Trinity Church Christmas Service Rehearsal

Event Information

Venue(s):
Trinity Church

Conductor(s):
A. H. Messiter

Event Type:
Choral

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
16 October 2025

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

23 Dec 1873, 3:30 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
Mass, K. 317, C major. Selections
aka Mass, no. 1
Composer(s): Mozart
2)
Mass, op. 86, C major. Benedictus
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., 23 December 1873.

“To Trinity Church 3:30 p.m. for rehearsal of the Christmas service. All from Mozart’s Mass no. 1, except the offertory—Benedictus of Beethoven’s in C—which seems cold when contrasted with the music of the most intense & brilliant of Mozart’s Masses. Messiter has converted the gorgeous quartette & chorus of the Dona Pacem into an anthem. The exquisite 'Agnus Dei' solo, which ought to immediately precede the superb Dona Pacem, was well rendered by one of our little boys. Singing against an orchestra frightened the child—his heart was in his mouth as he sang. Messiter & I talked to him afterwards and told him he was sure to do well on Christmas day. This was the best (or rather the least bad) rehearsal I have heard at Trinity.”