Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-12-10
MUSIC OF THE MASS.
A Citizens Criticism Oh the COnScien.
tiOus Work of the Cathedral
Choir.

To the Editor Of the New Mexican.
Santa Fe, Dec. 1o.-The rendering of
Farmers mass in fat, at the cathedral
on Saturday morning last, was an event
in the musical worlt of Santa Fe worthy of
a more extended notice than that given to
it in your paper ofthat date. To hear it
was treat seldom enjoyed by the people
of Santa Fe, and tc have missed hearing
it would have been q loss We would not
care to have incurred.
To say that it WIS well rendered is but
faint praise. Indeed, any city of much
larger population and more musical tai
emit might we'll be proud of an organiEa-
ton that could render work of this
class so excellently, as was done by the
choir at the cathedral on this occasion.
The soloists, chorus and orchestra
seemed to have caught the spirit of the
imposition, and We'd with each other in
bringing out the many beauties of the
work which abound in every number,
The attack of the chorus was marked
with degree of precision and confidence
most pleasing to the listener. This was
especially noticeable in the Kyrie and
Gloria. The piano passages in the Qui
Tells, and Et Incarnatus we're most beau
tifully rendered. In this latter number
the tempo of the Allegro was rather
slower than is usually given to it, but the
smoothness with which it was sung, es-
peoially the fugue at the close, was such
as to entirely disarm criticism. II the
quartette of this number, we missed the
rich tones of the bassoon and viola, bet
the cello and bass were so well played
that the loss was not so very noticeable
after all.
As to the solos, they were SO we'll sung
that it is difficult to partlcularize. The
soprano was clear and pure. The ease
with which Mrs. Chacen took the A fiat i'll
the Kyrie was something unusual, her
enunciation being so distinct that every
word could be heard.
The alto, or more properly, mezzo-
soprano, sang the alto numbers with
much feeling, displaying to advantage a
voice of more than ordinary sweetness
and purity of tone. Why can not these
two voices be heard in the Outs Est Homo
of Rossini's Stabat Mater at no distant
day.
The tenor did his work conscientiously;
his voice, while not of the robusto order,
10 yet sweet and pure, and he could have
easily carried the tenor numbers without
aid from the soprano.
The bass was excellent. He gave the
runs in the Eft Incarnatus with an affetu-
osso that shows the possession of voice
of great flexibility.
The orchestra was good, kept we'll in
hand, quick to respond to the baton of
the conductor; their stacatta was we'll
marked. They are capable of much higheR
aims than the works Of Henry Farrnes.
A strengthening of the strings, and an e.
dition of reed wind would not be amiss.
The substitution of the Sanctus and
Dona Nobis Of Peters was it Peter'sP-
was both pleasing and satisfying.
Altogether the organization showed
careful, painstaking study, reAectir g
much credit upon the conductor. He
and they, as we'll as the people of Santa
Fe, are to be congratulated on tets event,
and they should be encouraged to go on
in this good work, and give Us in the near
future more of this class of music, for, if
it be true, and it is true, that music and
morals are closely linked together, then
the more and of tener we hear such works
80 vol rendered the higher will be raised
the mural ana religious tone OF the COM
munity. IL F.P. y.