Church Music Association Public Rehearsal: 2nd

Event Information

Venue(s):
Steinway Hall

Conductor(s):
James Pech

Event Type:
Choral

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
14 September 2025

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

26 Apr 1870, 4:00 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Church Music Association
2)
Mass, op. 86, C major. Selections
Composer(s): Beethoven

Citations

1)
: 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., 26 April 1870.

“C. M. A. at Steinway 4 p. m. satisfactory—but I fear our friend R. H. T. is a little out of order. This evening Edmund Schermerhorn, Pech, & Rev. Cooke here in council. At rehearsal all the choral work of Beethoven & Mass was gone over, & the solo parts hummed.

Beethoven’s Mass grows on me—but there are a few weak spots—so it seems to me now—as the Katy-did Miserere (in the Dona) and the questionable treatment of the ‘Deum de Deo,’ etc. The opening phrase of the Credo strikes me as worthy to be ranked among Beethoven’s higher intensities. I expect great things from the orchestra, when it shall intervene. The orchestra without the voices would probably express the sentiment of this Mass more accurately & fully than the voice, without the orchestra.”