The Portland daily press., 1865-05-26
The Great Musical Festival.

.s'Aie'A BosToN, May "a, 1866.
To The Editor of the Press bss eiaW
/ The air surrounding the Hub" is redolent
with music, and the, "concord of sweet"
sounds seems to have taken the. place of the
capture of JEFF. Davis in crinoline, or even the
trial of the assassinators. True, the shop
windows are filed with caricatures Of that
unfortunate man" in the sslast ,litch,n and
crowds of people flock around tho windows
to have laugh over the pictures and cali
down curses upon him who has been an instru-
ment in the DEVILS hands Of shedding oceans
Of innocent blood. But leave him to his
fate which is terrible one, whether he hangs
i by the neck until she ISIS dead, sdrags out his
miserable life in a dungeon, oris banished from
bis country and sent wandering over the earth
despised BY all good men,
The semi centennial anniversary of the
Handeband Hayden Society commenced in;
good earnest yesterday, at Music Hall, where
Dr. Upham, President Of the Society, gave an
Interesting address, several ecas Of music
were performed, and good beginning was
made. Last evening Hayden's Oratorio OF the
Creation was performed in astyle Of grandeur
never equalled on this Western Continent.
This Oratorio is-a standard work and never
win 60 out of fashion so long as the Scriptuall
announcement, = God said let there be light and
light was" is remembered on earth. :ssgoA bas
4, At an early hour the people began to. flock
to Music Hall, which, let me say, eapassdnt, Is
a splendidrooma The Bostonians may we'll
be proud Of this hall, and the great organ that
adorns andifills one end OF it, Having seat
In one OF the upper balconies, / hadai birds
eye view Of the scene below. "a few minutes
before Se'clock the female chorus singers be-
gan to march in, in single file. and take their
places on either side Of the organ The seats
are raised one above another and quite near
together in order to save room. 1t was anus
ing to see them file ntostheira seats and sbe-i
stow" their crinoline so as not to encroach on
their neighbors. 1t was a severe task and
called woman's bdsxtsrityp cbut la good
time hework was accomplished, and then the
male singers came in and took their seats
above thems There were some six hundred
in all, and the reader can judge how essential
it was that they should bestow themselves
close together The large space In front Of
the organ was then Allied by those "who play
well on Instruments" ~ -s
There were full one hundred OF these In
atrumentallsts, the violins in front, next these
bass instruments, behind them the reed in
struments, and next the organ the brass ones.
There were at least fifty violins, and other
instruments to make up the round hundred.
Whata magnificent orchestra! And all ac-
complished artistsi After this mighty orches-
ira was arranged, Miss Brainard, and Mrs.
Yam Zundt. Mr.. Farley, and Mr.. Rudolphsen,
tne solo singers, took their places. The au-
diencN and the performers being sealed, this
spaclousroom presented magnificent specta
c'e' one not soon to be forgotten. I have sell
aom Witnessed on any occasion such a bril-
iians auolence'aud the music was altogether
worthy the occasion. $50
1t is quite impossible within the narrow