New-York tribune., 1868-12-31
MUSIC.
GLEEs AND MADIIGALS.


Tho concert given at Steinways on Tuesday
ncbt ne compliment to Mr.. James A. Johnson intro
dnced to the Now-York public style of music almost
unknown 10 our public halls, and rarely heard even III
priyate In style which gives any fair idea OF It's excel
once The charming little loyesonss III when inc oid
English and italian composers lavished all the poetry
the tenderness and the delcacy Of their genius which
the gentle and webred of both sexes two or three CEN
turics ago practiced favorite amusement ahG III
which proficiency was as essential an accomplishment
for Young gentlemen ladies as ts nowadays croQuet
or dancing, among the excellent things OF antiquity
which have fallen almost into OBLIVION but rchy
deserve a revival There is indescribablo charm
I'm these nttlo pieces. AS the poetry was h5ht
and graceful and fun of happy conceits; as
tho books which contained it were luxuriant
little volumes embroidered with nl the delicate arts OF
the printer the paper maker, tho binder, ana the
draughtsman; so the music itself characterized by
that appearance Of elegant simplicity which s attained
only by the consummaton Of art and that beauty whch
is the product OF inspiration jointly with labor True
they have a slightly artificial air. suggestive OF Vatican
landscapes and shepherds In coored satn ana shepherd
esses in brocado But there Ia charm in these unnatu
raj scenes OF pastoral fashion, everybody knows ana
he must be neither lover Of nature nor OF sweet souds
nor Of any OF the refnements OF gentle lc who can
listen, say TO old Thomas F0rd's exquisite madrigal
"since first your face" or to Morleys Fair Phis
saw" or TO the Down in u 1owry vale" OF the Nene-
the execution Of these antique gems on Tuesday night
there Ia not "a, word to bel said but praise. The
madrGal differs from the glce principally IN that
IL is meant to be sung by chorus instead OF by
single FOR each part The ladies and gentlemen VINO
appeared this occasion were about 90 IN numDer-mos
Of them amateurs-and their performance was as near
perfection as anything in the world can be- Wehaye
never boaad such admirable ensembles In NewYorl be-
fore and they produced volume of sound far superior
to that generally gwen by oratorio choruses. They
made no Mistakes they attacked the notes IN slrct te
they all knew what they had to DO and orc never waited
for another TO lead the way their expression was broad
and intelligent and the quality OF tie voices was excel
lent. Al tho madrgals ana most OF the gees were sung
as they should be- without accompaniment Much OF the
precision OF the performance due 10 the finn aud
every way admirable leading Of hcgentleman who occu
pied the conductors stand We regret tha his lame was
not mentioned.
Tie bes. Of the madrigals were the three we have
naiurd There several excellent gccs, sung by iout
five aud six voices; q few solos By Ar Aiken Mr. John
son Mira Eusaphevo aud Mrs. Johnston; aud some mis-
celaucous part songs whchoush dferentin character
from the rest OF tho programme, were sufficiently In
harmony with rs spirit DOt 10 be ont of place such was
that exquisite hymn Of Mendelss0hn Hear my prayer
from the Psalm LVl, In which Mrs. g. W. Brown aid
justice 20 the solo, and such too, was the inieger Iu@
for male chorus which. thinking, was the best ex-
ecucd piece Of the evening Thcfcrce and deiicaey OF
the choruA, n this. remarkable.
br g. y. Warren pay "a two organ solos, which would
have been much II there had been an organ for
HIM TO play them on saMr steinways old box Of wind
pipes IL becoming insulcrable nuisance. Let SUD
scrpton bt started among musicians 20 buy It and burn
itup. Mr. Connolly was Tho accompanlst Oh the
piano, We should not omit to say that the pleasure OF
the eutcrtalnmcnt neatly rounded OF 10y that rare'
Of good thing good programme whercon. declod Win
all tho attractions Of delicate typc and paper and rcd
margins and slGcu stitching the words OF all the songs
were printed In fal. w!th tho dates oi their authorship
and pleasant preface gave an account OF the character
i,ucs of tho madigai. Tic ball was very inil, and VIC
are satned that "A repetition ~ the concert would bc
highly advisable