Church Music Association Rehearsal

“The Handel and Haydn Society were invited en bloc to attend the rehearsal of the Church Music Association, which took place, as usual, in Steinway Hall on Thursday afternoon. The selections were [see above]. The choral singing was, as might be expected, unusually careful and spirited; but, alas, the body of tone produced sounded harsh and ragged after the magnificent performances of the day before. The little chorus, ‘Disperse, Disperse, Ye Gallant Men,’ sung pianissimo, was, however, quite effective, and the solo singers did much to revive our drooping spirits. Mme. Gulager, Miss Henné, Mr. Leggett, and Mr. Remmertz exerted themselves to the utmost; and we never heard the latter gentleman to so great advantage as in the arduous music of the ‘First Walpurgis Night.’ It is rather surprising that a conductor of such excellent judgment as Mr. Horsley should take the time of Weber’s Mass, especially the last movement, so slowly as to destroy the effect of animation and brilliancy that rightly pertain to the work and to which we have been accustomed.”