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Show CUTTING DOWN CHURCH MUSIC The music of the 250 churches of' Brooklyn for the year just cloaing cost, according to professional estimates, esti-mates, over $170,0110, and the New York Sun ia authority for the statement state-ment that a large economy in this branch of worship lias been determined deter-mined upon for the new year commencing com-mencing with May 1st. In one or two churches the pid choir has been discharged for volunteers from the congregation, and in many others the pay of the singers retained has been cut down from one-quarter to one-half of this year's pay. Among the most remarkable changes in the choirs is the resignation resigna-tion of Miss. Annie Stetson, contralto, who retires from the quartette on account of ill health. There are nearly 200 applicants for Miss Stetson's Stet-son's place. In the church of the Pilgrims, where tiie music has cost about $4,000 Miss Susie L. Tooker, soprano, hitherto hither-to in the choir of St. James' Episcopal Episco-pal church, has been engaged for $So0. In Plymouth church, W. J.Hill, the tenor, retires after May I, and a noted English tenor is likely to be engaged, Miss Anna E. Holbrook alao contemplates leaving, Miss Lasar continues as soprano. The appropriation appropria-tion (about $7,000) is not cut down. The chorus is to be strengthenad. Dr. Buddingtou's church will con- iinua iu pay v. u. caira, Dantone, 2,000 a year; Miss Anna P. Sanger, soprano, $2,000; and Henry Ay re Browne, the organist, $1,100. This church pays with the greatest liberality, liber-ality, and will not retrench this year. In St. James' Episcopal church, where $0,500 a year has been paid for music, the vestrymen have resolved re-solved to cut down the $700 and $G00 salaries of Miss Emma Wilkinson, contralto, aud E. F. Marsden, tenor, respectively, as last year the ycut $500 ofl'the soprano's salary. The musical directors say that the market was never so glutted with choir material as now, and that many singers will fail to get employment for the coming season. |