The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-18 00:00:00

traced to the fact that there was a much larger
crowd in the area and south nave—the galleries,
• affording a less favourable view of the Royal box
• .
• and its distinguished tenants, having been partially
_ The second of these great commemoration festi- deserted f r the seats below. Madame Novello's
vals was given yesterday in the presence of her clear and penetrating voice was beard to much
Majesty, with- a grandeur and success which left -better adVantaste in the National Anthem ; and her
nothing to be wished for eitherson the pa. tof its high " B flat," which was the town-talk after the
promoters or the public. There was no bitch inauguration of the Crystal Palace three years since
either by rail or road, no apologies or excuses at the
again excited admiration.
• eleventh hour ; oven the weather was favourable, - -The oratorio of " Judas Maccabsts," although
and the arrangements both within and without it must not be compared with the " Messiah " and
the building were perfect and thoroughly carried " Israel ' E • t, "is still one of the greatest cora-
in Egypt," p
into effect. From first to last there occnrred nothing po,itiotis of Handel. The 12th of the 19 works of
-which could detract from the eclat of the day, or the same class written by the illustrious musician in
lessen its claim to be considered as one which must this country, it was planned and completed in the
ever form a conspicuous era in our musical annals, short space of one month (when Handel was in his
The anxiety of the general public to be present • 01st year), and performed at Covent-g irden Theate e•
on the occasion when her Majesty honoured the fete on the Ist of April, 1747, with great success. One
with what may be called a State visit showed itself of its principal charms is the variety which the
in the neighbourhood of the Palace at a very eaily nature of the book suggested to the composer.
- hour. Probably long before even the most im- This enabled Handel to break repeatedly from the
patient visitors thought of starting, the turns in bonds in which he was held by the insipid muse of
the road which would command a goo 1. view of Dr. Thomas Morell, and, soaring on the wings of
the Royal cortege were occupied three or four deep. genius, to make the world forget the dullness of
the post in the greatness of the musician. The
These spectators, too, were by no means of the
ordinary class, but ladies and gentlemen whom one three parts into which the oratorio is divided are
would rather have expected to meet in the galleries happily contrasted—the prevalence of pathetic
of the palace itself. As the day advanced the num- mu-ic in the first, of heroic in the second, and of
hers increased, till the pretty lanes and woods be- jubilant in the third, stamping each with a certain
tween Dulwich and the building were completely characteristic individuality of which the composer
lined. As usual most of these 1 okers•on were of
successfully availed. himself. The music has been so
tho gentler sex, and their bright dresses and waving often described, and the larger part is so generally
parasols seemed in the distance to make a glowing known, that to comment upon it now would be
flower border to the fields and groups of trees around going over well-trodden ground to little or no pur-
whichtle ey stood. Though all were naturally anxious pose. It is enough to speak of the admirable man-
to secure the most favourable situation-a there was nor in ivhieh it was executed at the Crystal Palace
none of that -unseemly struggling which so often on this mesnoraale occasion, and of its enthusiastic
mars our gayest fetes.. It was in fact a kind of rural appreciation by the audience..
" drawing room," where ladies could bow to her In the overture, one of Handel's most spirited
Majesty en passant without incurring the aristo- orchestral preludes, the fugue was led off and re-
cratic discomforts which generally attach to such sponded to by the violins and other stringed instru-
presentations. There were a good many, also, of the rents wi•h wonderful precision. The opening cho-
public.holiday observances about the road yt ster- rus (lamentation for the father of Judas), so sub-
day. Before the carriages began to pass itinerant lime in its expression of grief, was remarkably well
vendors of all sorts of commodities made their ap- given, and the subdued under-tone of the voices
pearance, and were more or less attentive to every on the words "is no more," in beautiful relief
one en route to the Palace throughout the day. Equally good was its companion in musical pathos,
Apart from the wonderful combination of wind and 4c For Sion lamentation make," which, besides its
water which, under the name of ginger-bear, was very striking progressions of harmony, contains a
pressed upon the . occupant of every carriage, the phrase bearing close resemblance to "Behold the
notion seemed generally to prevail among the Lamb of God," in the " Messiah." The choral
hawkers that none could attend the festival without
s supplication, " 0 Father whose Almighty power,"
a pocket-knife, a walking-stick, a cocoa-nut, a .
