Trinity Church Christmas Service Public Rehearsal

Event Information

Venue(s):
Trinity Church

Conductor(s):
John Paul [organ-comp.] Morgan

Event Type:
Choral

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
6 October 2025

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

23 Dec 1870, 4:00 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Trinity Church Choir
2)
Mass, H. XXII, 3, G major. Selections
aka Mass, no. 1
Composer(s): Haydn
3)
Christus, selections
Composer(s): Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

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., 23 December 1870.

“At Trinity 4 p.m. with Ellie & her mamma. Rehearsal of the Christmas service. Credo, Sanctus, & Gloria of Haydn’s 1st Mass, with a scrap of its Kyrie (responses to the commandments)—anthem, the ‘Grace of God,’ Farnby, is tolerable with the orchestra (scored by Morgan). Offertory—recitation, trio, & chorus from Mendelssohn’s ‘Christus,’ very elegant. An orchestral introduction by one Ovide on the melody of Adeste Fidelis (the processional) well enough. Haydn music vigorous, very beautiful of course. Execution very rough. Orchestra & choir much too far apart. Cooke makes a good suggestion for future orchestral services. Things will go better next Sunday. A performance is always much smoother than one would expect from its rehearsal. But Morgan’s leading is not magnetic. There was quite an audience & many stayed till the end—half past six.”