Mixed Choirs

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11, 16 March 1905, Page 18

Mixed Choirs

After all, the Papal Rescript on Sacred Music may not be like the laws of the Medes and Persians. Although in itself a judicial law of universal application, it is possible that its enforcement, so far as mixed choirs is concerned, may for a time be suspended in countries where its strict observance might work much harklsjhip and inconvenience. So much, at least, is more than hinted at in an editorial paragraph in a recent issue of the Liverpool ' Catholic Times.' ' From a reliable Roman source,' says our English contemporary, 'we learn 1 that the Commissions on Sacred Music arid on Gregoiriian Chant lately held a joint meeting to coms'ider the) question of mixed choirs. Having affirmed the general law prohibiting such choirs at liturgical functions, they went on, to admit the necessity of exempting cowtriesl where the enforcement of the law would create serious difficulties. A resolution embodying thisi view will be laid before the Holy Father at an early date. Our inflormant makes special mention of America as amomgst the countries to be exempted. We learn from another source that Switzerland has already secureti a;n exemption ; and that several of the German Catholic Sta/tes, where mixed choirs are the rule— Bavaria, for instance— are about to apply for the same favor. Up to the present no German Bishop has made any mjove to eoforce this law,'