The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1879-01-12
NUMBER 40,
ICom municatoI.l

|
Some weeks ago the MORNING STAR recon-.
mended "B!anchy's Mass for two voices" to the
attention OF its musical friends, saying tn at
competent ex perts have declared this compost.
ton "highly merItorious work" Your ex-
pe!ts would really oblige us by explaining the
high merits OF said mposition, for, regarding
the Mass from au artistio point of view, there
Is nothing OF any merit to be found In It.
As to the value OF 1t from the eooleslas
tical point Of view, We can only ssy that
this work 10 o new proof Of how corrupted
Catholic Church music has become amongst
us. Not one bar in the whole "Mass" is worthy
of being produced ct our divine services.
Your experts further declare "two-voice
masses of merit" very rare. They do not seem
to be acquainted with the great reforms thst
have taken place in church mrso during the
last ten years-reforms that are still progress-
ing in Germany, England, and In tho northern
parts of this Republic. by the energetic labors
of the st. CeoiliAn Society, under the protec.
ton Of Oar Holy Father and the most promi.
nent Arohbishops and Bishops. One glance at
the catalogue issued by this society would de-
monstrste to your experts the fact that Masses
for two voices ofreal merit, are not az rare ~
they seem to think. May we be allowed to call
to your notice few numbers out Of this cata-
logue, tho criticisms of which being those OF
the College OF Referees" OF the German Cecil
liam Society, have been translated by II. 6.
Brtterfeld, London:
/. Greith, c. Mass IN honor of S. Clara r,-
two voices and organ.
The Referees piG1ose that no one Ahould
criticise music for the Catholic Church who iH
not able TO prove his historical knowledge.
"a ugn han Fnt, hwxa -
have more respect for such n Mass az that.
What Is 80 remarkable in Greith 10, that ho ia
never commonplace; thus it happens that his
music does not easily impresd itself upon the
memory, bat then one does not get tired of it,
We do not find anything here actually new
bnt the old way appears in new form put
together and applied Ia different mauner.
And the fact hat the Mass is in two parts aud
therefore very suitsble FOR converts, SCHOOLS
etc, as u specimen Of the stEcter kind OF
church music (ouly few passages strike us as
too sweet) will make it vol me.
4 GrtiM {, Tres Missn IN cantu choraH
1p 27, for two voices.
Grcih. c. Mass for Soprano and ditto op %.
They contain good deal of pOlypuonio
work. Specially suitable, where IL s desired
% have real art in place of the miserable,
lothin saying, t~o-paIt twaddIe of s. webbe
Ind others.
6 Wiu, r. DR.. "Erultet," Mas, for ttco roicss.
well known and much. admired work; con-
dered moderately easy.
7. MT r Er. Hicsa Stp'imitsHi" for trco
quail roices. OPP l.
1t seems to that this is sn awe-inspirinR
dafs, with its gentle melodies and m6jestio
built upon the solemn old church
1ode. 1t 10 not exactly easy, bat those who
AXE the pains to learn IL will never regret the
xtra trouble and they will cei tAiDly serve art
8 we'll ns the Church.
VIII Er. Missa iH hon 81. Michaelis AroA.
ngeLi for one two voices With oryan.
Stehle j T.. "Sdire Regina " Prize Meas
,r Soprano and dlt0, (Fenor and Bass not obli-
ato), with organ.
II is seldom that q unNss enjoys so we'll
sserved popularity Rs this prize mass. Too
ttenton Of all choiTs that do not yet possess
ia called to the new edition.
10 SiHgeHGeTgeT, j. Easy Mass for tH0 or
rec roiceS
H. Hoenen Fr. Mass in fro pcrn.
n SkUhersky, r. II. Nissd dd daas Vocss
These masses certainly are not written in
Q common barrel organ style and require .
Dir master who understands real church
lsic and singers who come to church to pray
d not TO attract public attention like 10 q
noert hall. Respectfully, c. WEISS.