Church Music Association Rehearsal: 2nd

“To Tr. Chapel Schoolhouse for Second Rehearsal—or rather drill of Amateur chorus (C. M. A.). Good attendance, tho’ there was a Mendelssohn Club Concert. Choruses from Oberon flow more smoothly. Kyrie, Gloria, and Cum Sancto Spiritu of Mozart’s No. 12 was done twice. Would they had been done ten times! Hearing them as bliss in chunks. Of course I have the notes of the organ score by heart and most delightful it was to watch these lovely voice parts weaving themselves around Messiter’s familiar chords on the piano—as a skeleton is made beautiful and ‘clothed upon’ by the muscles and tissues and soft outlines that indicate Life and Vigor and Passion. But in this case, the skeleton is itself most beautiful to begin with. The fugue went off famously well for a first trial. Even the difficult Edm’d Schermerhorn recognizes Pech’s genius as a conductor. I hope much from these concerts. To a great majority of the ‘fashionable’ music loving folk, they will be an Apocalypse of Musical Art. Ellie went to this meeting with a little sore throat, but could not resist the temptation to sing with all her might, and as such came home with no audible voice whatever, and still coughs a little.”