The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-21
SUMMONED TO ROME.
st. Bridget's Talented Mus1-
cal Director Honored by
Pope Leo XIII.
HIS GRAND JUBILEE MASS
1t Will be Produced at ST. Peters,
Rome, on Easter Sunday.

DR.. Frank e. Dessert, the talented
musical director of st. Bridget's Church,
this city. of which the Rev. Patrick Corr
is pastor, has received word from Rt.
Rev. D. J. O'Conne.l, d. D., rector of the
North American College at Rome. that
Pope Leo XIII. has named Easter Sun
day next for u special jubilee service. aud
on this occasion DR.. Desserts 'Messe
S%olennelle', will be performed at st.
Peters, of which the renowned MertuzZl
is musical director. DR.. Dessert is ln-
vited by the Pope TO be present and SUI
perintend the production.
This is a great distinction for DR.. Dos
sert, aud the nrst time an American CON-
poser has received this honor.
The music of the mass is the pure
Gregorian, so much admired by Pope
Leo XIII. Last September, the 17fh, DR..
Dessert was granted a private audience
by his Holiness, and presented him with
low leather, The inner sides lined with
moire of the same shade, and on the
back, with all the accuracy and
d~elicacy of a sixteenth century
miniature, was painted the coat
of-arms of the Pontiff. The whole Was
enclosed in a case, also silken-lined, OF
highly polished. spotted poplar. The de-
slAu, III w 90 ~ - ~
Co. of New York, was in perfect taste.
simple and elegant, and was creditable to
the firm.
The orchestral score occupies 1872 pages.
The ''Kyrie,n a double tugue, is severe in
character. the themes of which are never
theless appealing and tender, and are
fully worked out. The "GlorIa" is full
of life, vigor and freshness, and contains
many religious and beautiful effects,
notable the Andante movement of the
Domino Fill, which follows che spirited
opening allegro. The "Credo'-the
longest number of the Mass-conGains an
exquisite chorus for female voices on the
"EI incarnatus est" written IN the pure
old Italian style, and an expressive male
chorus "Crucifxus,'' which Is followed
by an orchestral episode depicting the
anguish and suffering OF the C%rucIixton.
These passages are undoubtedly the most
effective in the work.
The .sSanctus" is majestic and grand,
and reaches the climax on the "Hosan-
mas" which follow, and which form a
delightful figure of the most joyous char
acter.
The "Agus Dei' which concludes the
work, is a perfect p~rayer-quiet, devo.
tional and suggestive of the peace which
is so earnestly petitioned.
In Rome, and at the Vatican, in partic-
uiar, great interest was manifested. First,
from the fact that never before has there
been any Jubilee Mass written for a Pom
tiff; second, because of the and whence
the composition comes-America being so
young in the world of art-and the great
est curiosity concerning the American
work is expressed, people being anxious
to seee in what way the influence of Pal
esirina forms and methods, can have
been changed by transference 20 America,
Pope Leo, after carefully perusing the
Mass, graciousIy accepted the dedication,
expires, his delight at the honor, and
conferred his blessing not only on the
composer but also con the great land on
the other side of the Atlantic" He ex-
pressed a wish to hear the work at the
jubilee and desired that DR.. Dessert
should then oe present to direct the pro-
duction.
The first composition which brought
DR.. Dessert into prominence was his Mass
in e minor, comppsei in 1888, which re-
cetved great p aise from the New YORK
press, and after having been sung in
Liverpool, England: in Paris and Vienna
and in all the principal cities of the
United States, was also given a produc-
ton at 81. Patrick's Cathedral. New
York. The Jubilee Mass of Pope Leo
XIII. was heard in New York in concert
last April in the presence of Archbishop
C%orrigan and a large representative audi
.ence OF the most distinguished people.
The honorary degree of Musical Doctor
was conferred upon the composer by the
faculty of st. Francis Xavier's College
last July
Frank G.. Dessert was born in Buffalo,
N. Y, OF French parent age. aud his mu-
steal talents are Inherited. His father
was organist of the Buffalo Cathedral for
twenty-six years, and his mother, a lady
of exceptional musical attainments, was
the possessor of a beautiful soprano
voice. Az the early age of fifteen years
he succeeded to the position OF his father.
His progress in the musical profession
was so rapid as to attract the attention of
musicians in New York City, and in 1882
he received the offer of the post of orgau-
ist and director of st. Stephens Church.
New York, which he accepted, and still
holds. Later he became musical director
of st. Bridget's Church, this city. and the
choir is today the best in the county
thanks to Prof. Desserts teaching.
The Jubilee Mass was rendered at st.
Bridget's Church at the high mass
Christmas Day.