Church of St. Francis Xavier Sunday Service

“After a month’s holiday the excellent choir of this church reassembled yesterday and delighted those who love to feel their spirits moved heavenward by the influence of good music. It was impossible yesterday to remain unmoved by the mystic power of the solemn music that rolled and swelled majestically through the church, or sank into low, sweet murmurings when they breathe forth the spirit of love and [illegible] harmony. Under the touch of the enchanter the organ appealed or praised or joyed or sorrowed with an intensity and feeling that were really startling. Berge played his second mass and threw all his soul into the performance. The choir seemed thoroughly refreshed by the short holidays and sang with great spirit. The mass opens with a Kyrie chorus and a duo, in which the soprano, Miss Teresa Weneke, and Signor Bacilli sang with great effect. As the plaintive tones of the Kyrie died away, the full choir burst into the grand strains of the ‘Gloria in Excelsis’ and a thunderous volume of melody rolled forth with majestic effect, and, dying away, the tenor and basso, Signori Zamoro and Baccelli, sang the ‘Dominus Deus’ in a way to move the heart. In the credo the ‘Et Incarnatus’ was splendidly rendered, and the soprano obligato given without accompaniment. A most pleasing effect was produced in the ‘Agnus Dei’ by giving the ‘Miserere Nobis’ without accompaniment, resembling the chant of friars, with a distant indistinct response, as though coming from a hidden choir.”