The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-10-21
NAPOLEON THE GREAT AND ZLNGAR-
ELI.

In 1911 Solemn Tie Deum was ordered
the French Empire, on the occasion of the
birth of the f" King OF Rome" The order
reached Rome, then the chief city of a
French department. All was ready for the
grand function in st. Peters; csrdinale,
bishops, and clergy were vested, but there
were no choristers. Zingarelli, the Pope's
chapel master, was sent for, but he posi-
lively refused to conduct the choir, as he
would not recognise the Emperor for his
Sovereign nor the usurped title of King
Of Rome" as a subject for which to thank
Heaven Threats were in vain; the macs
tro declined. He would rather submit to
the ioes Of his hand than that it should
WELD the baton on such an occasion.
Napoleon was Informed of this omission,
and ON the subject of TIE DeumS be was
particularly exScting, and instantly sent
an order to the Project Of Rome to send
the recalcitrapt chapel master to Paris in
prison van. This order did not alarm I'm
garelli he felt no qualm of conscience,
and still determined that no amount of
pressure shonld make him conduct a Ie
DeuDe. Ga giving his word, however, to
start at once and lose no time on the road,
he was allowed to travel by the usual pub
lie conveyance, the diligence. He reached
the banks of the Seine before the stipulated
time, and took up his abode on the Boule-
Yard des Italiens, No. z, the same house in
which Gretry lived. He sent to inform the
Emperor of his arrival, and he waited his
pleasure. No answer was returned. A
week passed during which Zngarelli was
connecting the various arguments for his
defence. At length messenger arrived
from Cardinal Fesch, the Grand Almoner,
who accosted the maestro with the deepest
respect, eulogised his talent, enquired
after his health, and presented him with q
Thousand crowns to defray the expenses OF
his journey. Ee heard nothing further for
two months, and began to think he had
been forgotten, when an Imperial order
came for him to compose q Mass. This de-
mand was conveyed to HIM on the LIST Of
January, 1912, and the Mass was to be per
formed on the 18th of the same month On
hearing the request he exclaimed:
Mass Willingly; but, by the keys of St
Pope's slipper, let him not tempt me to per-
form Tie Deuns for his pretended King
of Rome" For 1 will not; no, never,
| never" The Macs was composed 10 a
week, executed, and found worthy of the
maestro. Zingarelli received 5000 francs
accompanied by the most f1attering con-
| CALCULATIONS.
He was next commissioned to set some
verses of the Stabat Mater to music. j
| have refused to sing TIE Deuns," said the
composer, " but nothing prevents me from
composing a Stabat Mater, the sorrowfu
| tone of which contrasts with the trium-
plant pomp of a TIE Deuna. l can compose
a Stabat Mater with safe conscience; but
| let him not ask me for TIE Deun. l would
prefer imprisonment, exile, even death.
for l will prove that Italians have some
spirit.
The Stabat Mater was executed at the
Palace of the E,ysee on Good Friday, 27tt
February, 1912, and produced great
effect. The choristers were italian, and
they were accompanied by the "orgue-
expreesif" of La CREME. When Crescen-
TIM was about to begin the " Eidit SUM
dulcem n&tum," he requested the organist
to resign his place to him, and the charm
of his voice, his wonderful expression, and
the plaintive tones he drew out of the in
strument moved the audience to tears. The
verse was repeated at the Emperor's desire.
OF course there was 20 applause, but the
tears of the auditory were the best reward
the maestro could demand.
After this, Z,ngarelli composed MdJni
feat, " Sub tuum pIG sidlum" and his cete-
DRAFTED Laudate, on his own prompting, for
he received no further orders from the I'm
perial Court.
After another months stay in Paris, I'm
garelli, through the Intervention of a friend
made known to- Cardinal Fesch his desire
to return TO fulfil his duties at St. Peters
aud to solicit permission to return to Rome
IL was instantly granted. On his way
| back, which was made with very different
dispositions than his forced journey to
Paris, Zingarelli often repeated, to the as
tonishment of his follow travellers: CATER
all he did not make me sing TIE Deune for
his pretended King of Rome !"