The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-04-05 00:00:00

HANDEL COMMEMORATION.

CRYSTAL PALACE, 20. 22, AND 24 JUNE, 185 O„
The issue of vouchers for tickets has far exceeded the
most sanguine expectat' . The offices at the Crystal
Palace and at Exeter Hall are daily besieged by applica-
tions for places. Although the central blocks contiguous
to the orchestra are all sold, the area of the great trar.-
sept of the Crystal Palace is so vast, that there if
still ample room in most excellent situations for many
thousands of additional visitors, but early application is
requisite.
. . . .

X. the works at the Palace approach completion, the
good effect of the acoustical arrangements now in course
of adoption becomes more and re apparent; and it is
beyond doubt that all within sight of the orchestra will
hear thoroughly. From some succeu.ful experiments
made last week, it was estimated that by closing the or-
chestra the apparent power of the organ hail been in-
creased within a fraction of threefold, while the ipiality
of tone produced by this grand instrument had been im-
mensely improved.
It has been interesting to observe the regularity of the
demand for seats for the series of performanam. .11inost
invariably tickets are taken in sets for the throe days,
but tined taken for single performances thus present
great uniformity, there being scarcely a perceptible dif-
ference between the single vouchers issued for each of
the three days. This is not aurprising because although
the " Messiah" and " Israel in Egypt" present peculiar
attractions. there is also a great feeling in favour of the
" Lettingen Te Dente." The following extract from the
Musical World is interesting in connection with this
great choral work :
" The Lettingen 'Te Demo' and Anthem were first
performed before the King and Court, an the Royal
Chapel of St. James's, November, 27, 1743 (the year
of the victory.) The effect they produced is registered
in the chronicles of the period, and the fact that
Handers music at the present time is more generally
known than the incidents of the occasion that led to its
composition, says no little for the genius of the musician.
Few now would care to read all the details of the cam-
paign that ended in the victory of Lettingen. Few now
care to know even that George 11., a King of England,
second of the Hanoverian line, was • warrior, like his
father, and like William the Third, his father's pre-
decessor. But every one who loves music cares for the
Doom' which Handel wrote to celebrate George
I I.'s west memorable feat of arms. This lithe prero-
gative of genius—ereative genius. The very name of
Lettingen Is only likely to be preserved through the
instrumentality of Handers undying inauiterpiece.
" For other reason, however, simply connected with
musical effect, the Lettingen 'To Donn' is well chosen
on the part of the managers of the Handel Festival.
Its martial tone is admirably calculated to impress • vast
multitude. Then not only is the instrumentation stri-
dent end imposing-160 as to stir the heart like a trumpet
—but the choral portion's are solemn and inagnificent,
proving incontestably, if proof were wanting, the truth
of the verdict delivered by a journalist of the day—that
the genius of Handel was ' inexhaustible.' Those who
remember the effect of the choral performances at the
preliminary commemoration of 1857 can hardly have
forgotten the iIIIIIIOIISC sensation produced by the unirtial
pieces—the grand solo displays of Judas Maccabieits
(ilt. Sinn Reeves), and the eliontses that embody the
mine patriotic ardour. Well, the general tune of the
IhAtingen ''Fe Deum'—in strict conformity with its
theme—is pitched in the Mille key ; and if we are
allowed boldly to avow an opinion that possibly may nut
have been hitherto universally acoepted, and may,
therefore. sound a little heterodox, the Te in
this particular instance, is equal if not superior to the
oratono.
We have heard, on safe authority, that Mr. Costa, the
energetic and indomitable conductor, whose services on
such • special and trying omission cannot possibly be
over-estimateti, feels ninfident that the Lettingen 'Ti
Lenin' will produce an effect sewed to none other that
is anticipated flow the extraordinary and unprecedented
combination of vocal and instrumental talent which is
to assemble at the Crystal Palace on the 22nd day of
June in honour of the great musician who has been
aptly designated the Giant et the Moir."'

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