The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1919-08-16
THE PAPAL SINGERS VISIT TO AMERICA

Through the gracious courtesy of His Holiness
Pope Benedict XIV, evidencng the profound
affection of the Pontiff for America, it has been
made possible to arrange American and Canadian
tour of notable choir of seventy-two singers Sc
lected from the far-famed Roman Basilicas. The
choir has been assembled from the world-renowned
Sstine Chapel ST. Peters Basilica, St. John Lateran
and the Pontifcal School of Higher Sacred Music,
and will be under the direction of Rt. Rev. Mgr.
Cashmere, Canon of ST. John Lateran, often called
the Mother Church of the World" The tour is
to be conducted under the auspices of the St. Greg
DRY Society of New York, of which Mgr. James
Slevin is president. Engagements have already
been booked for about fifty concerts, of which,
we are gratified to note is to be given in Mime
apolis in September or October, under the manage
ment of the enterprisng theatrical firm of Messrs.
Finklesten and Ruben at the Minneapolis Audi
torium
1t goes without saying that this announcement,
which is highly creditable to the enterprise of
Messrs. Finklestein and Ruben, will put the music
lovers of this city, natonfamed for it's patronage of
high class music, such qui vive of expectancy
as they have never experienced before. Indeed, if
His Holiness could be said to desire to make bid
for popularity in America he could have done moth
ing more gracious in the way of enhancing the love
of the American people for him than he has done
in consentng to this striking departure from the
precedents and traditions of the Church, for
before have the members of these wondrous choirs
been heard to sing except in Rome and in the pres
ence of the Ponti, since the establishment of the
| Pontifcal School in the fourth century. Only at
ST. Peters in Rome has the Great Sistine Choir sung
in the $50 years of its existence and only at the
great ceremonial services in which the Pope takes
part.
Rt. Rev. Monsignor Maestro Casirniri, who has
gathered this marvellous Pontifcal choir is making
this trip to see that every detail towards its
make his selections from the most notable singers
of the Roman Basilicas, including men long assoc
ciated with the chors of the Sistine Chapel, St.
Peters Basilica, St. John Lateran and the Schola
Cantorum.
! The Sistine Choir has always excluded the use
of accompanying musical instruments even that of
the organ which was not heard in the churches until
the thirteenth century Its ideal is the purely vocal
style and its aim the highest model Of liturgical
music we'll as its performance. When the Gre
goran melodies were still the sole music of the
Church the Choir set the standard for the rest OF
Christendom After melody blossomed into poly
phony it was in the Sistine Choir that it received
its most adequate Interpretation.
The Office of Maestro of the Choir of St. Peters
that is eagerly sought for by the great musical
composers and geniuses OF Italy. Among those who
have achieved this great distinction Paestrina
i Uegofin Benevo Piton Baini and Raimondi and
among the great composers who have written Of the
profound effects OF the singing of the choir Men
delssohn and Mozart, both of whom regarded the
performances miracles of the power of the human
I voice.
{ The coming of this combination of distinguished
singers is therefore noteworthy event, not only
) in the annals of music but in the promotion o.
that international and inter Christian spirit of gooc
5 will which has characterized the administration q
) Pope Benedict since the beginning of his bene6cen
: pontifcate It is significant of his intense desire
to do all in his power reclaim the distressed worc
) to condition of Christian arty and fellowship, ou
of the slough of world hatreds engendered by thu
i war. The project is noble and inspiriting one
we'll calculated to make our hearts in glad surprise
: to higher levels rise"
81 There can be but little doubt that Minneapoli.
will respond with hearty enthusiasm in her greeting
Y to these unrivalled masters of the choral art
: DE vALERA's GREAT SERVICE TO
VI AMERICA
q President De Valera has "builded better than h,
knew" in his mission to America. He has not only
succeeded in evoking the hearty expressions of tn