THE SISTINE CHOIR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18019, 18 February 1922, Page 9

THE SISTINE CHOIR.

VISIT TO AUSTRALIA.

The visit of the so-called Vatican Choirs to the United States in the autumn of 1919 drew special attention to Rome's famous choirs, especially the Sistine Choir. American entrepreneurs had endeavoured to coax this wonderful body of singers out of Rome, for the delectation of American music-lovers, but all attempts were futile.

Where America failed, Australia has been successful, and the Sisline Choir, 60 strong all told, will be in Melbourne at Easter. Arrangements have been completed for embarking the choir on an Orient liner at Naples in time for it to reach Melbourne- on April 12 and on Easter Saturday this famous organisation, dating back to the 15th century, will be heard for the first time outside of Italy. Three weeks later it will appear in Sydney. The tour will be directed by Mr. Thomas Quinlan, in association with Messrs. E. J. and Dan Carrol. The choir takes its name from the celebrated chapel of the Vatican at Rome constructed bv Pope Sixtus IV., and marvellously decorated with frescoes by Michaefangelo, representing a succession of biblical subjects, including 'The Creation of the World" and "The Last Judgment"—an inspired conception of the greatest sublimitv. With the building of the Sistins Chapel for the celebration of all Papal functions, the golden era of the choir may be said to have begun. Membership in this Papal choir became the great ambition of gingers, contrapuntists, and composers of all lands. The nursery and stepping-stone for membership is "the preparatory school established by Julius 11. in 1512, which performs all the choir duties at St. Peter's. A new constitution of tho Sistine Choir was established by Paul 11. (1545), which still rcmauis in force, and erapowers the choirmaster to propose tho candidates for membership, who are then examined by the whole company of singers. While tho Sisline Choir has undergone manv vicissitudes, it has ever had for its purpose and object the maintenance at tho seat, of ecclesiastical authority tho highest models in church music as well as in performance.