St. Stephen’s Catholic Church: Christmas Services

Event Information

Venue(s):
St. Stephen's Catholic Church

Conductor(s):
Carl Anschütz

Event Type:
Choral

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
20 June 2020

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

25 Dec 1869, 4:30 PM

Program Details

Choir of forty; orchestra of twenty-seven. Premiere of Anschütz’s Mass.

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
Composer(s): Anschütz

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Post, 24 December 1869, 3.

Part of long article discussing the decoration and music planned for Christmas Day worship services across the city. “The music of the day affords an ample opportunity for choirs to exhibit their skill. Perhaps the most elaborate programme is that arranged for St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic church in Twenty-eighth street, where a choir of forty voices, an orchestra of twenty-seven performers, and Mr. G. W. Morgan on the organ, will perform, under the direction of the composer, a new mass by Carl Anschutz. Mr. Toulmin will play the harp accompaniment.”

2)
Announcement: New York Herald, 25 December 1869, 3.

“At St. Stephen’s church will be performed a new mass composed expressly for the occasion by Mr. Schuetz [sic].”

3)
Review: New-York Times, 26 December 1869, 1.

“The services at St. Stephen’s Church, Twenty-eighth-street, near Third-avenue, commenced at 4:30 A. M., at which Rev. Dr. Sweeney officiated. The mass, by Carl Anschutz, was sung on this occasion for the first time. The singing by the soloists, Mme. De Luson [sic], soprano; Mme. Anschutz, contralto, and Signor Colette, basso, with a select chorus, was very fine. At the offertory, the choir sang a new arrangement of ‘Adeste Fidelis’ by Professor Morgan, who presided at the organ, which, together with a full orchestra, formed the accompaniment, and greatly added to the completeness of the effect…”