History of Music at the Basilica
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There are few places in New York City that can claim such a wonderful history of music-making. When the Cathedral was built, it was located amid woodlands and fields. In 1815, the city had the cultural sophistication of a small colonial outpost, lagging far behind other cities in America. For instance, it wasn’t until 1842 that an orchestra was formed in New York City (the Philharmonic, after three other attempts). Edward MacDowell became the first professor of music in America in 1896 at Columbia University. In this milieu, the Cathedral was one of the few places to hear music of quality.
Indeed, in an era when music was not accessible anytime, anywhere, as it is today, even culture-starved Protestants began to visit the Cathedral.
In 1826, the first in a long line of benefit concerts was given for the Orphan Asylum (later, St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral School). The Italian Opera Company, the first opera company to perform in New York, was led by Manuel Garcia. His daughter became a star: later known as Madame Malibran, she was the prototype for all subsequent prime donne.
The Garcias were brought to New York by Dominick Lynch, a Trustee of the Cathedral and sophisticated son of a banker who, recently returned from his Grand Tour, desired to finally “bring some culture” to New York.
When the Garcias arrived, Lorenzo da Ponte (1749–1838), Mozart’s librettist, was there to welcome them. His brilliant collaborations with Mozart on Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Cosí fan tutte 40 years previous were presented to an entirely new audience! Lorenzo, too, passionately tried to increase the level of musical sophistication in the city until his death in 1838.
Da Ponte’s Requiem Mass took place at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, to the sounds of Allegri’s Miserere (notably, this piece had been kept out of reach, a treasure of the Sistine Chapel, until the 14-year-old Mozart heard it and transcribed a “bootleg” from memory).
There is surely more musical history to be discovered relative to the order of worship, musical selections, and performance practice of these earlier times. We continue to search for more historical materials for our archives. Unfortunately, the last century is an abyss; no names, programs, or hymnbooks outside of those from the last 15 years.
Surprisingly, the 19th-century history is better documented; at that time, newspapers gave detailed accounts of Easter, Christmas, ordinations, and other celebrations. Though there was much original music performed in the past, notably by Gustavus Schmidt, there are sadly no extant copies in the church’s possession. Transcriptions by Cathedral Organist John White have been found, as well as sacred choral music by William Bristow’s son.
Notes
1.) Chaves, Mark, Congregations in America, p. 191.
2.) Meehan, Thomas F., Historical Records and Studies, “The First Charity Concert for the Catholic Orphans in NewYork”, United States Catholic Historical Society, 1899, p. 368.
3.) Lawrence, Vera Brodsky, Strong on Music, Vol. I, Resonances 1836–1850 (New York, Oxford University Press,1988). See p. xl.
4.) Ibid., p.302n, 106n.
5.) Ibid., p. 168.
6.) Ibid., p. 423.
7.) Ibid., p. 74, 109, 113, 486 et. al.
8.) “A New Phase in Musical Matters,” The Musical World and Journal of the Fine Arts, Vol. 3, No. 21 (1 July 1852): 359–360. Courtesy of Stephen Pinel.
9.) Lawrence, Vera Brodsky, Strong on Music, Vol. I, Resonances 1836–1850 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1988), p. 112.
10.) Lawrence, Vera Brodsky, Strong on Music, Vol. III, Repercussions 1857–1862 (Chicago, The University of Chicago Press, 1999), pp. 298, 440.
11.) Lawrence, Vera Brodsky, Strong on Music, Vol. III, Repercussions 1857–1862 (Chicago, The University of Chicago Press, 1999), p. 537.
12.) Lawrence, Vera Brodsky, Strong on Music, Vol. II, Reverberations 1850–1856 (Chicago, The University of Chicago Press, 1995), p. 423.
13.) Courtesy of S. Basile, who has written a history of music in the Archdiocese.
14.) From the “Metropolitan Church and Choir Directory of New York and Brooklyn,” and also “Nickerson’s Illustrated Church Musical and School Directory of New York and Brooklyn.”
15.) Ibid.
16.) Courtesy of Stephen Pinel, Archivist, American Organ Archives of the Organ Historical Society, Princeton, NJ.