The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-06-19
THE ORGANISE AND
THE PRIMA DONNA

| 81 CSSoI S-iI pefCHdiCe one may com
across the latter among the readers o
Church Music.
There will be a large funeral to
morrow at 9 o'clock, Professor" say
the young assistant priest Now Their,
is prima donna from ST IS choi
(known for their grand opera) who in
tends to sing solo; l suppose at tn,
Offertory You know the pastor
views and mine on such things, and
knowing that you are stanch pro
moter of rubrics and liturgy, we thinl
TO let the matter rest with you"
I shall simply refuse" said l.
That's right; now do as to you may
seem best; goodbye
As | come to the organ (fifteen min.
utes before the time set), see the sole
copy placed prominently on the railing
| look at it, and with one glance l an
convinced-not surprised-that it viii
not be rendered while 1 am organist
both text and accompaniment giving
me all necessary arguments for a we'll
founded refusal. But sound arguments
cannot persuade the singers of this
grand music to deviate therefrom
While | was thinking for a moment OF
our dear Pope, the bell tolls, and so
begin with service.
The Introit has been duly repeated
and all is well. The Kyrie resounds
and two women approach the organ
but noticing me attentive to my va
tican Requiem take a chair near by
AS 1 proceed with the Gradual l think
to myself: There are evidently the
famous singers.
Now it is time for the Offertory-the
opportunity which so many transgress
ors seize. Very calmly 1 sing Dom
inc, Jesu Christie" etc A look at me,
then again a word or two with each
other, and a look down into the
church! This l could not escape wit
Messing. Consolingly to me, however,
the celebrant correctly intones per
omnia saecula," and with a cheerful
heart l hear "Gratias agamus," for |
feel glad that the "offertory solo" is
prevented. Noticing me to be at Ieis-
ure (as the Preface continues) the
strange lady introduces herself as fol-
lows:
You know about it, don't your"
About what?'' 1 responded as clam
ly as possible.
I am to sing SOLO"
"When?"
why, [ suppose after mass; could
not get a chance now"
must inform you that l do not
tolerate such solos, whether by my
singers or by outsiders
We'll, that's strange; father said 1
could"
My orders are to sing as the
church prescribes; that will explain
my action
Well / imagine that"-here the
priest ended with "dicentes," and i'm
mediately l begin "Sanctus, sanctus,
sanctus Dominus." { most timely wea-
pon-for this made her withdraw.
AS l finished the 'Hosanna" l became
a witness to whispering blossoms.
which continued even as I knelt down
for the Elevation; and 1 cannot help
but admit that I thought zone Our
Father" for the deceased would be bet
ter than all your chattering and would
show at least Catholic" spirit.
During the "Pater noster'' the friend
of the soloist approaches our youthful
assistant (who knelt in prayer near the
gallery railingl, tsking him to influence
me to grant the soloist's petition-as 1
seemed not readily gained by her.
Thanks to his good sense of correct
worship and to his true piety, he ex-
cused himself (aS l found out afte1-
wards). The soloist, informed of this
by her friend, thinks it time to make
another attempt on me;
NOu OuSlil 10 intake an eX-
ception today since the people belong
to the pillars of the church"
81 do not believe in such exceptions;
the church prescribes the same service
for them: and / think before God we
are all alike" 1 replied.
Il even promised the poor thing be-
fore she died that l would sing this"
persisted the soloist.
l am very sorry. but | must stick
10 my resolution
/ need noa assure the reader tia
the situation was very unpleasant and
that l wished most heartily to be left
N peace. This was accidentally. but
irmly, expressed as I answered "Sed
iberia nos a malo." After the Agnus
Del | was again confronted:
so you refuse to accompany me?"
Yes. ma'am."
Lux aeterna' followed. After the
asst Gospel she thinks it fit to call
lgain upon the obstinate organist,"
'ut instead of an answer 1 point to my
book. change a few organ notes, and |
thank heavens) as my dear pastor |
fastened to be right back for |
he absolution, l sing the Liberia ME, |
Domino.
Can sing after the priest is fin
shed"' she inquiries once more
Then | felt the time wasted in re-
usals, so ! said: Certainly, madam: /
s soon as the priest is finished with /
lis part, you may sing" 1t might |
ave been a trick-but what could l |
10? l could not stop during the
Liberia" and give reasons Now the
nd the funeral procession moves along
rieSt intoneS the PSALM answer.
ut of church-she sees all hopes van
shed. In paraGisum deducant tie an
eli" / sing-and she picks up her
opy, hastens down the stairs, and is
card passing a few lovely remarks on
that awful strict organist."
] frankly admit my devotion was
OF as it should be during Holy Mass.
ut l felt that l was fighting the good
CHIT / also knew that outside of
he litureical function eft" compo-
ition may be tolerated. However, as
see more and more that with so
lany of our fashionable ladies religious
'orship is also fashion and style"
am of the opinion that we ought 20
iscourage all tendencies to extrava-
ances.
The pastors can well learn from this
,sson that cooperation with the or
anist is absolutely premise to sue
ess. The organist can learn that a
esolute character mot a caricature of