Trinity Church Christmas Day Service

Event Information

Venue(s):
Trinity Church

Conductor(s):
A. H. Messiter
Henry Carter

Event Type:
Choral

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
16 October 2025

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

25 Dec 1873, 10:30 AM

Program Details

Works listed before the intermission were rung on the bells by Ayliffe immediately before the service began; works listed after the intermission were performed in the course of the service.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Philharmonic Society of New York - Selected members;  Trinity Church Choir;  James E. Ayliffe;  A. H. Messiter;  Henry Carter
2)
"Glory be to God most high"
3)
"Ring out the bells"
Composer(s): Hodges
4)
"Christmas bells"
Composer(s): Unknown composer
5)
"Children of the temple, The"
6)
"Christ was born on Christmas day"
7)
INTERMISSION
8)
Voluntary, organ, unidentified
Composer(s): Unknown composer
Participants:  Henry Carter
9)
Mass, K. 317, C major. Selections
aka Mass, no. 1
Composer(s): Mozart
10)
Mass, op. 86, C major. Benedictus
Composer(s): Beethoven
11)
Symphony, no. 41, K. 551, C major. Allegro vivace
aka Jupiter symphony
Composer(s): Mozart

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Post, 24 December 1873, 3.

Lists chimes to be played before the service begins (only citation to do so). “…The musical services will, as usual, be under the direction of Mr. A. H. Messiter, the chief organist. After a voluntary on the grand organ, by Mr. Henry Carter, Mozart’s first mass in C, consisting of opening Anthem, Nicene Creed, Sanctus, Agnus Dei and Gloria in Excelsis, will be performed by the full choir of the church, the two organs and an orchestra of forty, principally from the Philharmonic Society. Beethoven’s Benedictus, from the Mass in C, and Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony are also among the musical selections for the day.”

2)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 25 December 1873, 5.
3)
Announcement: New York Herald, 25 December 1873, 6.

“The musical portion of the services will be conducted by the organist, Mr. Messiter, with an orchestra of 40 pieces, assisted by the church choir.”

4)
: Strong, George Templeton. New-York Historical Society. The Diaries of George Templeton Strong, 1863-1869: Musical Excerpts from the MSs, transcribed by Mary Simonson. ed. by Christopher Bruhn., 25 December 1873.

“Mounted guard over my Trinity Church pew at 9 a.m., keeping it for Ellie & Louis…An oboe & Temple were in the organ loft. Johny stood round somewhere. The usual compact crowd filled all the available space, long before 11 o’clock, when the Missa Solemnis began. Music went better than usual. Orchestra & choir kept together, as a general rule, and the alti & soprani were seldom more than half a tone off the track. But in spite of inevitable shortcomings, it was a noble, glorious service, and made one tingle all over. The little shaver who took the Agnus Dei was so manifestly scared that one pardoned his nice little voice and occasional wobble, and after he got through & knelt again, he cried & sobbed for ten minutes from sheer nervousness. Morgan Dix preached…and for closing voluntary the orchestra gave us the first allegro of Mozart’s Jupiter. Its dignity & joyousness are exactly fitted for Christmas.”

5)
Review: New York Sun, 26 December 1873, 1.

“…the music being by the Trinity choir of thirty-eight voices and an orchestra of forty.” No further mention of music.

6)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 26 December 1873, 1.

“There were three services, beginning respectively at 7 a. m., 9 a. m., and 10:30 a. m. The last named was the chief service of the day…The musical service was led by A. H. Messiter, the chief organist. The regular choir, consisting of 38 persons, sang, accompanied by an orchestra of 40 instruments, under the direction of Henry Carter, assistant organist. During the service Mozart’s ‘First Mass’ and an offertory by Beethoven were rendered with grand effect.” No further mention of music.