THE POPE ON MUSIC.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 154, 14 April 1876, Page 8

THE POPE ON MUSIC.

A writer says :—": — " It is, perhaps, not well known that Pius IX. is a very line musician. As a young man he cxiltivated his taste for music very assiduously, and his voice was magnificent. Even now it is very sweet and powerful, and when his Holiness sings at High Mass all who he.ir him are struck by the superb manner in which he executes the difficult Gregorian Chant. The Pope has always been a distinguished patron of music, and it is to him that Rome owed the flourishing- condition of her Conservatory of Music, which, however, has sadly deteriorated of late. A few weeks back the Holy Father met CajDpoci, the great composer of sacred music, and leader of the superb choii of the Vatican ; his Holiness congratulated the maestro, aud taking a valuable ring- from his finger, presented it to him. At the same time he ordered that the name of Cappoci should be added to the list of Knights of the Grand Order of St. Gregory the Great. Rossini was an intimate friend of Pius IX., and dedicated to him a very fino inarch, which bears his name. Goun >d lias also frequently been received by him, and ho Ins given him siv't-'tal notable decorations. When thr> f.unous priuia donna, Car lot La, Marehisio died, his Holiness ordereJ that the members of his special choir should sing at the funeral Mass said for her eternal repose. Pius IX. is at present much interested in the great church music question, which is so widely discussed in the musical world. He disapproves of the use oi" profane music in churches, but, at the same time, recently expressed an opinion that, as a rule, what is called sacred music was dull and dreary. He thought that saored music should be dramatic but not theatrical."