The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-06 00:00:00

Mum

ROYAL ACADEMY OP MUSIC.—The first of the an-
nual concerts of this institution took place on Saturday
morning, in the Hanover-square Rooms. •Vithin these few
years there has been a gradual improvement in the character
of these concerts. Their vocal portion does not now, as it
once did, consist almost exclusively of pieces taken from
modern 'ltalian operas, as if the only object of the academy
were to serve as a nursery fur the stage ; bat the selections,
both vocal and instrumental, are of a higher cut, and indi-
cate a more severe and classical course of study. The first
part of Saturday's concert was a selection from Mendelssohn%
List and greatest work, the oratorio of " E'ijah ;" and the
miscellaneous pieces were all of an excellent kind. In re-
gard to " Elijah," it is evident that Mendelssohn's grand
choral effects cannot be produced with a small number of
voices and in so narrow a 1111•02 as the Hanover-square
Rooms ; but the choruses selected were, for the moat part,
those which depend least upon physical power of sound;
such as the plaintive cry of tLe people, " Help, Lord, wilt
thou quite d, .troy us 1" and the prayer of the priests of
Baal; both of which had a beautiful effect. In some of the
others, particularly that astonishing piece of musical paint-
ing, " Behold, God the Lord passed by !" the choral voices
were unable to contend with the strength of the in-
strument.. Mr. R. Latter, who gave soma of the
finest recitatives and airs in the character of ElijnA,
acquitted himself of his arduous task with considerable
ability. He has a fine baritone voice, and his enunciation
was clear and distinct, though monotonous from deficiency
in variety of emphasis. Mr. Peed, too, delivered the recita-
tives, " Ye people, rend your hearts," and " Man of God,
now let my words be precious," with promising talent. But
both these young singers have a lesion to learn (which few
English gingen, by the way, ever learn), that recitative Is
more akin to speech than to song. Both of Mend, lerehn's
oratorios, " St. Paul " and " Elijah," are spoiled and
rendered heavy by inattention to this coesideratfon. Staudigi
alone has given dramatic effect to the character of Elij6h by
his energetic declamation,—no other person havirg entire.
voured to follow his example. The very imperfect ck
of almost every English singer must proceed from come great
fault in their tuition. The duet, " Lord, bow thine ear to
our prayer," was very well sung; and in the unaccompanied
trio, " Let thine eyes to the mountains," Misses Holeujcl,
Rumford, and Salmon, were deservedly encored. Among the
miscellaneous pieces were two pianoforte performances—the
slow movement and rondo of Beethoven's concerto, in C
minor, by Mr. Allred Gilbert; and a part of Sterndale Ben-
nett's tine concerto in F minor, by Mr. Whitehead Smith.
Both these young pianists did themselves credit, 1 specially
the latter. bliss Taylor, in Haydn's air, " With verdure
clad," showed a brilliant and flexible voice, with which 'he
may one day do great things ; and Miss Ransfi.rd sang Per-
golesi's "0 Lord, have mercy upon me" with purity and
expression, The duet, with chorus, from Mendelsaohn'e
Lobgesang (or hymn of praise), "I waited on the Lord,"
sung by ?CU A. Lincoln and Mies Owen, was very beauti-
fully given. The rob() parts were chastely and feelingly sung,
and judiciously accompanied by the subdued seises of the
chorus. We must not overlook Mr. Mount,* young contra.
basso player, who exhibited a remarkably smooth tore and
articulate execution in a trio of Handel. The concert, on the
whole, was very satisfactory, and creditable bet'd to the
academy and the pupils.

UNIVERSITY AND CLERICAL.
CANIIIIIDOI.—King's Casey : T. Bendysbe, scbol&r, has
toes elected a deacon of this sodsty.—Oorpos Christi College 11.
Fletcher, LA, app. hid rosistor of ilagebridge grammar ichod,
Dem.

Pnaratueurre.—Rey. R. T. Cockle, to Beer Green, P.C.,
Balm; dic. Oxford, 1001.; pats., Eton Coll. —Rev. P. Hamilton, to
be borne chaplain to the ELE.Stepanl.C., Poplar, Medal..:.—Bey. W. Has-
son,Mark's, P.C., P.C., dio. London.—fley. J. W.
Marsh to Benny V., 107 t, and Montle P.C., BIC, Notts., di o. Lin-
coln ; eat., the coll. church of Socithwell; Be.. R. anyld, dec.—ltesr.
W. P. Pigott, of Bemertee, app. chaplain to the &sniff of Wilts.—Rte.
B. R. Bonham, to (Body and Hammen C., Norfolk, din. Nos wiclL
Rey. J. G. Wrench, D.C.L., V. of Salehint, Busses, to be chaplain to
the Sheriff of BUMS.
Va.cancize.—Aylesford C., Kent, arebdio. Canterbury ;
Bee. J. w. Mush, prom.—Undone Brown 8., MHZ., with residenoe,
end Condone Chilton, R., 1901, with residence, Hants, die. Win-
chester ; pat., Lord Ashbortca ; Rev.C. D. Willancree, der.—ChigweLl
V., Eases, din. Rochester, 02111., with midterm ; pet., Bishop of
Rochester; Rev. R. B. Gremlaw, prom.—Deere C, Northampton-
Ogre, deo. Peterborough; Rev. T. E. Marshall, prow.—Rprian 0.,
Mersey, din. Winchester ; Rea. R. T. Corals, prom.—Gamlinguy B.
fainecurC. Cambridaeshrre, deo. Ely, WI.; pats.., Merton Coll., Os.
bed; Rev. G. T dec.—Preston V., Mixt, no. Salisbury, 2024.;
rd., the Prebendary thereof; Rea. 0. Piers, dee. ; Incumbency of
St. John, Waterloo-road, Lambeth, Mo. Winchester, 4131.; pat., Abp.
of Centenary.