The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-06 00:00:00

WORCESTER MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

WORCESTER* Tuesday Evening.—The festival opened
this morning under most favourable auspices, hut with
one disappointment the absence from the cathedral of
Mies Dolby, who was set down to take some principal
parts in the Dettingen Te Deuna and anthems. Miss
Dolby has arrived in Worcester, but unfortunately is ex-
ceedingly unwell, though she hopes to be able to take
her share in to-morrow's oratorio. In her absence, Mr.
Jabez Jones, a local arti-,t of considerable talent, and
formerly of the Worcester Cathedral Choir, undertook
at short notice the music allotted to Miss Dolby, which
he accomplished with considerable ability, though of
course the unavoidable absence of the lady occasioned
some disappointment to the Worcester public, with
whom Miss Dolby is a great favourite.
Previous to the commencement of morning service,
Mr. Arnett, of Gloucester Cathedral, played a voluntary
on the organ, which was substituted for the usual Esther
overture, which bad become a stock piece at these festi-
vals. The preces and responses were Tallies ; the
Grand Chant was used for the Veniti, and, for the
psalms, a fine chant by the Rev. W. H. Havergal (a
resident of Worcester) was employed. The choral ser-
vice had a. grand effect, the masses of sound in the
ig Amen," and again in the Gloria Patri, floating along,
the vaulted roof, had a magnificent and overpowering'
effect. The exhortation whioh precedes the Veniti
" Praise ye the Lord ; the Lord's name be praised,'
was given with almost dramatic effect, and seemed im-
pressively to evoke adoration. At the same moment
the sun, which had been clouded all the morning, bur-t
from his vapoury veil, and sent his cheering rays through
the dim and time-stained windows of the sacred
pile. The Te Deum, was the prescriptive one by Han.
del, that composed for the Dettingen victory. Mr.
Tones took. the parts allotted in the books to Miss Dolby,
viz., the opening solo in the quartett, " The glorious
company," the difficult trio, " Thou sittest at the right
hand," and the beautiful concluding solo, " Lord, in Thee
have I trusted." In all these he acquitted himself with
considerable ability, though (and it is no disparagement
to Mr. Jones to say so), we prefer a contralto, and espe.
oially in the lastosolo, which no one knew better how to
sing than MO Dolby. In the chorus, "To the Cheru.
bim," Bauniann's bassoon was, as usual, beautifully
effective. Harpur's trumpet obligato wags as perfect as
usual, but Mr.Weif.li was hardly equal to it. The
beautiful solo, "When thou tookest upon thee," which
is written in the bass clef, but is usually given to a
tenor, was nicely rendered by Mr. Lackey, though he
interpolated.' a shake at the close which was not to be
found in the. score. Handel improved ! Mr. Weiss
sting, " Vouchsafe, 0 Lord," and, in his anxiety to be
correct in the reading, he loses that powerful effec'
which Phillips used to give to this beautiful composition.
Neverthele- s, there was an improvement manifest._
Lord',
The anthews were Purcell's
(after the third collect), and Blow's "1 ,beheldcl,datnoa toxrr.
before the sermon. The latter was
confided
• Thomas,
" 0 sing unto the 1,2
r,
de, e.z .1 .e-. Mr. L ,ckey, Mr. Wag', Mrs. Weiss,
of W ,reever Cathedral ; and the former:.
Both these
Mr. Jones, Mr. Locket, and Mr. Thom
ago aIF ! kiITLY!!
Who= an well kam j 170 0