The Express.
London, England, 1864-09-01 00:00:00

CRYSTAL PALACE.

Yesterday there was a "Juvenile Choral Festi-
val of the Took Sol-fa Aleociation.' The public are now
pretty well acquainted with this medial body—their pro-
ceedings and progress. They are now making the man
suoasedal attempt ever yet made in the country to popu-
larise vocal music, by bringing he knowledge and practice
within the reach of all claws of the people ; and their
enema is mainly owing to their adoption of a method of
musical notation, which, from its simplicity, Is learned
with comparstive ease even by children ; while,
as it requires no new characters, nor the Imo of any pecu-
liar kind of paper, it is cheap to a degree ►itherto =pesos-
deeted. HOMO it is superseding all other modes of impa-
la: instruction. Aarkole library of Tonic Sol-fa publication
is in the course of being formed, and the Tonic Sol•fa
schools number thoueands of pupils in every part of the
United Kingdom, and in cur colonies and dependencies
throughout the world.
The Tonic Sol-fa potation Is not a new homage. A
century ago a method founded on the isms ph.
ciple was invented by Jews Jacques Bousess,
who laboured bard, but unsuccessfully, to bring it
Into one. In our owe day an ingenious lady, Mies Glover,
of Norwich, fot mid a method founded on that of Rooms;
and the method now adopted by the Tonic Sol-fa Society
is an improvement, by the Rev. Mr Ourwen, of Plaistow
(the founder of the society), epos the method of Mies
Glover. Mr. Cameo hie greatly extended the applies.
bility of the method, though there are many kinds ad muds
—instrumental music of all sorts, and vocal music of very
complicated structure—to which, we believe, it out
never be applied ; though, considering that the
spews is still in its infancy, and that ee
much has been already done in extending its resources, there
is Do miring bow far lt may one day be tarried ; and is the
meantime it is a praiseworthy feature in the management
of the woisty's schools that they induct* instruction in the
old and anabliehed notation.

The Crystal Palacio festival of yesterday was an assemblage
of children sad young memos of both sexes, belonging to
tie numerous schools in and round London, who are taught
woad music adder the auspices of the Teaks Sol-fa
Association. The choir, conning (as was stated)
of Ant five thomaad voices, ample.* Sped
the great orchestra in the Centre Transept ; sad this net
assemblage of young people, enjoying • cheerful holiday,
was a moat pleasing and interesting sight. The sateeksia-
merits of the day were of various kinds. First, the Crystal
Palace Company's orchestra, under the direction of their
able conductor Mr. Maas, performed a selection of light
and brilliant instrumental music. Next there was • display
of the great fountains; and lastly, • selection of choral
music, chiefly sacred, was sung by the choir, under
the direction of Mr. Bull and Mr. Proudness, two of
the Sel-fa teachers. This concert was in two parts ; the
first composed of sacred, sad the snood of macular music ;
and the vocal music ins interspersed with several ceps
pieces, performed by Miss Stirling, • lady distinguished by
her extraordinary oommaad an instrument rarely calla.
vend by musicians of boa sea. The performances of the
choir did much credit, as W whole, to the vocal tuitisa of
the Tonic Sol-fa unhook The effect produced by these
thousands of young, fresh voices joining is a
Ana old psalm tune, or a chorus of simple 000strudios,
was often beautiful, sad 111001111i1IMIN sublime ; but the
attempts toting lively glees, pertueese, and harraimleed
ballads, were Ism suecassfal. Such things can never be mode
to go "trippingly on the league," when hundreds of tongues
are trying to trip together. They must be dull and heavy, and
all the teaching in the world cannot make them otherwise.
We must add that the selection of the music indicated •
rather low standard riexoellence. There were many pluses of
little merit, by chime composers, while the egoism of
the groat masters were few and far between. This was
wrong, as it is in the master-works of the art that the
greatest simplicity and facility of executios, as wall as the
utmost grandeur and beauty, are to be found, and it is
only by the nee of such works that the taste of the pupil
can be elevated sad reaped. There wee, however, mach
that was pleasing u the performances. end they deserved,
on the whole, the applause bestowed upon than.
The state of the weather was rather unfavourable to the
festival. A chiseling rails drove everybody under cover, so
that the beautiful roue& were deserted, while on the other
hand the interior of the building looked fuller than it often
does when the visitors are much more numerous Still the
assemblage was large, and the visitors evidently enjoyed
their entertainment, while the youthful singers we have MI
doubt enjoyed their holiday.

A MONSTER TRIAL AT BOLOONA.--A gang of
several hundred male/Acton had ramped the Rcesepa,
robbed a teak at Geo* is midday, and made Ile.
Mina almost uninhabitable. Tbe Papal government bad
_ .

allowed these malefaoton to puma; their depredations
with impusity, sad there 'mammon to suspect the oomplisity
of tbe Papal police. It is to the credit of the Italiaa
government to have at Isegth brought thaw, mikes to
judos. At pretest what may be truly called a isoester
trial is gang es at &Mow Oes busdred prim:men are
on ilia Is mar I. secure this formidable body of deape•
Mom, as hula mg* has leas cooetructed is the *out.
throogla tb. bars of which the &tassel for the defense cam-
issaieste wit► the primmers, like keepers is lb. Zoological
Gardens with wild besets. Wham this first babahof mousibrials
is dimmed of, some 600 mere muds to be tried ott the
same obaram.