was highly impressive, and the basses seemed
basket of oranges, and a copy of each of the morn- determined to expiate their rare shortcomings on
ing journals. Such trifles, with side-combs, corn- the occasion of their first performance. The
plete - songsters, and villainous programmes un- fugue, to which the words, "And grant a leader
known to Handel, were pressed upon all, with in- bold and brave," is set, was everywhere pointed
terludes of small bills thrown in at the carriage and accurate. In this chorus, and in several
windows, informing their hot occupants that now others, Mr. Costa has introduced brass instruments,
was the time for cheap greatcoats - and woollen . often with great facility and effect, but at times,
dreadnoughts. we think, too lavishly.* If this was noticeable in
Soon after 10 the carriages began to roll along the such an arena as that presented by the central tran-
road, and from that time, except during the short sept of the Crystal Palace, how much more would
interval when her Majesty was passing, they did that be the case elsewhere 7 Handel's original score,
not entirely cease until past 2in the day. The ar- it is true, sounds meagre to ears trained in the mo-
rangements at the abominable tollgate were better dern style of instrumentation, which would hardly
on this occasion—three persons were stationed to tolerate an 'orchestra of "strings," with oboes, bas-
collect its heavy revenue, and, generally speaking, soon' and occasional glimpses of trumpets, flutes,
were equal to the duty, which, however, at no and horns. But the task of supplying what Handel
time was a sinecure. . has left undone is one of extreme delicacy. Hie
We have often commended the arrangements of vocal part-writing is masterly, his use of the stringed
Brighton Company; but on this occasion they band (especially) broad and fluent •, the nicest dis-
seemed to have reached perfection, and in a matter crimination is therefore indispensable in the choice
wherein the lives of so many thousands of human of where and what to add. It is dangerous to
being were concerned their zeal and caution are double his melodic parts, and it- is dangerous to
deserving of every encouragement and cowmen- interpolate new ones ; so that, really, a close
dation. The trains seemed to be going on both consideration of the matter can only lead
lines during the morning, and yet there was not to the conviction that the • labour should be
the slightest struggle or confusion. There was an confined to filling up the harmony of wind instru-
unususi number of half-guinea vi-itors—indeed, all merits in plain and conspicuous places,. discarding
the extra seats allotted. to them were among the invention and composition altogether. If the
first occupied, so that many were glad to change added instruments are so employed as to damage
their tickets for the reserved places. The great the clearness of the vocal pars, or to disturb the
Mass, of course, settled down at the south end of progress of the instrumental figures, effect is rather
the building, facing the Queen's box, where acorn- lost than gained by the innovation—since addi-
plete view could be obtained of all the Royal party. tional noise can by no means be considered an equi-
These were the places first filled, and it was interest- valent for additional strength. These remarks are
ing to watch the gradual filling up of the remaining not directed against - the new accompaniments of
space,—how, minute by minute, the great expanse Mr. Costa, who is a conscientious as well as a prie-
d seats diminished, till the whole resembled a vast tical musician, and is too well acquainted with the
parterre, but that it bloomed with a richness and orchestra and its resources not to be thoroughly
variety of colour such as no garden ever showed, in aware of what rocks and shoals are inevitably in
this country at least. With the same admirable the way of any one, less than Mozart or Mendels-
management that distinguished the festival of sohn, undertaking to interfere with the scores of
Monday last, persons found their seats without Handel. They are intended for general applica-
trouble or hurry, and all the officers connected ti„.. For years we have had to submit to the
with the Palace were most painstaking and a-sidu- meddling of incompetent hands in some of the
ous in their efforts to secure the comfort of all. - greatest and most lasting works of genius ; and if
It would be impossible to exaggerate the magni- Mr. Costa will make up his mind to bestow serious
ficent spectacle which the nave and transept of the attention to the subject he may accomplish reforms
palace presented, when the fashionable occupants for which the musical community may have to
of so many long trains, in addition to the visitors thank him.
