Trinity Church: Easter Services

Event Information

Venue(s):
Trinity Church

Conductor(s):
A. H. Messiter

Event Type:
Choral

Performance Forces:
Instrumental

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
19 February 2022

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

17 Apr 1870, Evening
17 Apr 1870, 10:00 AM
17 Apr 1870, 3:30 PM

Program Details

At 9 am, children gathered to sing carols at the church. Bell ringing by Professor Ayliffe at 10 am (preceding the service that began at 10:30 am) and 3:30 pm; he performed those pieces listed here before the first intermission. See the New York Times announcement for further details about which pieces were performed at each of the three services. “Thanks be to God” was composed by the organist, John P. Morgan, as the offertory selection “for the occasion.”

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  James E. Ayliffe;  John Paul [organ-comp.] Morgan;  Franz Remmertz;  M. [soprano] Lunnig
2)
Ringing the changes on eight bells
Participants:  James E. Ayliffe
3)
"See the morning star is dwelling"
Composer(s): Monk
Text Author: Wood
Participants:  James E. Ayliffe
4)
"Christ the Lord is risen today"
Composer(s): Unknown composer
Participants:  James E. Ayliffe
5)
INTERMISSION
6)
"Christ the Lord is risen today"
Composer(s): Unknown composer
7)
Te Deum, F major
Composer(s): Smart
8)
Jubilate
Composer(s): Smart
9)
Nicene Creed
aka Credo
Composer(s): Merbecke
10)
"Sing we merrily"
Composer(s): Crotch
11)
Kyrie
Composer(s): Calkins
12)
Gloria
Composer(s): Calkins
13)
INTERMISSION
14)
Cantate Domine
Composer(s): Hopkins
15)
Messiah, "Hallelujah chorus"
Composer(s): Handel
16)
"Thanks be to God"
Composer(s): Morgan

Citations

1)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 16 April 1870, 5.

“The decorations to-morrow will be tasteful, and the music will be of a very superior order.”

2)
Announcement: New-York Times, 17 April 1870, 8.

“Here [Trinity Church] the grand services of the day will be ushered in by the ringing of the chimes by that veteran chimer, Prof. Ayliffe, under whose manipulation will be rung out upon the air the following, at 10 o’clock A. M., and at 3½ P. M.: [lists program for bell ringing].

“Beginning at 10½ A. M., the religious services will be after the manner laid down in the Book of Common Prayer… The musical exercises are as follows: [lists music performed during service].

“At the evening service will be sung the same processional and recessional hymns as above mentioned—Cantante Domino, by Hopkins, in A; Benedic—Chant; Anthem, (as at the morning service; [sic] Chorus—‘Hallelujah,’ from ‘The Messiah.’

“The musical exercises will be under the direction of Prof. A. H. Messiter. Prof. John P. Morgan will preside at the grand organ.”

3)
Review: New York Sun, 18 April 1870, 1.

Brief. “OLD TRINITY celebrated the day by ringing six ‘Easter Carols’ with her sweet chiming bells.”

4)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 18 April 1870, 8.

Difficult to read. “…The music was conducted under the direction of Prof. A. H. Messiter, organist and choir master. Prof. John P. Morgan performed on the great organ. In addition to the regular choir a large number of brilliant artists lent their services. M. Lunnig [?] was the principal soprano; Mr. Berron, alto; Mr. Remmertz, basso. There was no deviation from the published musical programme, except where instead of Bach was substituted an improvisement [sic] on the theme of the recessional hymn. Handel’s Hallelujah was given in an excellent manner in the afternoon.” Continues on about non-musical matters.