The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-27 00:00:00

iillulitt.

THE BIRMINGHAM MUSICAL FLSTIVAL.
(Isom oua mom. colawolroist.)

BIRMINGHAM, MONDAY.

The general rehearsal appointed for this morning
took place shortly after 9 o'clock, when Mr. Costa,
the conductor, the band and chorus, and some of
the principal singers concerned in the works to be
rehearsed, assembled in the orchestra of the
Town-hall, where the performances take place. The
first work gone through was Alexander's Feast,
which is to be given, followed by a miscellaneous
selection, on Tuesday evening. Professor Stern-
dale Bennett's new sacred cantata, the Woman of
Samaria (with which the performances of Wednes-
day morning will commence), was next rehearsed ;
first without, and again with the choruses. This
work was directed, as it will be at the performance,
by Mr. W. G. Cusins, conductor of the London
Philharmonic Society, who represents Professor
Bennett on the occasion. The composer, who was
seated in front of the orchestra, was warmly
greeted by the assembled performers, both on his
first appearance and at the close of the rehearsal
of his new composition—on the merits of
which it would be premature to offer an
opinion until after its public performance.
After a short interval of rest, the rehearsal
was resumed soon after two o'clock—the whole of
the large assemblage, band, chorus, principal
singers, and conductor, first remaining, at a given
signal, for two or three minutes in fixed immova-
bility to enable a photographic view to be taken
by a manipulator stationed with his apparatus in
the end gallery opposite the orchestra. After
going through the National Anthem, Gounod's
Mass (to precede Israel in Egypt at the Friday
morning's performance) was next rehearsed, fol-
lowed by several vocal solos—the rehearsal lasting
until half-past four. For the evening (as stated in
our previous notice) another rehearsal is called, to
include Mr. J. F. Barnett's cantata, The Ancient
Mariner (which will form the first portion
of Thursday evening's concert)—Mr. Benedict's
Legend of St. Cecilia (to be given at the concert of
Wednesday evening)—and probably detached por-
tions from the other programmes of the week. The
highly favourable result of the balloting for tickets
has already been stated in the Express—to
which may be added that every available place in
the hall is disposed of for Thursday morning's per-
formance of the Ittihad ; and had the grand dimen-
sions of that noble building been even greater, it
could have been filled on that occasion. That im-
portant accessory to the enjoyment of the week,
the weather, promisee to be favourable, in spite of
a few light passing clouds and an almost inappre-
ciable sprinkling of rain this morning. All, indeed,
seems propitious towards a highly successful result,
musical and financial, to the Birmingham Festival
of 1867.

