The Sun.
London, England, 1828-09-25 00:00:00

YORK MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

(FROM OUR OWN CORREVONDENT.)
• • •;:t .• •

VOILE, TUESDAY' V.V6ET:ING, HALE-PAST TWELVE.

The first performance in the Minster, this day,
has realized, in every respect, the splendid anticipa-
tions of every one who wishes well to such truly
laudable efforts for the diffusion of charity, and the
dissemination of liberal ideas. The musical festivals
of the ancient Eboracum can not easily be surpassed
in magnitude; and for unity of design, facility and
convenience to its numerous visitors, in all the corn-
pl'eated details, we may safely assert that nothing
can be more complete. Long ere the hour of com-
mencement, the Minster contained an audience of
nearly six thousand persons ! The ball, upon the
previous night, has doubled the amount of receipts
of any former festival. The ultimate results, there-
fore, can not well admit of doubt, viz. the most
complete and gratifying success. The opening, (the
celebrated " Dettingen Te Deum," by Handel),
struck, like electric fire, the astonished auditory :
language is totally inadequate to convey a just
description of the sublime effect which this magni-
ficent orchestra produced by their singularly united
exertions. F. Cramer, the experienced and highly
talented leader, conducted his troops to bloodless,
yet honourable victories, successively, as well as
successfully achieved, upon this glorious occasion.
He was, in truth, a primary planet, around which
the lesser, yet numerous orbs, moved with almost
divine precision. One mind, one heart, one hand,
seemed to inspire this vast orchestra ; which, com-
bined with the physical capacity of this unrivalled
temple, its resonant effects, afforded one of the richest
musical treats that has ever been presented to its
most fastidious and enthusiatic votaries. A quar-
tette (as a send-chorus, fire to each vocal part), in
a graceful three to four time, on the sub-dominant of
the former key, afforded a peaceful and beautiful
contrast to the almost appalling effects of the " Te
Demo." Vaughan followed in the song of " 0
Liberty," accompanied by Mr. Lindley, that ever-
green in art. A splendid chorus, " Nos Pulvis,"
from a Mass of Mozart's, succeeded, affording to the
admirers of that inimitable composer a gratification
at once novel and sublime. Mrs. W. Knyvett, in
the song " 0 magnify the Lord," lost not an iota
of the fame she has justly acquired for her chaste
expression of a style so well suited to her talent. It
is to be regretted that a less grinding transition had
not been thought of, from her song in E four sharps,
to the following " Kyrce Eleeson" of a charming
composer, Righini ; the latter movement consists of
a fugue in the key of D, fraught with fine motives,
learned contrivance, and an unity of design, which
places him in the foremost rank of the numerous
composers for the Catholic Church. The German
Hymn, by Haydn, the verses of which were given
by Madame Catalan', must be considered a complete
failure—we say it with sincere regret—yet the truth
can not be concealed. There is still the remains of
the organ that for so long a time astonished and
captivated the multitudes that formed her audience.
Her intonation is now painfully imperfect—it was
distressingly so upon the occasion in question—and
likewise in Luther's Hymn. Harper's unique per-
formance on the trumpet could not produce the desired
effect upon his female coadjutor, Catalani ; she sang
the whole hymn most miserably flat. Braharn was
unusually successful in " Sound an Alarm," from
the Oratorio of "Judas Mascabeus." The ap-
peal was such as might have made a coward brave;
and, if due allowance is rendered for the excess of
passion thrown into this splendid vocal effort, it
becomes a matter of astonishment that the perfect
intonation exhibited by this prince of tenor singers
was so strikingly and agreeably perfect. The Chorus
of " Fixed in his everlasting Seat" concluded the
act—a noble selection, which was executed in almost
every particular at once astonishing and gratifying.
The first part of the " Creation," commencing at
the Chaos, and terminating with the unrivalled
Chorus of " The Heavens are telling," formed the
materiel for the second Act, and, with one excep-
tion (and that the singer), never did we hear the
divine production executed in a more masterly style.
Caradori in " With verdure clad," was perfection.
There was an exquisite finish and chaste expression
attendant throughout ; and it was not a little grati-
fying to witness the sensation that this admirable
artist created in her audience when she had conclu-
ded the beautiful Aria. 'Twas in every respect a
triumph. How sadly the reverse was the attempt
of Mr. E. Taylor in the song allotted to him—" The
Dreadful Tempest." Having heard him extolled
as an enthusiastic and somewhat clever amateur, we
were little prepared, and less pleased to find, that
he was an exceeding poor professor, possessing the
faults of his new contemporaries, and a paucity of
their beauties : his Cadenza was vulgarity personi-
fied—a " most lame and impotent conclusion."
Upon this subject, it must be confessed that our
admired Braham is as vulnerable as most; and right
heartily did we regret that the sanctity of the place
prevented a public expression of disgust at the de-
testable Cadenza that he was silly enough to intro-
duce into the beautifully expressive Recitative,
which precedes the Grand Chorus of " The Heavens
are Telling." It is a gross outrage upon the great
composer's definite idea, and merits the most severe
reprehension. The effect was wretchedly bad, and
marred what in other respects must be esteemed
one of this strange compound of good and evil in
vocality's most splendid exhibitions.
The commencement of the third Act afforded an
admirable opportunity of estimating the comparative
merits of the musical giants! For the Chorus of
" Glory to God," by the immortal Handel, is justly
considered a noble specimen of skill, always except-
ing the puerile movement between the trumpet and
horn, during which vain display the voice is made
to act as a kind of vehicle to show off the monkey
tricks of the aforesaid instruments ; that once got rid
of, (and it is matter of wonder it should be permitted
to remain) the walls of Jericho are knocked about
by musical illustration in a manner that would im-
mortalize a man had he never penned another line.
Another of this great author's best works, " Ye
Sons of Israel," Chorus from " Joshua," was a
most remarkable feature of this Act: it is replete
with the most original and sublime conception, and
never can have been more magnificently and accu-
rately embodied than upon this occasion. The sur-
prisingly gratifying precision and firmness of the one
hundred excellent bass voices at the passage imme-
diately subsequent to the chord of F major, where
they are made to lead off the next subject upon the
key of E flat, furnished the lovers of harmony with
a treat nothing less than extatic.
A very noble Chorus from a Mass of Beethoven's
" Gloria in excelsis," rendered the day's selection
one of the most liberal and curiously comparative
kind. The Directors have evinced in thisL'a•dispo-
sition that is at once honourable to
.theV-144:15 as
well as their hearts, and the result ,was.,trrily
triumphant. Much- praise is due to Dr.sCami!lge
the organist, who presided at this noble. instrument