Litchfield enquirer., 1845-11-20
THE SACRED MUSIC SOCIETY.

THE SACRED MUSIC SOCIETY.
 MR ED1roR-The anniversary of this assccia- ton was held in the Episcopal Church in Litch- field on the evening of the 18th inst Under the direction of Mir. DARIUS PHELPS, the Leader, the selections were made and the exercises arranged with excellent taste have seldom heard so ma ny rich and copious voices in any church so sweet ly blended, as heard on this occasion The vol ume of voice corresponded better with the slze oi the house, than it has done on any former annl- versary of the Society. Most of the pieces were from Handel, Haydn, and other eminent compo- sers. Several choruses were sung, of great power and very perfect harmony. Of these latter, the Song of the Angels" and the " Hallelujah Cho' rus," by Handel, produced the hapPlest effect
 If it were not invidous !o particularize, where all have done so well, would mention solo from Haydn, sung in manner which could not nave failed to elicit the admiration of every one wno heard it. Tn another piece Ca chorus) from the same master, part of which was sung as solo "a piece among the most difficult of all fine 9l eces to be performed-the accomplished vocalist seem- ed to have surpassed all her other efforts of the evening.
 Another solo sung by another lady, commencing .s Hear my prayer, my heavenly Father" was much and dcservedly commended. Her voice has the rarest of all qualifications, that of being per- fectly we'll cultivated.
 Not among the least of the performances, was that charming little duett, {" Come where the vio- lets blow," sung in 50 graceful and delightful manner, that we all wished to hear it again.
 One principal charm in the exercises of the eve- ming, (at least for promiscuous auditory) was' that the pieces were short. Singers, as well as public speakers, some times forget that they can be wearisome.
 The importance of such an organ to dissemln- ate the principles of good taste in music through out the county, in all denominations, must be ob- yious to any one who has ever had occasion to ob- serve into what almost incurable faults choir of singers, when left to themselves, will ultimately fall The talent, or rather the combination of tal- ents, requisite to make good vocalist or instru- mentalist, must, like all other excellent endow- ments, be studiously cultivated in order to arrive at any thing like perfection. How nearly allied sacred music may pc 10 tne otheE uepdtluehts "l religious worship, how naturally it leads the mind upward to the contemplation of divine truth, how hallowed are it's associations. and how pleas ant the memories that it awakens; how it softens the harsh elements of life, and opens all the aven- ues to the soul-who that has ever felt its power can fail to remember?
 But singers themselves should not he left alone, with the burden of this enterprise upon their hands, If the public will not aid them, their efforts are worse than lost. part of the expense at least can be borneby all who are willing to contribute.
 The large attendance both of ladies and gentle men, and the interest manifested by all present, were the best compliment that could have been paid to the exercises of the evening. The fact that SO many people delightfully."- entertained. with so short time for preparation on the part of the performers, seems to show that the association is in healthful condition, and that it is likely to be permanent Mir. PH1Lo M. TRowBR1DGE, of Bethlem, is the Leader and Conductor for the en- suing year, who will spare no pains to make the next anniversary worthy of the attention of the public.