Church Music Association Rehearsal: 5th

Event Information

Venue(s):
Steinway Hall

Conductor(s):
James Pech

Event Type:
Choral

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
11 July 2020

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

21 Dec 1869, 4:00 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

3)
Composer(s): Weber

Citations

1)
: Strong, George Templeton. New-York Historical Society. The Diaries of George Templeton Strong, 1863-1869: Musical Excerpts from the MSs, transcribed by Mary Simonson. ed. by Christopher Bruhn., 21 December 1869.

“First Rehearsal of C. M. A. at Steinway Hall 4 P. M. Paid chorus cooperated with the Amateurs and subscribers attended—some 200 perhaps. All the choral work of No. 12 was sung thro’, and also a scrap or two of Oberon. I thought the performance satisfactory, though Ellie laments roughnesses and short comings and fears we shall not have Rehearsals enough to cure them. Her ear is infinitely finer than mine to be sure, but I guess Pech will make the thing go, and go well. The orchestra will cover a multitude of choral sins. Many friends of mine among the listeners. Mr. S. B. R. not quite so exuberantly enthusiastic as I expected. This is natural enough. The Mass without its orchestra and its solo phrases, is like a canvass, on which the neutral tints of a great picture are laid down, while the reds and yellows and purples are still wanting, and also the touches that are to give life and keenness to certain special points.

The Kyrie and Gloria went well. Fugue a little loose and shaky: the soprani run wild sometimes. Credo, Et Resurrexit &c, very fair. Sanctus excellent. Agnus and Dona rather anarchic. N. B. Poor dear little Temple very angry and cantankerous tonight. His mamma sent for him to come downstairs and play his ‘piece’ (an arrangement from Don Giovanni) which he didn’t do, because he ws just going to bed. So I went up to his room, found him in bed, and boldly requested him to get up and dress himself and obey orders. Which he did, in a furious passion of tears and temper. Poor dear little soul--it was very painful to me, but such things must be done sometimes. He was thoroughly disgusted with me and marched off to bed again at last, without vouchsafing to bid me goodnight.”