Grace Cathedral?  The architecture is impressive.  Also the site.
 
The sermon on the day I was there was given, as I recall, by the sub-dean, or
some Canon or other.  What a bore!  And he droned on for 20 minutes.  (I was
unable to ascertain any connection between his remarks and the Gospel ---
which, presumably, is the purpose of a sermon!)  Next day, I saw him going
into the restaurant at the swank Mark Hopkins Hotel.  So much for self-
sacrifice.
 
Maybe they had an off day.  But I was not impressed with the music,
particularly.  Especially when comparing it to what I'm accustomed to hearing
at l'Oratoire St. Joseph, Montreal.  No comparison at all.  Sorry.
 
The acoustics at St. Mary's?  I didn't think they were bad, but I've have to
hear it again.  The shape of the interior may mitigate, somewhat, the effect
of those acoustical tiles.  The priest who gave the sermon that day mentioned
that there was a leak in the roof, so he hoped there was a roofer in the
(largely visiting) congregation!
 
The choir moved from its "stalls" to a further part of the cathedral, to the
right and rear of the altar.  It was not a large choir, but they sounded good
to me.  Of course, I'm not a music critic.
 
I did not like the sound of the organ very much, and have already so said.  I
don't recall the echo to which you refer.
 
Wasn't able to go to either church a second time: had to return to New York
(reluctantly: I loved San Francisco!  Imagine: cyclamens and fuchsias blooming
OUTDOORS in November!  Camellias, too!)
 
While I was in San Francisco, I did some walking around: found some other
churches of interest: St. Dominic's, and St. Ignatius Loyola.  But I have no
idea what kind of music program either has.  St. Ignatius Loyola --- located
way out, near Golden Gate Park --- is a huge church: there seems to be an
organ in the rear gallery, but I don't know if it's in use.  Then: there's
that church in Little Italy --- frequently shown in TV crime dramas!  And the
old cathedral in Chinatown.
 
Arthur LaMirande
 
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Note:  opinions  expressed on PIPORG-L are those of the  individual con-
tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
versity at Albany.
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