Article on the prospects for choral music in the fall/winter 1873 season

Event Information

Venue(s):
Christ Church

Conductor(s):
Anthony, Jr. Reiff
Charles Edward Horsley

Event Type:
Choral

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
29 March 2025

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

30 Sep 1873

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Mendelssohn Union;  Christ Church Choir;  Mendelssohn Glee Club;  Church Music Association;  Vocal Society of New York

Citations

1)
Article: New York Post, 30 September 1873, 1.
“The prospect for choral music in New York this winter is decidedly poor. The Church Music Association is, so far, the only organization of this kind which has shown any signs of life. The rehearsals of the city will begin this week, and will be conducted, as last season, by Mr. C. E. Horsley. The programme of works to be performed has not yet been issued.
 
The Mendelssohn Union has made no arrangements for the season, and its future achievements are indefinite. Mr. Albert Weber is the president, and we presume that Mr. Reiff is the conductor, as usual.
 
Neither has the Vocal Society given any evidence of vitality. Its concerts last winter were among the best of the season, and it is to be hoped they will be resumed. The Mendelssohn Glee Club will be quite active this winter. There is, however, no prospect of any oratorio performances this season unless Dr. Damrosch’s efforts to form an oratorio society prove successful, and it is even possible that Christmas will pass by without the usual annual performance of the ‘Messiah’—a performance for which we were so long indebted to the energy of a few members of the late Harmonic Society.
 
Speaking of choral music, we may add that the dispersion of the extensive and artistic choir which has given such a reputation to the music of Christ Church deprives us of enjoying some of the best choral music of its kind ever heard in this city.”