New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
The Vatican ChOirs

enterprise was lntfus,ed 10 tne pre-
centor Of s.. John Lateran, Maestro
Casimiri, who set about With unusual
fervor and zeal to get together tho
fines. choir that could be CHOSEN from
the rich field at his disposal. Once
the plan was fixed. the programme
chosen and rehearsals begun it began
to dawn upon Rome that what they
had hoped might soEe day be accom-.
pIishsd in their city was actually
realized and was to be heard ia
Americs under such wonderful su-
spices. When Maestro Cssimiri's plans
were fully realized it WAS Immediately
diseerned that these singers, selected
from the Sis;ine. ST. Peters, st.
John Lstersn and the Scuols Csntorum
for their individual merit. were really
splendid and harmonious vocal or
ganiza.i0n, 70 which even the mighty
works OF Pales;rins yielded in the
fulness Of his wonderful charm. Then
it was that the Roman Polyphonic So
ciety. so long dreamed OF. became .
stirring reality and Rome awoke 70
the fact that in planning for America
she had been helping herself 70
great realization.
The Polyphonic Roman Society"
Father Rostsgno continued. impress
sively. received its solemn baptism
on July 10, 1919, in a concert given
under me auspices Of Mr.. Sleyin and
the Scuols Csntorum in the splendid
hall Of the Apollinsre Palace. There
were present five Cardinals, nearly all
the prelates OF the great Roman
basiiicas. the Ministers OF Belgium
and Nicaragua to the Holy See, the
Consul General Of the United States
OF America, a large portion OF the
American colony, among them being
many distinguished musicians, and
numerous and select public OF the
literary and artistic Roman world
The programme included motets
tor four or 1--WE voices, BY pa!es.rina,
vittoria, viadans, Marenzio. lnge-
gneri, all Of the pures, ciassica. art,
and the public enjoyed and under
stood them perfectly. as il showed by
its enthusiastic applause, and the
execution prepared by Maestro CAST
niri and his choir deserved really IN
conditioned approval.
The voices tha. formed the choir,
the best that The profession could pro-
duce, sound changing. warm. ag..e and
elastic in every texture, rendered, with
harmOnies now sweet, now s,rcag. now
light, row bursting IN dynamic m
pressing intensity, the soul OF the Won
dertul compositions OF the sixteenth
century, tina. Maestro Casimiri re-
vealed TO them with his sober but ef-
:icient gesture Of Girector-interpreter
Because We must frankly acknowl-
edge u, Rome has found in Maestro
Casimiri the man who feels deeply
the Pales,r.nlan style. - perfectly
acquainted with is history, rs Develop
ment, its technique and rs spirit. and
who, with the help O. an ardent and
communicative temperament. succeeds
IN putting the executants in the state
Of complete vibration that is neces-
sary IN order ths, their voices may
serve to penetrate the hearers with the
passion that y.brated in the composer
in the labor OF musical creation.
Maestro Casimir brings 70 these
works a new conception, based on the
principle that the P4.cstr.alan COM
position has content essea,iaily spirit
ual, and. Ike all the wor1s Of true art.
can move the human hear, IN every
time, IN every circumstance.
Maestro Casim!ri. endowed with
Palestinian culture more unique than
rare, after having revealed Paies,rina
IN Peruzis, Tearo Vercelli, and 70 many
pupils of every nation, who assis. at
the famous weekly poyphonic cxecu-
tions Of the Pontihca. High School Of
Sacred Music in Rome. is going row 10
presen. 20 the judgment OF American
connoissegrs his psiestr.nian interpre-
tztions, committing their .onorogs
manifestation to vocal mass chosen
and concerted b. him