Article on music at St. John's Episcopal Chapel

“If we institute as a standard of excellence in the way of church music, that which has been left to us by the Cathedral writers of the 16^th and 17^th centuries, than which no better school exists, more appropriate for the praise and thanksgiving to the Almighty, we can easily understand why our contemporaries have been greatly pleased this week by the performances of these masterworks by the choir of St. John's Chapel, one of the Trinity Parish Churches. With a body of choristers, men and boys, numbering about 30, these compositions seem to meet with a most complete execution and interpretation, which are given with an accuracy and perfection most unusual in most Episcopal Churches where the Quartette style prevails. Even Trinity Church is now no longer what it was, nor is it at the present time in any way equal to St. John's in its performances of musical services and anthems. Yet Trinity with its architectural proportions and long aisles of reverberation is much more capable of commanding those effects for which the performances at St. John’s are so remarkable. 

"The Church of St. John's, however, is but ill adapted to the services of the Cathedral music. The Chancel is much too small, while the organ, some 60 or 70 feet away from the singers, would, in ordinary hands, be totally unequal to the purposes of Church accompaniment, were it not for the complete command the organist appears to have over his instrument, and his thorough manipulation of all the intricate harmonies to which this kind of service is wedded. The congregations, which have been gradually increasing in numbers since the opening of the Church on Sunday evenings, was [sic] last Sunday very large. The seats are entirely free. Pertinent to the subject of the Trinity choirs, we notice that the organists and choirmasters of this large Parish have invited the rectors, clergy, and choristers of the several churches to join them in an excursion around Staten Island, and to a rural luncheon at Elm Park on Thursday, the 11^th of July. It is pleasant to observe that our musicians can refresh themselves, and dwell together 'like brethren in harmony'.”