Venue(s):
St. Stephen's Catholic Church
Conductor(s):
Henry Blake Danforth
Event Type:
Choral
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
20 July 2024
“Seldom has there been finer music at a high mass than was heard here yesterday. The service opened with a ‘Kyrie,’ by Nini, the ‘Christie Eleison’ being rendered by the soprano and tenor. The ‘Gloria’ was also by Nini, and was well begun by all the voices. The ‘Gratias Agimus’ was a contralto solo, rendered by Mme. Bowler very sweetly and with great effect. In the quartet ‘Qui tollis’ the voices were fully sympathetic and not a graceless note occurred. Signor Coletti sang the bass solo ‘Quoniam’ with great power and artistic force, his magnificent voice, at times, giving an almost dramatic character to his rendering of the passage. The ‘Credo’ was that recently composed by Mr. Danforth, the organist of the church. It opens in six-eight movement, solid and firm, and glides easily along in the eccliastical style to the ‘Gentum non factum,’ which is a beautiful tenor solo, elaborate in design, and to which ample justice was done yesterday by Mr. Bernhardt. The ‘Et in Incarnatus’ is a chorus with two obligatos—soprano and tenor—and these were effectively rendered, Miss Emma Howson singing with customary grace and purity of tone. This lady also sung the ‘Et in Spiritum,’ contralto solo, with remarkable effect, every note telling. Signor Coletti, in the ‘Et Unam Sanctam,’ was even better, if possible, than in his solo in the ‘Gloria.’ The offertory piece and the ‘Agnus Dei’ were both arranged by Mr. Danforth, to whom is due no small praise for the rich musical treat given yesterday.”