“At half-past 3 may be heard for the first time the but just completed Grand Vespers by Gustavus Schmitz, which are grand indeed. The contain beautiful passages, among which are a soprano solo, and a trio by male voices without accompaniment. Mr. Heindrich Schmitz returned to the city three days ago with Theodore Thomas’s company, of which he is solo horn player, and will conduct the Christmas choir.”

“At Vespers there were beside the opening Dixit Dominus of Gustavus Schmitz, the plain Gregorian vesper chants, including the De Profundis and Memento Domini, an Alma Redemptoris by Est, and for concluding, the plaintive Tantum Ergo and joyful Genitori of Rossi.”