New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-12-14
THE STABAT MATER.

1t is now some twenty years since the great mas
ter Rossini gave 10 the world his superb compost
ton in accompaniment of the hymn descriptive of
the crucifXion Of the Saviour and the agony and
grief of his mother, as she stood at the foot of
the cross, written hundreds of years ago. and max
ing part OF the musical services of the Catholic
Church on solemn occasions, through succeeding
generations Of choristers and organists in every
quarter of continental Europe. II needed the sub
tie and refined genius of the ustrious of composer
'Moses in Egypt" ,"Semiramis, ,""Othello, and the
Barber of Seville" to lay before the educat-
ed musical circles of the nineteenth century the high
conceptions which clOlstered Monk had embodied
in flowing and majestic Latin several hundred
years before, and by universal acclaim the noble
effort to place this offering the aars of the ven
cradle church was crowned with complete success;
for wherever there is to be found refined and cul-
tivated taste for sacred music, the Stabat Mater,
or portions of it, have been sung, to the delight OF
all hearers. If we remember Alright, many of the
morceaux were given in this city shortly after the
composition appeared i'll Europe, by an amateur
society for some benevolent purpose. Portions of
it have since been frequently sung at concerts by
professional artists here, and in various cities of
the United States but we are not aware that it has
America.
1t may be that that pretentious concern, the Sa-
cred Music Society of Boston, has attempted the
act but failure must have attended the effort, as all
know that there is too little soul in the mas a-toned,
lander, to enable lin to appreciate the noble
thoughts OF the old Monk or the tender and SYM
pathetic strains of Rossni
D,,t or Nh, i, IF
high enjoyment, as next week those of US who
choose can hear the whole work. as it will be pre-
sented at the Opera House on the evening of the
18th inst, without alteration or dinnution. For
this rich and extraordinary musical banquet the
city will be mostly indebted to the active exertions
of young Creole lady, as remarkable for her own
musical gifts as she is for her charms of manner
and her patriotic and untirng devotion to the
| cause of the lhr.Iyr and independence of her ma
| tive land. Whle nnsily plying her fingers several
| months ego, luaEHg clothing for our brave
soldiers, this lady Uu.etVed the idea of getting up
a concert, the plo4eejs of which should go also to
their benefit. ltp thought once in her mind, she
has not rested until she is now about to see it re-
allied.
Going among her friends, she managed to in
spre them with sympathy for her high purpose,
so that she found that with the aid of several
scores OF ladies and gentlemen amateurs Of her
acquaintance, and that Of Mr. Cognon, so well
known a musician of the highest taste and
capacity, she could venture in the Stabat Mater
with the prospect of doing justice to it. Several
months have been passed in diligent and conscen-
tous study and rehearsal, and now as the anniver-
sqry of'the birth of Christ approaches the story
Of his death on the cross, and the despair of the
Mother Mary, are TO be chaunted in New Orleans,
as a work Of charity one of the, foremost and
most shining of the Christian virtues. ~. r.r
Let it be remembered that the proceeds are to
go to the relief Of the brave men in the army of
the West, who are now fighting the battles of the
Christian South against the intidel and pundering
hordes Of the North; and above all, let full house
and large receipts reward the noble hearted lady
unter whose auspices the representation, will be
| given. Such result will do credit at once to the
liberal patriotism, and to the musical taste of our