The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-22
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE SACRED CONCERT, at Christ
Church, last evening, attracted a large
audience, but the music was, in all re-
speets, worthy of the generous attend
ance. There must have been much
patient preparation aud close attention
to business to have attained such domin-
ion over the voices and such harmony
in the choruses. At first, close criticism
would notice little timidity-no more,
however, than should be expected from
amateurs, but this gave way to conf
dence, steadiness, and firm and intellI-
gent guidance in the concert parts. Two
or three of the vocalists rose and met the
fullest demands of the rs,-both in
Interpretation and eXecutiOn,-and
three of the solos would have extorted
plaudits from ROssini himself. We
do not remember, in any concert
given by non professional musicians, so
much that deserves to be praised, and 30
little that was faulty. There was one
exhibition Of supreme talent. 1t was
where the performer was not only called
upon to employ, skillfully, unusual mu-
steal resources, but to manifest all the
phases of sensibility-else all was lost
and she did it, with naturalness and
grace worthy of n Lind or Sontag IT
was asplendid achievement The man.
agement of the pipes. the heavy strain
here, the emotion there--the whole was
a triumph. In this instance, art and
genius were working with high natural
gifts, and the result was perfection. The
performance would have been pronounc-
ed mastery in any city in the Union. But
itmay not beregarded as fairto signalzea
single performance, where there was so
much that was excellent, and where all
was so good. What was most remarked
In the concert, to- us, ccrtainly--was the
near knowledge which all seemed to
possess of the art of music. A body of
ladies and gentlemen cOnversing intel
ligently In the polite language of the
day, is thing common enough. but to
find body Of busy men and women
who have the heavy cares of the world
to attend to-ships to load and children to
send to schOOl-tO find body OF ladies
and gentlemen of this class rising up
among us, as artists in an art that is tho
hardest to master, issomething amazing,
and something to notice. We do not say
that there were no false notes aud the
short comings incident to the bringing
together of so many temperamcnts; but
we do say that there were many displays
Of uncommon musical power, skill and
perception. Perhaps much of this ex-
cellence was owing to the superior gen.
eral culture ofthe performers. Itiswell
known that most of the "grand
choruses" of the Opera and of other stage
music, are made up of persons through
whose heads no idea enters beyond that
hammered in by the red stick of the d.
rector, who thanks God, ifhis ragmuffins
are fit for show when tho curtain goes
up. 1t is natural our amateurs should
transcend the pick-ups and wing birds
Of the opera in the matter of interpret
ting the music set before them. and i'm
giving expression to it in just vocal
sounds; but that they should surpass
them in time and in harmony, were
achievements scarcely anticipated We
trust that OCCASION may be near to Justi-
fy a repetition of last nights perform
ance, or something less than it--that
we may have refreshment in some de
gree fit for the mind. If need be, 'lOOk
that it be sad !" but at any rate let us
have music, which,
Wakes glad remembrance of our YOUTH
Calls back past joys, and warns into transport"