The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-19 00:00:00

.INEWF 15 ; pEK
FESTI
A comparisonbetween the musical,
lc • „.„44
at the International Exhibition openiffg'vtl
of May and that of the forthcoming Handelgestitil
may not be without interest at the present moment.
Bel-see Byer, entering upon this comparison, it is
...1,11 wane to notice the occasions on which very
large orchestras have been assembled of late years,
and the astonishing afivance which has been made.
Neither at the opening e the 1851 International
Exhibition, nor at any of the Musical festivals held -
up to that time, had a larger mt3sical force been
engaged than is now a matter of every-day occur-
rence at the Concerts of the Sacred Harmonic
Society. The first occasion on which A grAt, ad-
vance was made was at the opening of the Crystal
Palace on the 10th of June, 1854, when about 1,600
amateurs and professors were employed, including
30 double basses. The novelty of this large
Hundredth Psalm,
assemblage excited great interest ; and es the music
was confined to the Measured strains of the Old
God L,',xve the Queen," and. the
Hallelujah Chorus,
Its efftct w,'s very striking.
The Paris Exhibition, in 1355,
e parade. The music, however, utterly
failed. The closing ceremony of the Es;libition (the
i 7as opened with
considerable
distribution of medals) was one of the most .
mposing
ceremonials of modern times. Great effort', had
been made to render the music a striking adjunct to
the rest of the ceremony ; but notwithstanding up-
wards of 1,200 musicians were employed no effect
was produced. The orchestra was placed in an ele-
vated, strait gallery, and the music selected was
utterly unfit for :etch an occasion.
At the Dublin Exhibition opening, in 1853, 0,
very good musical display- took place. A proper
orchestra had been built, and on the whole the
musical part of the proceedings, although somewhat
lengthy, was very successful.
The Handel Festivals of 1857 and 1859 -were so
similar in their purpose to the coming FeatiVal
that
more partieular allusion to them is not nee&d; it
must suffice briefly to allude to e.theft4 erchesizak
arrangements.
In 1857 the orchestra held about 2,50 Q performers.
It was entirely open at the sides and back, conse-
quently a large portion of the sound wandered.
away and was lost. In 1859 the orchestra was -
enlarged considerably, and enclosed to a height of
15 feet, while over it was suspended an oiled can-
vas awning, which it was anticipated would remedy
the defects so apparent in 1857. This anticipation,
I from causes not necessary here to enter upon, was
' only partially realised ; the music of Ilandei,. at
the Commemoration Festival, therefore, although
occasionally grand in the extreme, and far beyond
any previous attempt, did not even yet produce the
astounding and overpowering effect of which it was
believed to be capable. It then became apparent
that to effect all that was requisite to place those
great festivals, with their large profits, as a perma-
nent success at the Crystal Palace the great orches-
tra must be roofed over. Bearing in mind the con-
struction of the Crystal Palace, this became a task
requiring the most serious consideration. Many
were the suggestions thereon. Without entering
upon a technical description of the 'great roof—a
duty more properly belonging to journals especially
devoted to building operations—which has recently
been thrown over the orchestra, it will suffice to
say that it has been accomplished most successfully,
as well in regard to musical results as to the man-
ner of its construction and its perfect security. No
additional weight has been imposed on the building
itself, as the roof is entirely supported indepen-
dently of the original structure. In truth, it i.s
alleged, by the many scientific men, and architects,
and engineers who have inspected the work that it
has added enormously to the solidity and security
of the great arched roof of the main building ; and
it has been stated that this, coupled with the addi-
tional iron columns which have lately been added
to the front of the centre transept, has added to the
present structure eight times the strength of the
original Crystal Palace transept.
The want of a proper sounding-board, like this
new roof of the Crystal Palace orchestra, was very
manifest at the opening of the International Exhi-
bition on the Ist of May last. The number of
musicians was only inferior to that engaged at the
Handel Festivals. The effect, however, was exceed-
ingly small compared with.the strength employed.
In the comillg Handel Festival the amateurs and.
professors engaged will, or the—first time, have a
properly-prepared orchestra fur the exercise of
their musical abilities, and there is no doubt that
the effect will be oNerpoweringly grand. Public
curiosity is excited to an unusual degree to Team
what the musical impressions will be of this great
orchestral force under such favourable conditions.
Among those best qualified to judge there is but one
anticipation, and, bearing in mind the COe which
has been taken in the selection of the. performers,
and the regular and systematic dramatic rehearsal
to which all have been subjected, there can be no
question that the musical results of the coming fes-
tival will show a success beyond any that have Pre`
ceded it.
The rehearsal at the Crystal Palace takes place
on Saturday at 11, the performance on the alternate
days of the following week at one o'clock each day.
The "Messiah" as yet. appears the favourite day
looked forward to.
with the public, a result usually