Trinity Church: Ascension Day Services

“In Trinity parish the festival of Ascension Day is always observed at the mother church by special services of an elaborate nature. To-day the custom was observed with unusual heartiness. Service began at eleven o’clock with a processional hymn sung by the full choir, the members marching in procession down the south aisle and up the middle aisle…

“After the processional, and while the congregation were awaiting the usual opening sentences,

“A BAND OF MUSIC,

comprising an orchestra of twenty-eight wind and string instruments, began to play. The musicians were located in the organ gallery; and to their accompaniment the choir in the chancel sang Barnby’s anthem, ‘O Risen Lord,’ the voices scarcely being audible over the orchestral harmony.

“THE ANTE-COMMUNION

service was then said… The choir to the accompaniment of the chancel organ, sang Gounod’s responses, a series of brief, melodious strains, opening in unison, and in the last bar or two, falling into harmony. They were sung with precision and finish.

“THE NICENE CREED

followed, as set to music by Gounod and his popular mass. The English words were sung, and the full orchestra in the organ loft performed the accompaniment, which shows some bold treatment for the violins. It is very long, however, and for the fortissimo passages needed a greater vocal force, the orchestra coming in with overpowering strength. Although separated by the length of the church the singers and orchestra kept well together. As the service at Trinity to-day was chiefly of a musical character, and contains features of novelty as far as church music is concern, it challenges special criticism.

“This is probably the first time in this city that an orchestra has been heard in the service of a Protestant church, though the Roman Catholics have often availed themselves on festival days of orchestral resources. The effect is certainly very striking, though whether it is superior in majesty to the tones of a grand organ like that in Trinity Church is a matter of opinion.

“THE CONCLUDING SERVICES.

The other features of the programme were [lists program]. The singing throughout the was correct, and the practicability of using an orchestra in Trinity Church was thoroughly demonstrated.”

“Our experimental Ascension Day orchestra at Trinity succeeded beyond my hopes. The service was communion, beginning at eleven. Orchestra 28, of which 16 were stringed, & judiciously reinforced by bass diapasons on the nave organ. Of course the brass was too strong. Trumpet & trombone glared through the violin work, as does a conflagration through lace window curtains. Chorus & orchestra kept together wonderfully well, considering their remoteness from each other. The former seemed to me a little timid—awed by the new color & richness of sound against which they had to sing. But there was no hitch or breaking down. Everyone seemed pleased. Murray Hoffman (who called this afternoon) was delighted, and so were, he tells me, Mrs. W. Hoffman, Miss Paris, & certain other ladies from Low Church parishes who happened to attend. Few of the congregation expected this novelty. It was the first time anything like an orchestra has accompanied an Anglican church service in New York. May it not be the last! I’m told something of the kind was once done in Baltimore.

The processional hymn was long, the choir & clergy walking down the south & up the middle aisle. It was accompanied by the chancel organ. Then anthem by Barnby with orchestra—a tame composition. Responses after the commandments with organ alone. Nicene Creed by Gounod, with orchestra, rather effective from contrasts of light & shadow, but cartilage without bones, or tangible musical phrases. Offertory, a motett of Mozart’s, with orchestra, very splendid indeed.

Astonishing how much more effective church music is when rendered as part of a service, than when better performed & on a larger scale in a concert room. This innovation will probably be denounced, but is easy to defend. Within our own day the village choir of many a New England congregational meeting house has been supported by a ‘cello & a flute, instead of a papistical ‘chest full of whistles.’ So this was a step toward Puritan usage. We tolerate the trumpet stop, flute, oboe, etc., on an organ, & value them according to the degree in which they approximate to the tones of the instruments respectively, which tones the organ pipes can never reproduce. Why not substitute now other for these imitations, the far more expressive reflective realities? But the real answer to the objection is that art where employed in divine service—whether it be architecture, decoration, or music—should always be the highest attainable art, and that even a small orchestra, as an accompaniment to the voice, is infinitely better & nobler than the grandest organ ever built. 

Whether I secure it [a second season of the Church Music Association] or not, this successful experiment with our orchestra in Trinity Church is a great point gained. If Messiter preferred a little larger range of musical vision, I could have ventured on suggestions about his programme that would have made the service far more effective. But he can see nothing between the dreary respectability of his Anglican composers & the flashy prettiness of Gounod. The introduction of anything by Mozart was a conception!!! He is weakly sensitive, and if pressed to change his own programme would have been disgusted & would have thrown up the undertaking. But the music, good, bad, as rendered under his direction, did him great credit. How poor Ellie would have enjoyed it!" 

“Talking of our Ascension Day service with Benjamin R. Winthrop, who was a parishioner of St. Mark’s Church fifty years ago, he tells me that from 1818 to 1824, that church had no organist, & no organ, except that old Erben occasionally loaned one, or rather, stored some instrument that was slow of sale, in its organ loft, for a season, & that a performer was seldom found who could use the instrument. So the ordinary accompaniment to the choir of St. Mark’s in those days was as follows: one bass violin, two violins, & a flute. A fact for the confutation of cavillers at our Ascension Day orchestra, though I have not yet heard of any, and the service was admired, even by sundry blue Presbyterians who were casually present.”

"Trinity Church Music Committee at vestry office this afternoon. Agreed with the Odells for a new organ for St. Paul’s, $6,000.00. The ugly but ancient case to be retained. Specifications look promising. My resolution of reference as to 'increased effectiveness of musical service' on high festivals, was considered, & we agreed without the least hesitation to recommend an orchestra at the church on Christmas, Easter, Ascension Day, & Trinity Sunday. $800.00 to be appropriated for each. I thought it prudent to add a rider—'that programmes of these services be first approved by the rector or the committee—Messiter’s judgment in the choice of music being (in my judgment) very bad.'"