The Sun.
London, England, 1849-09-12 00:00:00

Paid.

ROME.

Some accounts state that little zeal is evidenced by
the people for liberal reforms, the masses being
strangely ignorant.

HEREFORD _MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
HEREFORD, TUESDAY, SEPT. 11.—The festival has
begun with the lull cathedral service and a selection
of sacred music, according to custom. Before the
service Martin Luther's 100th Psalm was sung by
the choir, the principal singer taking the second verse,
the first third, and fourth being given in full chorus.
The preces, responses, and chaunt of Tallis m ere
performed, the unisonous phrases of the old English
master resounding through the aisles of the cathedral
with solemn majesty. The Te Deum—lianders
" Pettingen"—was executed on the whole very
effectively, the solo voice parts being allotted to the
Misses A. and M. Williams, Miss Poole, Alessi...
Hobbs, Machin, and H. Phillips. In the bass solo,
" Thou art the king of Glory," sung by Mr. Machin,
the trumpet obligate was played by Mr. T. Harper.
The " Jubilate" was also by Handel—the one com-
posed for the peace of Utrecht. The general execu-
tion of this was very satisfactory ; the chorus was
strong and effective ; and Miss M. Williams, Miss
Poole and Mr. Machin all that could be desired
in the vocal solos. After the third collect
an anthem, from the Lob and Ehre and Weisheit
of John Sebastian Bach, adapted to English
words by Mr. Angel, organist of Exeter Cathedral,
was given. It consists of five pieces, a chorus, quartet,
chorale, and final chorus, and is an interesting
example of the simpler style of the master, containing
none of those complex elaborations, none of those
combinations at once so free, grand, and startling, for
which his rnotetts for double choir, his Passion-
musik, his illissa Solennis in B minor, and others of
his choral works are distinguished. The performance
of this anthem, in which the solo parts were given to
Miss A. 'Williams, Miss Poole, and Messrs. Hobbs
and Machin, showed that it had been carefully
studied. Before the sermon Dr. Boyce's anthem,
" Blessed is he," was introduced, the solos by Miss
M. Williams, Messrs. Hobbs, Lockey, Machin, and
Phillips. Dr. Boyce's music is getting almost out of
date. He was a clever musician, but wholly,
destitute of imagination. His melodies are per-
haps more rhythmical and his harmony clearer
than in the works of Dr. Green, Dr. Croft, and other
English cathedral composers ; but he exhibits little
or none of their ingenuity, and never reaches
the moments of sublimity which are to be met with, at
rare intervals, in the writings of the elder contrapun-
tists, who, with all their dry elaboration and mecha-
nical contrivances, have no equals for grave and lofty
intention among the present race of composers.
Indeed, the decay of our church music is a matter for
serious consideration, and reflects disgrace on all those
whom it concerns. Of Mendelssohn's anthem (from
Psalm 115) "Not unto us, 0 Lord," which followed
the sermon, and was executed with decision, if not
with invariable clearness, we have nothing new to
say. It contains many beautiful points, much of his
peculiar phraseology and instrumental colouring, and
a masterly and splendid double chorus, "Not unto
us, 0 Lord!" at the end; but we are not inclined to
place it among the highest compositions which the
gifted author of Elijah has bequeathed to the Church.
The solo vocal parts were taken by Miss A. Williams,
Mr. Lockey, and Mr. Phillips.
Mr. Townshend Smith, conducted the musical
performances with judgment ; he is organist of the
cathedral, and may naturally be supposed to be
thoroughly acquainted with the compositions we have
enumerated, which must frequently come under his
attention. Mr. Amott, from Glocester, presided at
the organ, which, since it has been repairing, stands
at the bottom of one of the aisles, at the side of the
orchestra, so that, even with the usual expedient of a
looking-glass, it is doubtful whether the
iperformerstodoor,e
can conveniently obtain a sight of the conductor's
baton.
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TEE VACANT DIOCESE OF NORWICH. -- The
vacancy in the diocese of Norwich, occasioned by the
death of the Right Rev. Dr. Stanley, will cause the ele-
vation of the Right Rev. Dr. Graham, Bishop of Chester,
to a seat in the House of Lords, while the new Bishop
of Norwich will be excluded until another vacancy on
the list of bishops takes place. It will be remembered
that when the bil pasccl for the erection of Matichebter
into an independent episcopal see, it was thought unad-
visible to increase the number of spiritual peers, and
an arrangement was effected by virtue of which the.
junior bishop (the two Archbishops and the Bishops of
London, Durham, and Winchester being excepted),
xsb
hfroi c
I, dg
.e
:a
itn 1 s
should not have a seat in the House of Lords. Dr.
Stanley's death confrrs this privilege upon the
.pidestetuet
Bishop of Chester, who has hitherto not enjoyed
honour of a beat. It is confidently anticipated that Dr.
Whewell, Master of Trinity College, Camfhls,•!odgrwe,iczllfboer
Dr. Stanley's successor in the diocese of h
generalppr 1
cPsr, adca.
nide
Cambridgeothfet el: P:
met:snei
aGlothvoeurugmheituth boa beenappoint the
thought that the
aOnabi
ploti,n.rtnroaet;:iltybetiong Effnogmlisch.
diocese of isiorwicti being so intimately connected in
many respects with that university, the usual course
adopted in such matters will on the present occasion be
departed from.