who had come in two thousand carriages by the The 'other choruses in the first part were sung in
road, were at last comfortably seated, and araTiag very satisf ictory stale,—" We come, we come" (in
for the arrival of her Majesty. Viewed upon the the same key as "He gave them hailstones," from
level they looked like a flower-covered prairie, but "Israel," and in some points bearing a strong
when seen from a high gallery, they took the form similarity to that wonderful piece) ; "Lead on,
and regularity of a garden, the blocks being all lead on," and "Disdainful of danger"—short,
separated by well-marked divisions, allowing free bold, and vigorous illustrations of the same senti-
ingress and egress, but each block closely packed ment, and appearing in bold relief after the solemn
with fashionable occupants. character of what precedes them—were all effective.
Her Majesty and the royal party.arrived at the But still better was the final chorus, "Hear us,
private entrance a few minutes before 1 o'clock. A 0 Lord," which embodies simultaneously, and with
guard of honour of the Grenadier Guards, under infinite grandeur, the sentiment of religious faith
the command of Col.• Hopwood, with the band of and the enthusiasm of martial ardour. Mendelssohn
the regiment, received the illustrious visitors with evidently had this very fine composition in his
the usual salute—arms presented and colours mind when he wrote the noble and ingenious
lowered. Sir Joseph Paxton and Mr. Ferguson chorus in " St. Paul," " Oh, great are the depths."
were in attendinee to usher. her Majesty and suite The first part of the oratorio could not have ter-
to the state apartments. On this occasion they minated with more splendid effect.
were profusely decorated with the most rare and After the usual interval, which her Majesty the
beautiful exotics, under the superintendence of Mr. Queen and her faithful subjects devoted, we be-
Eyles, who has charge of the hortiCultural depart- Here, to much the same object—that of refresh-
ment., The table for the royal luncheon was ar- ment, the second part of " Judas Maccabaaus '
ranged in the picture gallery, covers being laid for commenced majestically with one of the most su-
-34 ; and here, again Mr. Eyles had placed some of perk and dramatic of all the choruses of Handel—
his rarest specimens, being assisted in, their ar- ' Fallen is the foe." In this grand inspiration the
rangement by the taste and experience of Mr. author of the " Messiah" has displayed the singular
Thomas Staples. The Queen and Court were in faculty he possessed of seizing hold and developing
mourning, but her Majesty looked remarkably any marked idea that might be presented to him
well, and seemed quite prepared to. enjoy both through the medium of no matter what kind of
the music of the oratorio and the company of her
poetry. Dr. Morell (happily) has refrained from
people. After a delay of a few minutes, the
treating the subject at any length. His allusions to
Queen, accompaniedby the Grand Duke Maximilian, the victory of Judas.,' and the destruction of the
and followed by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, enemy, are somposed in a not very transcendent
his Royal Highness the Prince of Prussia, the couplet :
'Princess Royal, the Prince of \Vales, the Princess o Fall'n is the foe ;so fall thy.foes, 0 Lord,
Alice, and suite, proceeded to the Royal balcony, " Where warlike Judas wields his righteous sword."
which had been handsomely fitted .up in the north That is all. But it was enough for Handel, and
corner of the transept immediately facing the helped him to contrive a masterpiece—a musical
orchestra. As the Queen approached a buzz of ex: poem of attonishing and varied power. The only
pectation ran through the vast assemblage, which objection we have to make to Mr. Costa's additions
rose by a simultaneous movement, clapping hands, here is that he has filled up the intervals in that
and waving hats and handkerchiefs with such en- remarkalde passage where the voices reiterate the
thusiasm that even the Queen, though well used word " Fall'n," three times, in an underbreath, the
to cordial receptions from her subjects, seemed corn- mysterious effects of which cannot but be injured
pletely moved, and curtesied repeatedly in acknow- by any interpolation. In this, and in the tuneful
ledgment of the welcome. Ere this burst of loyalty and beautifully harmonised choral piece which
had quite subsided the grand strains of the National chimes in with the duet, -" Sion now her head shall
Anthem pealed through the building in massive raise," the multitude of singers earned nothing but
sounding notes which made the very floors and laurels. The high_ note (A) of the trebles and
pillars vibrate as though rustling with a heavy altos, . sustained during two bars, on the word
wind. When its solemn cadence had completely " harps," was nothing ost of thrilling. The pa-
died away there was another outbreak of applause, thetic chorus, " Ab, wretched Israel" (where the
not so much of course for the National Anthem Jews are in despair at the approach of Antiochus)
(though magnificently given) as for the august lady would have been irreproachable, but for the substi-
in whose honour it was sung. , tuition of loud for soft in the concluding passage,
As the audience settled themselves into tneir which
him.
