The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-15
SUCCESSFUL SACRED CONCERT
Given in st. Thomas College Hall
Last Night.


There have been successful sacred
concerts given in the past in st.
Thomas College hall, but never a
more successful one than that of last
night, under the direction of Prof. W.
P. Schilling. musical director at St
Peters cathedral.
Four of the finest musical organiza-
tions in the city-the Cathedral choir
st. Mary's choir. the Junger Maenner-
Choir and Bauer's orchestra-partici-
pated, and their efforts were heartily
appreciated by an audience which COM
pletely taxed the immense seating
capacity of the hall.
Mrs. Schilling, whose wondrously
clear and resonant soprano voice was
in splendid condition, rendered two
solos. the "Inflammatus," from Ros-
sinis "Stabat Mater" and Gounod's
"Jerusaem." In the first she was as
sisted by the full Cathedral choir,
which also capably rendered selec-
ton from Mozart's Twelfth mass.
The ladies' of the Cathedral choir
sang with charming effect German
selection, "Das Kirchlein," by Becker.
The st. Mary's choir, under the leader
ship of H. Akermann, rendered a
mixed chorus, and Joined with the
Cathedral choir in the concluding num-
ber, which was God of Night! We
Sing Thy Praise"
The Junger Maennerchor, under the
direction of Gustav Schmidt, sang in
spirited and inspiring style die Stille
Wasser" and "Gruesse and die Keinl-
ath." One Of the most interesting fea-
lures of the programme was a lecture
on the "Stabat Mater" delivered by
Rev. Miles ]. McManus.
In beginning his remarks he traced
the development or evolution of music,
which he referred to as "the greatest
world" Ancient Greece and Rome
gave no great musician to the world,
because the lives of their people We're
devoid of the true ideal. 1t remained
for Christianity, the speaker said, to
make music messenger of the
noblest emotions of the human soul"
The "Stabat Mater" is supposed to
have been composed by Jacobus de
Benedictus. a Franciscan fiar. whose
soul was consumed with burning love
of God. 1.-THE theme" said the speaker,
"is the greatest that could engage the
intellectual faculties of man. The man
God dying upon gibbet to eXpiate the
sins of the world; His mother. moved
by all the tenderness that the term
implies, keeping her sad vigil over His
smitten form-these things We're we'll
calculated to constitute a theme un-
paralleled in the annals of the intel
lectual world
Father McManus then described at
some length the work of the various
composers who have set the hymn to
music. He considers that none of the
composers have succeeded in 'repro-
ducing truly the sublime emotions of
Jacopane." In conclusion, he said:
1.-The nineteenth century, the great
est of times offsprings, is enjoying the
result of ages of intellectual activity
under the refining influences of Chris
tianity. Science and art are faithfully
fulfilling their mission in enlightening
and elevating humanity. The eyes of
the world are turned toward the
Queen of Arts in anticipation of still
greater achievements in the limitless
regions of possibility.
"As some undiscovered mine may yet
unfold its hidden treasure of priceless
iems, so may this universe of ours be-
cueath to some master yet unborn a
legacy of sound which under the magic
touch of the art of music may repro
duce the soul of the 'Stabat Mater in
all it's beauty and magnificence."