New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-11
MUSIC OF MASS
INTERESTS MANY
Auxiliary Committee and
Guests Fill Church of
st. Francis Xavier.

An occasion Of much interest in both
musical and ecclesiastical circles took
place yesterday morning at the Church
Of st. Francis Xavier, in West Sixteenth
Street, when misss solemnis was
celebrated in opening the first annual
meeting of the Auxiliary Committee
10 the Pontifical Institute Of Sacred
Music.
The great church was crowded with
the members of the committee, their
guests and the general public, the
mass. because of its unusual musical
features, possessing far more than or
binary interest. These features were
under the direction of the Rev. J. B..
Young, S. j., moderator of music, and
7. A. fon, organist and choirmaster.
Three Types of Music Shown.
The music of the mass illustrated
the three types of church music ap-
proved by the Holy See. These types
are not given equal emphasis, however,
in the motu proprio. While the Gre
goran chant is held up as "the supreme
model" and the school of Palestrina is
commended for having produced COM
positions worthy OF place by its side,
modern music is permitted subject TO
warnings as to its profane origin, its
tendency TO become theatrical, and,
consequently, the greater care required
in its use.
This distinction was brought out in
the arrangement of the programme,
the modern compositions being placed
in the preparatory part of the mass.
The entire proper Of the mass was
in Gregorian chant sung in unison;
/ the Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Del,
Gregorian chant with harmonies by
Mr.. Yon; the Kyrie, Gloria and Credo,
modern compositions based on Gre
gorian themes, but treated in q modern
spirit, the work Of Mr.. Yon.
The choir employed was composed
of men and boys. the latter taking the
soprano parts. The mass was given as
an example of the various types OF
music permitted by the Holy See in an
effort by means of the visiting mem
bers of the auxiliary committee to
spread the possibilities of this music
through the Catholic churches of the
country.
In note in the programme 1t was
stated: The committee is conscious
that in its desire TO illustrate the three
/ types Of music il has been forced TO
/ sacrifice, TO some extent, the artistic
! Conference and unity which should
/ characterize the music of the mass, but
I il wished. at the first meeting, 70 give
an example of the wide latitude per-
mitted by the Holy See as to method,
provided the essential quality OF
church music be retained, namely, ap-
propriate expression of the words and
spirit Of the liturgical prayers.
Among the prominent members who
attended the mass conference were:
Clarence II. Mackay, Mrs. Winthrop Chan
Ter. Mrs. Nicholas Brady. Mrs. Helen Morton.
Mrs. Winthrop Rutherford, Mrs. Nicholas
lars, lhe Rev. DR.. Frank Reiser. of Orange.
y. j.; the Rev. DR.. Herman {. Gruhnert,
of Orange. n. j.: J. c. Ungerer. organist
and choirmaster Of ST. Patrick's Cathedrai ;
Glen w. Ashley. of St Patricks. IN wash
president of ST. Joseph's Theological Sem
mary at Dunwoodie. n. Y, end Nicola Mon
TAM. Of Philadelphia.
On the committee are:
John G. Agar. Adrian lselin. Mrs. Herbert
D. Robbins and Mrs. Cabot Ward, OF the
Archdiocese of New York; the Right ReV
Monsignor William T. Russell, and the Rev.
DR.. Sigourney w. Fay. OF the Arehdi0eese
Of Baltimore; Mrs. Charles Bruen Perkins,
Mrs. Paul Thorndke. Mrs. Robert Peabody
Mrs. Edward Motley Pickman and Mrs Mae
Donald. Of the Archdiocese OF Boston mar,
old Beckett Gibbs. of the Archdiocese OF
Cincinnati; the Rev. b. Morcetteau ana
Mrs. John Casserly, Of the Archdiocese or
San Francisco. Edward V. Papin, of the
Archdiocese Of St Louis Frederick W. Good
rich. Of the Archdiocese Of Oregon The Key.
d. 4. Hanly. of the Diocese of Seattle the
Rev Joseph d. Mitchell. OF The Diocese o,
savannah the Rev. Joseph NJ. Steifes; OF
he Diocese OF Grand Rapids. Mich. the Rev
Edward p. Griffin and Mrs. Robert j. Collier
~ tho Diocese of Trenton. and George 1.
Dixcn. Of the Diocese of Newark