ichviolated Handel's meaning without improv-
places Messrs.. Negretti and Zambra, the photo-graphers of the Cry stal Palace took as
beautiful
The finest choral performance of the day, low-
photograph of the whole scene,making the Royal
ever, and one of the finest probably ever listened to,
box its centre. It was a perfect likeness, and so
was that of the glorious and magnificent " We
well and quickly done that copies of it were printed,
never, never will bow down" (in which, by the way,
framed, glazed, and laid .before the Royal party
Mr. Costa has employed the brass instruments
before the first portion of the oratorio had concluded.
with powerful and legitimate effect). The sublimeh
The spot from which it was taken vas the gallery
progression of harmony in the major key—
o,n the
over the organ, whence perhaps the finest cozy
words, " We worship God and God alone" —the
or.
d'ceil which the festivals of this countisy have ever
bass of which is afterwards treated, withfex rao_, ,
shown was presented yesterday. Imniediately be-
neath was the great organ, like a cathedral of music, mdeli-
combined' with an independent fugue—
with every tower and pinnacle of its v ocal framethatw point
dinary ingenuity, as a plain song ("canto ers ' )
vered with astounding force ;and from
power.
sending forth a volume of sound amid v,•hich even to the climax the choir seemed to accumulate p
cum-
-2,000 human voices were almost lost. Pt'iund this, The audience, tense a familiar phrase, wererfo
na
in a vast amphitheatre, came the cho.rus—Costa pletely "carried away" by this wonderful pe r -
lowest of all, with pale and earnest faots, singing , aPnce, the most perfect and the most impressive
in conscientious love every note of the music that, up to this moment, has distinguished the
he regulated ; while below the orchestr 5.., again,
was ranged the brilliant mass of visitors, the third yart the most striking point was the
Handel Festival. The applause was tumultuous.
In
rank on rank, like the divisions of an sarmy of well-known "See the Conquering Hero comes,"
old, all richness, pomp, and colour. These which was capitally performed, and re-demanded
features alone would have- made it a pros] 3 ect on with even greater vehemence than " For unto us a
which the memory would dwell, but whe n. to it Child is born," on Monday. Mr. Costa, however—
are added the tiers of close-filled galleries, rising consistent to the wise principle he would seem to
high and spreading wide—the noise of the (5 herbs have adopted—proceeded with the march, heedless
as "with the hiss like rustling winds" they rca se to of the uproar behind him. The audience continuing
volume forth, " Sing unto God," the Royal visa•tors obstinate, however, and evidently indisposed to
all beating time, and watching every note, and the submit even to a wholesome despotism, the con-
solemn anxiety of attention which seemed to r eig ductor turned to the gallery in which the Queen
lnl
over all—it was grand and .impressiVe beyond A was seated as if for counsel how to act. The matter
powers of description. . settled • her
was briefly se , Majesty,_ appearing to en-
-to the s ar- tertain toe same wish as that. which had been una-
The execution of "Judas Maccabveus,"
nimously expressed by her subjects. conveyed a sig-
prise of amateurs, was on the whole
.even better-
than that of the "Messiah." The music being lc ss nal of assent, andthe favourite chorus was repeated.
familiar to the generality perhaps caused tl se The "Hallelujah," which brings the oratorio to_ an
end—Handel's least important composition of its_
singers and players to be more on their guard,. an d .
, and
class—was given in a style worthy of the res -
more anxiously careful in taking up the points
.;
was as we hay
but, whatever the reason, the result
.. appropriately terminated this remarkably
per
stated. A vast improvement was also noted in th, ,a 1 formance.
effect 'produced by the solo voices, and this way oe The principal singers, as we were
have hinted,