Church Music Association

“The closing concert of the season of this society took place at Steinway Hall last night and was attended by the usual brilliant and elaborately-dressed audience. Steinway Hall never presents such an attractive appearance as on these occasions, when wealth and taste combine in homage to art.

The programme of last night was in every way enjoyable, and gave to those present an opportunity of comparing the styles of three great composers, who, by the unanimous verdict of the musical world, are acknowledged to stand in the highest rank. A symphony (C minor) by Haydn received careful if not perfect treatment from the orchestra. A Mass by Weber and the ‘Walpurgisnacht’ of Mendelssohn formed the vocal part of the programme. The Mass is a familiar one to amateurs and to choir singers, and, while it is [a] pleasant and melodious work, it is by no means commonplace. The ‘Kyrie’ is graceful rather than solemn; the ‘Excelsis’ is exceedingly brilliant; the ‘Benedictus’ is one of the happiest melodic inspirations of a most felicitous composer, and the ‘Agnus Dei’ and ‘Dona Nobis’ are charming specimens of refined musical writing.

The ‘Walpurgisnacht’ had previously been given with success by the Church Music Association, and its repetition last evening showed all the advantages arising from additional rehearsals.

The soloists of the concert were resident vocalists, who have all been heard with pleasure in connection with this society. They form a quartet of eminent merit, proving that we have no need of going elsewhere for soloists, whatever useful hints we may gather from the chorus-singers of other cities. With Mrs. Gulager as soprano, Miss Henne as contralto, Mr. Leggat as tenor and Mr. Remmertz as basso, the Church Music Association and its friends have every reason to be satisfied.

The members of this society have done faithful duty during the past season, under the direction of Mr. C. E. Horsley. They will now rest from their labors until fall, when the rehearsals will be resumed.”

“Steinway Hall was crowded last night, and presented an appearance reminding one of the Thomas festival. Evening dress was in the majority, both among the audience and upon the stage. A large chorus and orchestra, numbering probably two hundred, occupied one end of the hall. The works performed were Haydn’s symphony in C minor (No. 9, ‘Salomon’s Set’), Weber’s mass in G, and ‘Die Walpurgisnacht,’ Mendelssohn. Three sound works, truly, all belonging to worthy composers, not blighted by the new-fangled notions of the maniacs who wish at the present day to turn harmony into chaos. The symphony was given with spirit and effect, if we except a certain coarseness in the strings, accustomed, as we have been, to the faultless tone of Thomas’ violins. A delightful episode occurred in the trio of the menuet, in which Mr. Fred. Bergner’s matchless violoncello took a prominent part. The mass is so familiar to the Catholic churches of this country that detailed comment on it would be unnecessary. Mendelssohn’s work was a good test for the chorus, and they bravely withstood it. Although the volume of tone was small and the orchestra occasionally obstreperous (when were ever Philharmonic instrumentalists otherwise?), yet the body of singers gave unmistakable evidence of high training in ensemble of expression and phrasing. This is largely due to the excellent method and unremitting exertions of the conductor of the Association, Mr. C. E. Horsley. The solo quartet, consisting of Mrs. Gulager, Miss Henne, Mr. Leggat, and Mr. Remmertz, were immeasurably superior to the quartet that appeared during the festival. The soprano and tenor solos were sung in a manner that satisfied even the most exacting ear. The Church Music Association, although they sorely need a change of name, deserve great credit for the artistic success of their last concert.”

“The Church Music Association gave their third concert at Steinway Hall on Thursday evening. The three numbers of which the programme consisted were performed in chronological order. First, an ever-welcome symphony of Haydn, then the Mass in G, by Weber, and lastly Mendelssohn’s Walpurgis Night. This cantata appears to be the stormy petrel of the concert-room. It was performed for the first time on an evening so tempestuous that few persons cared to venture forth, and its repetition on Thursday night was, considering the advanced season, remarkably unfortunate as to weather. The music, however, ‘went’ to a charm, and, thanks to Mr. Horsley and the Church Music Association, another short, intelligible, and most delightfully-characteristic work is added to those we may hope occasionally to hear. The quaint, tripping chorus, ‘Disperse, disperse, ye gallant men,’ naturally attracts the first attention, and claims the inevitable encore from a general audience. But further acquaintance develops new beauties, and the lovers of Mendelssohn set this cantata only next to the ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ Its diablerie is delicious—full of surprises, weird, grotesque, yet never losing hold of that which throughout his life held Mendelssohn to the service of the beautiful. The hall was completely and elegantly filled, and the lovely solo for violoncello, exquisitely played by Mr. Bergner, was encored, as was also the ‘Benedictus’ in the Mass. How much soever we may feel obliged to defer to Boston in the matter of chorus-singing, we have little to desire in the finish of our quartets. Mme. Gulager, Miss Antonia Henné, Mr. Leggatt, and Mr. Remmertz acquitted themselves with their usual felicity. The Mass, beautiful as it is, contains passages of which the effect is in nowise heightened by the excessive demands made on the singers’ breath. These, however, were always responded to with fidelity and smoothness. In the Walpurgis Night Mr. Remmertz had full opportunity for the display of his stupendous voice, and gave great effect to the music of the heathen priest.”

“The Church Music Association gave on Thursday evening an exceedingly interesting concert at Steinway Hall. It attracted, as usual, a very appreciative, intelligent, and numerous audience, for the subscribers to the association are among our best citizens. The pieces performed were a symphony by Haydn, Von Weber’s Mass in G, and Mendelssohn’s Walpurgis Night—an unexceptionable programme, and one full of variety and vital with interest. The symphony was fairly performed, the third movement by its grace and beauty winning an encore da capo.

Weber’s Mass is perfectly well known, not only from its constant use in the churches, but because, like his equally beautiful E flat Mass, it is one of the most pleasing compositions that amateur singing clubs can make use of, and it is in great demand for that purpose. It is not only melodious and singable, but it is, after its manner, devotional in spirit, and certainly is never in any portion meretricious. The unfortunate and gifted King, so long organist at Grace Church, made out of its kyrie a gloria patria, which used to be the delight of all who attended at that church, though it had a rattle and dash about it that rather tried the nerves of low-churchmen.

The Church Music Association sang this and also the Walpurgis Night music with more spirit and vigor than we have ever before heard them give to any composition. All of the Walpurgis music is highly dramatic, and some of it difficult enough to put even the best of chorus singers on their mettle. The association attacked these parts bravely and successfully, Mr. Horsley, the new conductor, is evidently inspiring them with confidence and courage, for they sing with an élan and assurance that heretofore they have not always shown. If Mr. Horsley would now only refrain from beating time with his foot there would be nothing to complain of. This is the only reminiscence that is left of the former conductor. Neither orchestra nor chorus, nor any one but the audience ever watches the conductor’s foot, and upon them the effect is unpleasant. The habit comes doubtless from the desire to keep the chorus squarely up to time, and perhaps also from an excess of zeal on the conductor’s part, and certainly Mr. Horsley throws himself heart and soul into all that he does, and with heart and soul to also hand and foot. Finally, we congratulate the society on its marked improvement in every way during the present season, and on the bright prospect that is before it, a still  higher success in the future under its distinguished and cultivated leader.”