Church Music Association Public Rehearsal

“The Church Music Association has now become the best of our orchestral and choral institutions, and unquestionably doing the highest service in the cause of classical musical art, and the ability displayed by Dr. James Pech, in his artistic capacity in connection with the society, has entitled him to the thanks of the whole community.”

“First public rehearsal, C. M. A., at Steinway yesterday afternoon—a rehearsal satisfactory beyond expectation—was devoted to Beethoven’s Mass, & lasted from 3:35 till nearly six. That is an extraordinary work. Even those portions of it which I do not understand (and they are many) keep my attention riveted. Obscure passages in other works (e.g. Mozart’s Requiem—‘Quam olim Abrahae,’ etc.) drive my thoughts miles away. But this music, hard & unmelodic as it is, collars me with its first chord & holds me tight till its finale, as the Ancient Mariner held the wedding guest. It’s very strange—almost uncanny. One carries away few definite memories of phrases in the Mass. I cannot now distinctly recall any part of it but the grand opening of the Kyrie—& the awful ‘Ante omnia saecula.’ One can find no words to define the peculiar something which distinguishes Beethoven’s no. 2 from all other compositions—even from the ninth symphony, which belongs to the same period of Beethoven’s development.”

“There was a very full attendance at the rehearsal last Thursday, and the chorus sang the difficult music of the Mass with great precision and accuracy, and it is confidently expected that the first performance of the work in the New World will be one in which our people will take a species of national pride. It is certainly a great musical event.”