The Sun.
London, England, 1835-01-20 00:00:00

THE VOCAL SOCIETY.

T CONT.
The first meeting lo
this SocietyCEß,
for its third season, was
held at the Hanover-square Rooms on Monday evening
The origin and chief object of this Association have
hien, to present to the public vocal music of the English
';BCn°°ll both ancient and modern, and selected from writers
Th',',llo composed for the Church, the chamber, and the stage.
lie conductors and members, who are exclusively native
,egers, have hitherto combined with the attractions of
TVGerman school, to the sterling qualities of which has been
the charm of novelty. It is remarkable that in the
orate 'treatises of Albrechtsberger, Choron, and other
g..tainent continental writers on the science of Music, in
enieitilarizing the various styles of different nations,
en,h): nave overlooked, from ignorance, or a misplaced
~;"‘enipt, the one peculiar to our own country ; and
It is 28 tr of them have ventured to deny its existence.
true that until recently we have had no Opera, strictly
h. called ; but our Cathedral-music, Madrigals and Glees,
, e
°ll3 the time of Edward the Sixth to the present, are am-
evxtproofs of a characteristic style in English Music, and
e4t the wonder and delight of the foreign professors who
c,; °ln' metropolis. Indeed the superiority of Handel
,7t all other vocal writers of his country, may be attribu-
o: to the fortunate circumstance of his presiding as corn-
fZl: and organist of the elegant private chapel of the Duke
tilionandos, at Whitchurch, near Stanmore, now the paro-
e
hvu Church of that place. So long as the Directors of
4ndse Concerts adhere to their original design of creating
Qibi_lm'eserving a relish for the exquisite compositions of
13. "as, Purcell, Croft, Green, Boyce, Wylbye, Bennett,
11,11°i/gand, and Morley, we know of no musical Society
Thee prefers a higher claim to public attention and support..
th oert of yesterday evening embraced a selection from
old
sAlNl:erks of Purcell, Wylbye, and Marenzio, of the
the 'Linn' ; from Callcott, Attwood, and Horsley, among
nor
modern and recent composers ; and from Haydn,
exam

—, Hummel, and Spohr, of German celebrity.
4rv• elies a the evening were a new scena from the pen of
G. A. Macfarren, of the Royal Academy ; and a con-
ejeotilto. for the horn, by Mr. Platt. The madrigals, one by
by I,n; Wylbye who flourished in the 16th century, the other
tit-1 contemporary, Luca Marenzio, a member of the
this 3 Chapel, at Rome, and only inferior to Wylbye in
pa.'" noble style of writing, were exquisitely performed and
tiZt.urP.l3, encored. We cannot say much in commenda-
c. thewhich were sung of Attwood and Horsley,
Ivh„ glees
4' ottentunes appear to be satisfied that they are correct,
Witheu,
of it the rare merit of originality. The glee writers
bla the present day, reverse the adage—Omne ignotunz pro
kitt ific° ; and seem to consider nothing classical
fro,' it be hacknied. Mr. Parry sung an aria
itc" the
ilieled Orfeo ed Euridice of Haydn abounding
iatbY, and characteristic of the genius of its elegant
Pra,,°"' Mr. Parry's performance was highly finished, and
dudns him to have been no idle or inattentive observer
4st g his stay on the Continent. Miss Lacy made her
ke • Public appearance in an aria from Marliani. The
aettlhts of such a composer were not of themselves likely to
oo.'re the young lady a very attentive audience. Her
in 81t•13 of considerable compass, ascending with ease to C
and very flexible, but its quality is somewhat thin.
Peet. Style evinced good tuition, and her intonation is cor-
igteu Of the more important requisites of a singer, the
eetnal, we can form very little opinion, until Miss Lacy
lonisehs choice of a better composer. We were equally as-
,ed and delighted with the veteran Braham in the
liderZena of Macfarren, which is a composition of con-
Polele merit, consisting of a recitative and aria of two
r,4letits. Mr. Braham did ample justice to the. COM-
-I'ved, 'leas ; and his performance received, as it dc-
eoac—, the acclamations of his audience. Mr. Pjatt's
his aej° na the horn, performed by himself, notwithstanding
knowledged skill, served to convince his hearers of
sa'suntinfitness of this instrument for the exhibition of rapid
'01,1.-6ep and appeared alike to distress their nerves and his,s
, ,bye course of the evening, a part of " The Lord's
due Spohr, and a " Graduale," by Hummel, were in-
rst ti ed• The former, performed in this country for the
wanted rehearsal ; but is a noble specimen. o
the PerfPc'int In what key the drums were tuned, during
tain, but ormance of the " Graduale," it was not easy to ascFr-
48orted their effect was perfectly ludicrous, and most ill-
the
r, with so serious a matter as the final destruction o
quaint Id we inhabit and which is forcibly described in the
for Cist lat,inity of the Romish ritual, selected by Hummel
tern Hosubject. The quartett " Good Night," sung by Mas-
knta„_
_we, Hawkins, Hobbs, and Chapman, met with an in-
ha%4 encore. The perfect intonation, purity of taste,
h and artlessness of Master Howe's performance, were
tithe'P'l3' sustained by the subdued tone and blended voices of
t' performers. Mr. T. Cooke was the leader, and
tiot _ le the conductor for the evening. The room was
Ivry to
well attended as at previous seasons, and we are
°urite vocali st observe the absence from the orchestra of several
s.
11i
Sis• L

014
,
-EONARD'S -ON-SEA, JAN. --.
"ir Royal TI
sses departure from this romantic watering-place is
dent
to be fixed for Saturday next, to the great regret
4411. e visitors and inhabitants. The Duchess of Kent en-
Itietlllhed several parties at dinner during the last week, the
441 °l's including, the Countess of Charleville, Lady Foley
Vite.the Hon. Miss Fole Mr. R. and Lady Mary Dundas,.
Admiral Sir W. Hotham, Admiral Carpenter, &c.