presented many local recitals and is very popular locally. . school orchestra, formed several years ago, is steadily growing and improving. The mod- ern ( ' iillcgium Musicum (K-rforms in convoca- tion, at the Christmas service, at dramatic jiro- diictions anil other departmental activities. Thus. Irom the lirsl settlement in Bethlehem. from the foundation of the school, music has been a dominating lactor in Moravian lile. ' I he future, foundations tor which are now in good hands, sounds uood. I )i . 1 . Imk.mi Siiih lis I ' lif,!- I ' m