The Sun.
London, England, 1826-05-29 00:00:00

MELODISTS' CLUB.

On Thursday night this Society, which has rapidly at
taiuedan eminence for musical talent mit enjoyed by any
other club, held its sixth meeting at the Freemasons
Totem. Amongst the vocalists and composers pre-
sent, to say nothing of amateurs, ,were Braham,
Bland, Master Barker, Broadhurst,- T. Cooke, Clif-
ton, J. Roche, Watson, Welsh, Master Watson, &c.
who, in.the course of the evening, exerted their powers
in the execution of soine of the finest melodies and
glees. On the removal of the cloth, Non Nohis was,
as may be imagined, given in a very superior style.
The objed of the Club, is the promotion of melody
and ballad composition, and the present members, a
majority of whom tire either of the musical or the li-
terary world, are the founders of the Club. on Thurs-
day its interest was increased by a resolution to form a
ibrary of music, and a number of composers pre-
.ented the Society with copies of their works ; amongst
these donations was one of all the glees published by
the ,Harmonie Institution, from Mr. Welsh : besides
the works of Messrs. Braham, Cooke, Dr. Kitchiner,
'Watson, &c. The rules for the admission of new
members up to the number limited, were finally adopt-
ed anti ordered to be printed. Several members were
proposed, amongst whom were Sir John Stevenson,
and Thomas Moore, Esq., but the ballot for 'their
admission is to take place on a future evening.—
After an announcement that all communications on
the business of the Club should be made to the com-
mittee at the Freemasons'-tavern, apologies were of-
fared for several of the honorary members who were
absent ; particularly for C. M. Von Weber, Messrs.
Sinclair and Duruset, on account of ill-health ; and
Messrs. Phillips, Horn, Shields, and Signor De
Begnis, On account of other unforeseen occurrences.
It would be difficult to enumerate all .the perform-
ances of the evening: on the toast of." Prosperity to
the Melodiste' Club being drank, the glee of " Wel-
come Sons of Harmony" opened the entertainment of
she company; a duet by Braham and Welsh followed—
Master Barker then sang the song of " Mother,
Mother," from Alladin, most delightfully. By the
way, this youth has been gradually stealing upon the
public, and apparently without effort or patronage,
until he has deservedly become a favourite. His
song of " A little, little Kiss," in a more ad-
vanced period of the evening, was greatly applauded;
a compliment not lout its value in such a company
as the Melodists. Mr. Braham sane as he always
sings ; he is the " head and front ". of his profession,
oncr we hope will long enjoy his pm-eminence. Mr.
Broadhurst sang very 'sweetly ; T.. Cooke taxed us
with a hearty laugh by one of his.mock Italian songs
and his medley ; Mr. Walsh's Mad Torn was a mu-
siedi treat. Bland gave a ditty with good effect; and
Roche sang, with much taste, " A bumper of
sparkling wine, accompanied by Mr. Clifton, the com-
poser of the song.
Mr. Welsh sang a new ballad, which he presented
to the Club : it was greatly in the style of Dibdin.
Glees and duets were occasionally interspersed, and
the evening was an uninterrupted scene of enjoyment.
A great evil at present is, that a musician like
Graham or Bishop may be set down to compose
to words that would disgrace a school-boy, and that
we have, therefore, delightful airs attached to
the most wretched trash. The cause is ob-
'duos, The Poet is never paid ; there is little
or no encouragement for his exertion. The Melo-
dists' Club invites poets to send in songs with private
marks instead of signatures, those approved are sub-
nutted to the composers, and others returned without
the parties being known. The Club may publish, if
it so determine, and in that case the profits are fitirly
apportioned, the writer being entitled to one-fifth.
We believe that this club will, in a short time, do
much towards removing the evils complained of.