. Letters from Italy and Switzerland. uciüx MÜSIC OF THE HOLY WEEK. 189 is placed in the centre of the chapel, and all ap-proacli barefooted (without shoes), fall down beforeil and kiss it; during this time the Improperiaare sung. I have only once heard this composition,bnt it seems to me to be one of Palestrinas finestworks, and thej sing it with remarkable is surprising delicacy and harmony in itsexecution by the choir ; they are careful to placeevery passage in its proper light, and to render itsuflSciently prominent without making it too con-spicuous—one chord bleuding sof
. Letters from Italy and Switzerland. uciüx MÜSIC OF THE HOLY WEEK. 189 is placed in the centre of the chapel, and all ap-proacli barefooted (without shoes), fall down beforeil and kiss it; during this time the Improperiaare sung. I have only once heard this composition,bnt it seems to me to be one of Palestrinas finestworks, and thej sing it with remarkable is surprising delicacy and harmony in itsexecution by the choir ; they are careful to placeevery passage in its proper light, and to render itsuflSciently prominent without making it too con-spicuous—one chord bleuding softly with the , the ceremony is very solemn and digni-fied, and the most profound silence reigns in thechapel. They sing the oft-recurring Greek Holy inthe most admirable mauner, each time with thesaine smoothness and expression. You will be nota little surprised, however, when you see it writtendown, for they sing as follows :— Adagio. CoKO I. I A - gi - 03 0 The 190 mexdelssoiins letters. Coro IL ,N t9- emmmwmff^. Da Capo 3 volte. Such passages as tliat at tlie commencement,where all the voices sing tlie very sarae embellishment, repeatedly occur, and the ear becomes ac-customed to them. The effect of the whole isimdoubtedly süperb. I only wish you could hearthe tenors in the first chorus, and the mode in whichthey take the high A on the word Theos; thenote is so long-drawn and ringing, thoiigh softlybreathed, that it soiinds most touching, This isrepeated again and again tili all in the chapel haveperformed the Adoration of the Gross; but as onthis occasion the crowd was not very great, I un-luckily had not the opportunity of hearing it asoften as I could have vvishcd. I quite understand why the Improperias pro-duced the strengest effect on Goethe, for they arenearly the most faultlcss of all, as both music andceremonies, and everything connected with them,are in the most entire harraony. A procession fol-lows to fetch the Host, which had been exposed and
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