The Express.
London, England, 1847-11-16 00:00:00

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SOCIETY OF BRITISH MCSICLANS.—The accord of
this society's series of chamber concerts took place last even-
ing, and was fully attended. The selection was an agree-
able mixture of compositions by members of the society,
with pieces by great foreign masters. The performance
began with Haydn's quartet in B flat, op. 76, very nicely
played by Messrs. Thomas, Wheatley, Weslake, and W. 1..
Reed. Spohr's well•known duet, " Dearest, let thy foot-
steps follow," was sung by Miss Thornton (a young lady
whom we heard for the first time) and Mr. W. 11.
Seguin. Miss Thornton was somewhat nervous and timid,
but appears to be a promising nog, r. Her voice is a so-
prano of excellent quality, and her intonation very good. A
manuscript song by Mr. C. Horsley," Come with me, love,"
was sung by Mr. Lockey, and encored ; but notwithstanding
its reception, it was less happy than some of the composer's
previous vocal pieces. The air was somewhat meagre, and
required the condiment of its rich and piquant accompani-
ment to save it from insipidity. To find a new and unhack-
neyed strain of melody is the great difficulty in musical com-
position. The forms of melody seem to be well
nigh exhausted. All that composers in general can
do, is to ring the changes in old phrases, dron-
ing them in new harmonics; while a fresh and ori-
ginal melody is a rare achievement of genius. The way
to testa vocal air is to try its effect without any accompani-
merit—a test which very few modern songs would be able 14
stand. A quartet for the pianoforte, violin, viola, and vio-
loacello, by Mrs. Reinagle, did honour to this lady's talents
as a composer. The first movement, is particular, was free,
bold, and effective. Sometimes She attempted too much,
and Involved herself in contrapuntal mazes, from which oho
could not well extricate herself. Her own execution
of the principal part on the pianoforte was ad-
mirable. Mr. J. Thomas's quartet for stringed instruments,
played by Mears. E. W. Themes, Wheatley, Westake, and
Reed, was received with great applause, which it fully de-
served. It was from beginning to end a masterly composi.
tion, full of elegant and expressive, if not very original, me-
lody, rich and graceful in its harmonies, and clear and simple
in its effects. Mr. Thomas appeared to have taken Mozart
for his chief model. A long rambling song, said to be by
Weber, was sung by Miss Thornton. it was remark-
able only for the odd, awkward way in which the
original words were " done into English." Mr.
H. Westrop's seen, " Winter," the words front
" Thomson's Seasons," is a fine composition, and was
well sung by Mr. W. H. Seguin. Spohr's Quintet in
C minor, for the pianoforte, flute, clarionet, horn, and
bassoon, was performed with excellent effect by Mr. W. H.
Holmes, Clinton, Badderley, Catehpole, and Hardy. Mr.
Clinton introduced a new species of flute made entirely of
metal, and vary clear and brilliant in tone ibeyond this we
cannot speak of the merits of the invention, which is an
entire novelty. The concert finished with Beethoven's trio,
" Tremate, erapjoremme," sung by Miss Thornton, Mr.
Lockey, and Mr. W. H. Seguin.
THE DRURY-LANE OPERA.—This theatre, we un-
derstand, will be opened as an English opera-house in the
first week of December. The first piece to be produced is an
English version of " Lucia di Lommermoor," which is
already in rehearsal. The principal characters are to be
performed by Madame Dorus.Gras and. Mr. Reeve. Mr.
Balfe has completed an opera, entitled " The Maid of Ho-
nour," which will be the second piece produced. In it there
are three female parts, which are to be sustained by Miss
Birch, Mrs. Weiss, and a younger sister of Miss Laura Ad-
dison. M. Berlioz, the musical director of the theatre,
arrived in London some days ago.