Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-08-26
The Trumpet Match.-The great battle, which

has excited such intense feelings among the
community, took place, according to agree
ment at Niblo's beautiful saloon, last evening
Such scene and crowd, and contest never
before was known in this country, nor in the old
world since the days of Sir Giles d'Aumary, the
famous knight templar of Malta, or of Baron de
Bots Guilbert in the time of Ivanhoe. There
were at least $500 persons within and without
the saloon. Long before the hour, the omnibuses,
loaded down with passengers, and with their
painted Illuminated lamps, were seen hylng
through Broadway to the point of destination
Carriages without number. The saloon was
perfectly TANNED with people; the aisles, the
galleries-eyen the balconies out side: three
fourths il appeared to us were ladies. After the
overture from La Dame Blanche were perform
ed and we never heard il executed with more
taste, by charming orchestra, or TO a more
profoundly attentive audience, the scene imme-
diately changed. The deep stiffness was brok-
en-. and the greatest eagerness manifested, by
reiterated applause, to welcome Gdmbati, who
was to lead of the battle. The platform oil the
orchestra itself was crowded with nearly a hun
dred amateurs; and as soon as Gamoaa emerg-
ed from behind the scenes aud made his appear
ance in front, the shouts of the audience within
the saloon echoed like thunder to the vaulted
ceiling After many brilliant passages and pre-
ludes. accompanied by the orchestra, he struck
into his famous March in Egypt but though adj
mrably executed, il seemed on too low tone,
his being unaccustomed to the plain instrument.
It. however, went off with great eclat. After
one or two performers had sung, Norton then
made his debut, amidst the most vehement eX-
preston Of applause. The Nortonini appeared
to be in the most perfect ecstacy, and cock-sure
of victory. II was very clear that large par
~ of the audience We're BIASED in his favor,
and ne knew how to avail himself of this predi
lection BY playing with infinite grace and me-
lody the variations which he had adapted to the
popular and much admired air of Robin Adar.
Much as we are willing to eulogize the beau
" Of this performance, il was clear to every I'M
prejudiced mind thatit exhibited no indications
of rapid and difficult execution; being entirely
succession of prolongednotes modulated, We
are ready to admit with superlative taste, though
of very limited range in the gamut. A loud eX-
plosion of braves followed this performance,
and seemed almost to decide the controversy in
favor of Norton. The ceiling, however, still
remained firm, and the volcanic fires continued
TO rumble amidst the boisterous war and confuS
ed din Of voices fomented by a heated and suf
locating atmosphere, & highly excited s. mer
curial state of feeling, which neither reason, nor
fans nor iced punch, nor 'kerchiefS, nor zephyrs
waited from the grapevine arbor, could alay
or smother. The utmost suspense now reigned
during the interlude, and until after the overture
of the Cd part. Nothing was heard but Bravo,
Gambati! Bravo, Norton! in every part of the
house. AT length Gambati again appeared, and
taking a more elevated range in the scale Of
notes. poured fourth in series of exquisitey
brilliant variations of an air from Otello such "a
flood of sweet sounds, such a correScatiOn of
dazzling beauties, blended together in such
sweet harmony, and with such lightning-like &C.
lerity as were never before heard. The tide
now seemed to turn suddenly, like mighty tor
rent in favor OF GambaIi. A thousand cries of
bravo! encore! bravo Gambatil bravissimoi en-
core! encorei issued from every quarter. The
l;al y,,th of
delight, and repeated with the same success, this
superb moroccan.
Now a calm reigned awhile; but the voices Of
the Nortonini soon broke the stiffness, as their
champion csme at last, to terminate the con-
fct His preludes, though bold and full of mil
itary grandeur, were decidedly inferior to the
air which had just left such powerful impress
sion from the performance of Gambat. Nor.
ton however again touched upon the cord of
publ feeling by introducing "Taffy was
Welchman," which, though exceedingly simple,
was readily appreciated and understood by all,
and again seemed to eclipse and throw into the
shade the efforts OF his rival. Norton was now
encored, and Immediately after the most tumul-
tuous scene of enthusiastic applause and cries
of bravo, bravo. began and kept the house
in a perfect chaos for the space Of an hour
Both parties took grounds, and, amidst the hur.
rahs for one and the other champion. We did
not know but il would end in general rush and
battle between the partisans Of each. They
BOTH after time, came on to the front part of
the orchestra. Norton made speech in En-
glsh, of course, and in which he had the ad-
vantage of Gambati; said the battle was forced
upon him, and seemed to talk as if il was won,
&C. But we pass over this indiscretion. Gam
bait, who spoke in French, admitted his en-
barrassment in playing upon an instrument
he was not used to, said that each ought TO ad-
here to his own particular decentralization
with his, and Gambati with his keys-and each
play in his own particular style. 1t was then
mentioned, that as the audience seemed divided
in opinion, the battle would be renewed on
Monday evening, Ciofi concluding the entera
tainments with trombone solo of Hail Coum-
bia. The Judges who were the Russian Con-
sui, MIR. Eustaphieve, for Gambati, and Mr..
Pierce Butler for Norton, seemed in perfect
dilemma which way to decide. The whole pro-
ceeding, take it altogether, went off admirably
". y. Star.
The decAPitated Coin.-The Government"
- r