The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-04-23

Y
THE MONK WHO SANG IN THE sisfiNE CHAPEL
HIS WONDERFUL VOICE.
lRomc Correspondence of the Parisian.I
Fra Giovanni del Papa, the famous Fran.
ciscan tenor OF the Sisiine chapel, and
monk Of Ara CGli, is dead. lie mas peen
singing n great deal in all the church festas
This season. AT every Junction in the Sis
tine chanel, AT st. Ignazio. for the requiem
mag of Plus TX, on all occasions, We have
heard his angelic voice soaring pure ana
clear. limpid and sparkling. like noun
tain stream thrown up into high-water
shaft. aud spreading of in spray as trans
parent as sunny sheen against the heavens.
The moor Fra,e was i'll only Few days
with violent in1smmatOry gastric 1ever'
aggravated by intestinal gangren. FRA
Giovanni was a simple, kind-hearted coma
dino. He was born thirty. seven years ago NJ
ST. Maria del Giudice, near Lucca. lie enter-
ed the order OF tie Minor OsseryaDt> Francis
cans when he was osly seventeen. de was, II
is said. good student OF religious philosophy
and theological discipline, and al one time
| was robust and effective preacher. ABOUT
six or seven years ago 1t was discovered
that he had magnificent tenor voice OF
marvellous sweetness, extent, and, what is
unusual with that style OF voice, of great
strength, and il seemed incapable OF fatigue.
lis freshness ADD purity were truly une-
gualled. II was totally unlike other voices.
All who beard him were eDchanted-Only
few said il ought to be subjected TO must
cal training. The Princess Altieri, In
her beautiful story, POveverina." pub
lished in the Revue des Deur MondeS
lush January, 1st and 18th February num-
be, 81, gives this excellent description OF Fra
GioyannI's voice and It's powerful effect IN
q church: ''Then voice arose which eX-
cited sort OF trembling in the crowd; all
beads turned in the sane direction, all GU
rjous and eager looks rested on The same
point 10 the tribune. II was tenor voice
fresh, pure, caressng; but, above all, touch
ing and lender-one Of those voices which,
in spite OF defects, disarm all criticism, be-
cause they make vibrate that chord OF true
feeling which exists in all human sous"
Fra Giovanni del Papa had many rich and
tempting offers from impreSorii, but he al
ways refused them firmly. The Princess
Altieri in her charming story gives one Of
these interviews with great spirit, and de-
scribes the Frate with pen that is as real
lstic as it is pOelical. Fra Giovanni was
DroiSqS Of the Alleri family; he was under
the protection Of the Prince, and occupied
a room in the Palazzo Altieri, Rome,
whenever he wished: he was as a
petted child Of the family. He was a
gay, happy, bon enfcTlt, With heavy, coarse
form aid face. There never was such con.
tradiction between body and voice; it was
difficult 10 believe they were Of one being.
lie was most imprudent in his mode of
living; never took care OF his health, and
ale and drank the most indigestible food
and common wine at the most unreason-
able hours. He was no Qlu;ton or inc
briate. but acted like child, for be was as
innocen, as good child. He would come
out Of heated, crowded rooms a. night, 90
into damp, iil-smel.iDg trattOras, and put
into his iatigued stomach cold salad and
pork II was II the soul was impatient OF
iis gross earthly prison, and left the body
Iundirected, to perform all imprudent acts,
10 order that it might end The bondage
quickly. Wien will the great world OF
Rome hear again such a delicious angel
hike song as that OF Fra Giovanni del Papa