The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-26

ST. FRANCIS xAvltR'S CHURCH.
Mercadante's Three Part Mass-Superb Nlu-
sicnl Ceremonies YenferdnY.

SICui CEREMONIES HemIefOuys
The music Of this church since the return Of DR..
william Berge to the choir has undergone wonder
ful change for the better. Yesterday the grandest
festival OF the church was celebrated in an appro-
pirate manner by a most mastery performance of
Mercadante's three part mass, with selections from
Cataani the Adeste Fdeles, arranged by Berge, and
the .'Stradela Overture' and prophet Marchn as
an opening and finale. The mass has never been
given with chorus ana orchestra. although 1t Is q
standard fav0rite In chors. IL is an exceedingly
brilliant and taking work, Astounding In charming
themes and the orchestral subjects are very efrec-
tive. The KW'ie Ia solemn prayerful, and the parts
glide into each other with chant-like effect. The
Gloria opens with q trumpet passage, after which
there Is q beautiful meditation from the key OF
srmepts 'v working BACK tsrou@h s @na i
dissonances into the original key. The Ldudd,aus
Is delightful trio for soprano tenor and bass
from major INTO ID nat. Here tina tenor and bass
have interesting dialogue, the bass responding to
the lnterroRatory phrases OF the tenor. The Que
tosiis IN nne.eght time has some remarkable chords
ana modulations. The bass, tenor and soprano then
have three successive recltatlve passages fine ex-
amples OF defamation and then comes a dashing
choral fndte which Is very effective and brilliant
the C,edo opens with bold, impressive declaration
OF faith by each voice in succession, and the Et in
unuiH has u sparkling orchestral accompaniment, q
popular theme entirely distinct from the voices
-Four bars in which the fundamental notes give the
tones Of the common chord sngly, led by very
beautiful meditation from the key Of Z into major
ana then comes the E incdl1idtds, a SIMPLE pretty
trio. The Dasses then energetcally decaim Cruz
ctfTus, representing the camor OF the rabble for
the death OF the Saviour, and the sopranos and
tenors repeat the words but with tenderness
aud feeling, to excmplify the anguish OF the
mother and the lament OF the disciples. The
BASES close NJ sepuitits est with most sepulchra
passage The MI spsunern IL vivid and startling,
and gives an idea Of the commissions OF nature
when the Saviour triumphed over death. ~ HeaWn
Is a brilliant and effective bass SOLO with q distinct
subject as accompaniment In the orchestra like the
FL ia Qttnua1 Deu1n. charming trio sung by
Tamaro. Berge and Bacelli III style which would
have brought down the house al concert, fol.
lowed. The finale Of the CitdO viii bear compari.
son with any Italian work for brilancy dash ana
electric effect. The most remarkable features in
the mass are the wonderful modulations ana harmo-
MES.
BerRes effective arrangement OF the Adeste In
which Wagnerian system OF counterpart Ia intro
duced, and in which each voice sings variation on
the subject. while the chorus gives out the air was
sung at the Onertory. The .Sdvctus and A0nus were
from the works Of Catalani We have rarely heard
the overture 10 'Stradella" or the Coronation
Marchv given with more vig0r and erect
The phrasng and nudnces were more distinctly
marked, and the musicians seemed to throw tnelr
whole soul into the work. EDens orchestra was
engaged for the occasion, and select chorus from
tine Berge Choral Union assisted the soloists, Miss
Teresa Werneke, soprano; Signor Tamaro, tenor,
and Signol Baceli, 6sss Miss WeTneks's voice WAS