THE NATIONAL FESTIVAL or WALES.— The
National Eisteddfod and ggrreeaat musical festival, is to be
held this year at Osrmaribsa, from the 3rd to the Gth of
September neat. Among its presidents, vice-presidents,
and supporters, are distinguished members of both houses
of parliament, and gentlemen of groat wealth and learning.
Prizes amounting to upwards of 5001. will be awarded for
scooessful compositions in prose, poetry, and music, for
choral performances, paintings, works of art, and manna.
factures. The adjudicators are gentlemen of leading posi-
tions lay and clerical, belonging to various denominations.
Orations will be delivered in the evening of each day, in
Welsh and English, on education, on the objects and
nature of the Eisteddfod, hr. The music for the rend
concerts will be selected from the most eminent composers,
and will include the national melodies of Wales. There
will be vocal and instrumental music. The herdic and
musical attractions will be great. The following names
are announced t— Miss Edith Wynne Moe Cymru Pen.
cerddes), and Miss Edmonds, sopranos; Mr. John
Thomas (Pencerdd Gimbal, harp ; Mr. Brinley Richarda,
pianoforte ha. During each day there will be en exhi-
.bitiou of the art, industry, and products of Wales, when
medals and cards of honourable mention will be awarded
to distinguished exhibitors. On the morning 'of each
day, beguaning at 9 o'clock, there will be roe•tin,p
held for reading papers on social and scientific ques-
tions, upon which there will be free discussion and con-
versation. On the morning of Therday, September 5,
the adjudication on the Chair Subject, the Millennium
will be pronounced, when the prize of 901. and the;
Eisteddfod Bardic Chair will be awarded to the
suocewful competitor, who will then be conveyed
by the bards amidst the sound of trumpets. to the chair,
and therein installed, according to the ancient custom of
the bards of the Isle of Britain. There will be • picture
gallery of modern British art, including a valuable selec-
tion of paintings from the South Kensington Museum,
which will bo under the management of -Mr. Hosford,
master of the Government School of Art, Carmarthen.
There will be an exhibition of objects belooging to natural
history, including geological, mineralogical, botanical,
zoological, and other specimens ; with • collection
of flint instruments, and the bones of extinct
animals, from the lidartons caves of GL•morganshire
and Pembrokeshire. There will be an exhibi•
tion of Welsh antiquities, including the armour
of Sir Bhp ap Thomas, from Dynevor Castle, and other
objects of great national interest ; and a magnificent
display of fragrant and beautiful flowers. The inaugural
address will be delivered on Monday, September 2, when
the exhibit,oas will be thrown open, followed by • grand
concert. There is • sanguine expectation of • large gather-
ing. A pavilion, capable of containing upwards of 7,000
persons, has been erected for the occasion. Arrangements
have been made with all the railway companies to secure
cheap excursion treble daily. Nothing appears to be left
unprovided to make this one of the mast attractive demon.
strations ever witnessed is the principality.
A meeting of local magistrates has been held for
the purpose of taking steps to secure a permanent military
force in Drogheda. One of the speakers, referring to the
obeervatious of the chairman, that troops could be had en
it short notice, said that if another Fenian Tieing were
contemplated, the very first act of the insurgents would be
to tear up the rails in order to prevent the arrival o'
soldiers. A memorial to the Lord-lieutenant, praying
for a continuance of military protection in Drogheda, was
adopted.
OLD CLOTFIES.—Many of the garments are con-
verted to fresh uses. The first object of the purchaser is
to see if the garment can be revived and sold once more as
so article of dress. It is therefore carefully " clobbered"
or mended, supplied with • fresh glees, and in this im-
proved condition is re-exported. A vest quantity of old
clothes find their way across the Channel I. Ireland, and
this accounts for the fact we so oaten notice, that the I j
Irish peasant, when in ordinary dress, is always to be
seen in a swallow-tailed cost of the past gene.
ration. Black clothes, if they can afford the
amount of good cloth, are made into wais.ooeta ; but even
if there is only a very little that is unworn, it ispurchined
to be cut up and made into caps, for which there
is a greet market in Preece. To Holland, mainly,
go all the old cas..off coats of the soldiers. They anthem
converted into under waistcoats, and used as a protection
against the damp of that country, the Hollanders having •
preference for red cloth for this purpose, as it is supposed
to be, and indeed is, • greater absorber of heat than any
other colour. The offioers' units, of course, serve many
purpo.es before they reach Mynheer. If we go along
Holywell-street ere see that there are plenty of them
hanging up for sale, and if we ask the salesman what
becomes of them, we find that they are sold for masque-
rades . • but many that are too much worn for that propose
will still yield enough sound cloth to reek' facings for
the civic officials of the northern powers. This fact I
learned from a man in the trade, but I should fancy the.: I
Prussia at least, now that she basgrowo powerful, is above
putting her servants into the cast-off finery of other
motions.—Cased/'s
AMERICAN RAILWAY SLlEPERS.—speaking of
railroads, the Pacific is not the only one which is likely to
be interrupted by the actions of the aboriginal inhabitants
of the country. A Louisiana paper tells a story nearly
equal to the cheerful tales we have been hearing of late
aliens "ye gentle sever." On the Opelousas Itailrwd,
since the overflow of the Missiesipm, the engineer has'
frequently to blow his whistle to clear the track of fillip
ton, as that is the only resting-place afforded them for
miles along the low bottom-lands. Several of then ,
" sleepers " have been run over by trains, while
the sunshine as the Week. Cheerful country !
Rae ork