Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-09 00:00:00

THE GREAT HANDEL FESTIVAL.

This, the greatest Musical Congress ever assembled, owes
its existence to the anxiety of the Sacred Harmonic
Society to promote by their example the commemoration,
in 1859, of the Centenary of Handel's death in such a
manner as would be alike worthy of the great master, and
of the widely-diffused musical knowledge of the present
day. In carrying out this object, it was found that the
central transept of the Crystal Palace offered a spot for
this display far beyond any other existing building. The
space appropriated to the orchestra alone occupies a clear
area of 168 feet width by 90 feet depth, This extent
exceeds the entire capacity of any other music-hall in this
country, and has the additional advantage of great height,
and of ample means of approach, and for general arrange-
ments. The orchestra, which has been constructed in a
somewhat flattened curve, rises from the floor at a front
elevation of 8 feet, and is from thence continued in a series
of semi-circular steps, varying from 10 to 15 inches each,
to a total height of 47 feet. These rises are 34 in
number, of which 11 are appropriated to the band, and the
remaining 23 to the chorus. Ample space has been
given to the orchestra, the violins having 15 square
feet, and the double basses and violoncellos 24
equate feet for each desk. The chorus are all placed on
raised benches, each individual having twenty-one inches
in width, by thirty inches in depth. When it is remem-
bered that the usual allowance in churches is only sixteen
inches for each person, it will be seen that the con-
venience of the performers has been well attended to.
Tne balance ana disposition of the instrumentalists has
received much attention from Mr. Costa. The band
consists of seventy-six first violins, seventy-four second
violins, fifty violas, fifty violoncellos, fifty double
basses, eight flutes, eight oboes, eight clarionets, eight
bassoons, twelve horns, six trumpets, six cornets, three
ophicleides, eight serpents, nine trombones, two pair of
kettle-drums, one large long drum, six side drums ; 385 per-
formers in all, who are arranged at 202 desks. The chorus,
originally intended to consist of 2,000 voices, slightly ex-
ceeds that number. The entire orchestra, therefore, is, as
near as possible, 2,500. Every seat and stand throughout
the orchestra has its appropriate number, and a staff of 38
superintendents, having from 50 to 100 performers under
their immediate supervision, will identify and record
the attendance of each individual day by day. In
the arrangement of the instruments in the orchestra,
great care has been taken to give all of each class of
instrument a connecting link with each other. The
accompanying instruments comprise thirty-six violins,
twelve violas, twelve violoncellos. and] twelve double
basses, with the usual wind band. A consider-
able portion of the repieni wind is arranged in two
of the avenues which separate the division of the chorus.
In the centre, between the organ and the band, the large
drum made by Mr. Distin for the festival will be a con-
spicuous object. It is between six and seven feet in
diameter, and, when gently struck, produces a tone
resembling the booming of a deep pedal-pipe. The chorus
comprises about 1,000 metropolitan amateurs, 200 pro-
fessionala chorus, and nearly 850 choristers, carefully
selected and rehearsed from the great provincial choral
societies and the cathedral choirs. Tbese latter will
arrive in London on the afternoon of Friday, the 12th
of June, and the final choral rehearsal will be
held in Exeter Hell at half-past six o'clock the same even.
ing. With the exception of a very few seats reserved
for distinguished visitors, the entire area, gallery, and
platform, will, on that occasion, be occupied by the
chorus, who will be arranged in double choir. "Israel in
Egypt" will probably be the principal feature of this
rehearsal, and it is expected that the 2,000 voices thus
assembled, will produce an effect far beyond anything
ever before witnessed. The preparations are gradually
but rapidly progressing to wards completion, and thus far
every arrangement has been most satisfactorily carried out
for the festival. The month of June, 1857, will be a
memorable era in the annals of music, and never yet was
such maenificent homage paid to any composer, as this, to
the genius of Handel. The rehearsals have had the desired
effect of making the chorus accustomed to the baton of Mr.
Costa, and the care and attention which the ladies and
gentlemen have given to them, inspire perfect confidence
that oratorios will be given with such sublime and magni-
ficent effect, that all who hear will acknowledge the power,
the grandeur of these compositions of Handel. The
interest which this meeting has raised in musical circles
is daily increasing ; doubts and fears which might have
nhetfdeoxatchoir Fund will give a grand choral ser-
existed in ady quarter as to its result have. all subsided, and
ed
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attend at a moderate expense. To musical
week will present several attractions ; the
Westminster Abbey, and, in connection, with
al Society, have their annual dinner at 'Free-
-11. After dinner, madrigals, &c. will be sung by
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about 200 voices. The acred Harmonic Society have
also arranged to have a performance of Mr. Costa's
oratorio, Eli, at Exeter Hall, on the evening of Wednesday,
the 17th of June, to which it is intended to invite all who
Among those who have secured stalls
attend from the country to take part in the festival. The
and the tbhee
tickets have already been taken to a considerable extent,
Majesty, Prince Albert,
names of the principal nobility. As the festival will be
andhonoured r by
membersthe presenceroyalof h
family,
mMial
yj
Prussia and other distinguishable foreigners, a result as
beneficial in a pecuniary as in a musical pot of Tiayr may
reasonably be anticipated.

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph.]

H4NOVER.

The Grand Duke Constantine arrived on Satur-
day from the Hague.