The New York herald., 1879-09-14
BIRMINGHAM MUSICAL FESTIVAL
Peers and PIebeianS Gather Round
Sir Michael Costa.
TER--TREBELLI--SANT
British Musicians Pay Tribute to
Handel and Haydn.

apt In the nineteenth century as in the fourth. In
England it Is the fashion to be musical. and one
sumes musical virtue if one has it not. Moreover
there is here sober responsibility of taste which
various. not to say frivolous culture girds
at You remember the charming in that won
derful tale OF brothers and q sisters love- s'The
Mill on the Floss" where pretty Lucy practices
the grand airs from the "Creation" with
fathless Stephen? 1t was drawn from the life.
Half tho maidens in England would sing
that ponderous music as well. and II their lovers
could not accompany them they would at least ap-
plaud in the proper places. suppose it is the fine
Cathedral choirs which make choral music SO famil-
lar and beloved. But. however it grew, the taste
universal and the great festivals Of England exist
to illustrate the scope of the oratcro. OF all these
the most famous and fashionable is doubtless 'rhe
Trennial Birmingham Festival in aid of the General
Hospital"
FESTIVAL.
1t was while America still ''rhe Colonies" it
was while England was busy with wars abroad, and
politics. dcing and drinking at home; it before
John Howard and Samuel Ronilly and their noble
brotherhood had made philanthropy fashionable
it was about the time, in short, when young Harry
Warrington came to the "Old Home" to find
what hollow coarse and cruel world was made up
of that fine society which looked noble of;
it was, say. in that selfish last century that
founding general hospital in that busy town.
Three years later the first festival held for the
benefit of the uncompletcd building. paying 81 500
into the lean treasury Ten years aferward the
second celebration and in 1854 third and since
with one lapse. triennial gathering of the musi-
cal clans has brought its contribution to the fund
In the beginning these commemoratons had .
ocia character. There balls in the evenings
at first three then one. then lamented sequestra-
ton Of dancing. There were ordinaries at the two
principal taverns. at which the charge was linn
tied "hve shilngs head. including malt liquors.
and it was forbidden to charge more than ninepence
per head for at the balls. On one occasion the
committee wrote to Lord Dud!eys steward to ask
.whether His Lordship meant to send any venison
against the oratorios." or whatever quality the meat
and drink may have been. however. the music
was of the BEST and. at the very first perform
ance. in 176s. included such works the "Mes-
siah." "L'Allegro ed il Penseroso." "Alexander's
Feast and Handeps coronation Anthem" In
the thirty-two which have followed not
only have the selections been worthy, but the
most famous artists have interpreted them Indeed.
to 60 to the Birmingham Festival to stand uncov-
cred in the midst of q great company Of tuneful
ghosts. Here have sung. among hosts of others.
fair Mme Blllugton, Catalan, Sontag, Clara No
vello, Grisi Titiens. the incomparabe Malibran.
Here Brahan, father of the famous Countess Walde-
grave, charmed all hearers. Here Labiache an d
Formes, and silvcr-voiced Mario acclaimed their
stately numbers. And on this very stage in 1s4G.
"Elijah" written for the festival Of that year.
PATRONS FESTIVAL.
As you see. it Is considered honor and dignity
to be bdden to perform at these festivals and there
hardly living artist of note who has not appeared
performance takes place under the distinguished
patronage OF Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen
Highness the Princess OF Wales Her Royal High
ness the Duchess OF Cambridge and His Royal
Hishnsss ness the h Duke Of @ Cambridge % suppose there
conferred the honor of her bodily presence upon
her Scottish lieges. and the charming Princess has
taken her nice children home to have little
visit with their Grandfather Denmark, and 'sWales'
is out yachting. and the Duchess though of ga fru
gal mind" like the immortal Mrs. Gilpin is also
like her, ION pleasure bent" away the domes-
tic hearth, and the Duke is busy evolving Bunsby-
ish dispatches from the War Once thoy are one
and all. constructvely present. If they were not
however. they could hardly be missed in such. a |
throng OF good company. The president is right
honorable peer and the names the hundred wee |
presidents to have been taken in order from |
those inspired volumes. tho "Peerage" and the |
Landed Gentry" such an atmosphere Of distinction
do they exhale.
The festival lasts four days. For each morning
performance. occupying three hours. you pay for |
your reserved seat one guinea (s5 25 Il the object
not benevolent and the occasion ''the thing"
you would hesitate long over that golden token.
But the Quid pro quo fair For your invest
ment you receive the very best rendering of sacred
music that the world produce. and the spectacle
of characteristic English crowd. Outside tho |
doors the sidewalks rallied Off to keep the ple-
beian many from pressing the patrician
few Behind these barriers the multituie stands
packed four tive deep. waiting for such crumbs
music may fall from the rich table within in
spccting eouipages and toilets sometimes chafdnc
any personal ecceutricity OF the upper Thousand
but perfectly good tempered patient and apparently
satisfied with its part ia the days proceedings The
steady drip drip of the rain does disturb these
steadfast souls, they in the least conscious
it would seem or the damp disco omror of the crowd,
or of being themselves under inspection. 1t never
to your true born Englis imam that any thing
he does is not 'wisest. virtuousest, discreetest,
best" The fact that he docs it ut once makes it
impcachable
WHERE THE FESTIVAL Is HELD.
Inside the Town Hall is spacious. handsome and
wonderfully good in acoustic properties. You have
nothing in America at once attractive aud so re-
sonant. though the Boston Music Hall near
1t. There is noble organ, the property. by the
by. OF the hospital andpaid for by these FESTIVALS
and there il gathered picked orchestra of l5O
men, led by Sir Michael Costa. an admirable CON
ductor, who for the last thirty years has filled
this onerous place. Behind this great orches-
ira: with its LOS strings and thirty reeds
chorus of $40 voices. On either side OF the
tor are the solo singers. OF whom only Nine. Gers
American eyes. But they all renowned in orato-
rio singing and well deserve their reputation. OPP
poste the platform Is wide low gallery where
the presidents and vice presidents places and tho
seats eagerly coveted by fashion. The side galleries
in favor. aud last the vast floor. But as
the price IL the same everywhere there is only
periority of luck. and not Of purse position inn
Piled in the better places; for to avoid all chickering's
aud strife. the seats are drawn by lot. You send
in your guinea and your name, and honorable
committee turns tho wheel aud assigns you what
number the icke goddess sends you. For our
selves. con fortunes cap the very button
yet the soies of her Shoes" We
hear. and observe, FIRST. that tho aspect of the
audience is noticeably unlike an American one. 10
begin with. you would not find two thousand Amcri-
In any one city who would pay So apiece
to hear an oratorio; but II that impossible multi
tude could be convened IL would be attircd in such
splendor aud faultlessly appointed that you
would say IL could att rd to pay 50 x25 indifer
emily. These people, however for tho most part
very plainly and even cheaply arrayed. a rustic
maid from Washington or Essex county would not
30 to the cattle show in such unprctonding raiment.
Yet nine out OF ten of this unassuining host had
brought the well used score ot the music with them,
folio we'd IT closely, and evidently knew TO tho finest
nlament OF sound what delivery aud what signih-
cance should be accorded to each note.
OF course there were handsome toilets, but these
of which / speak were just evidently distinctly
festive in their intent And, confess IL seemed to
me u very laudsble thing that these many British
maids and matrons should spare from their clothes
spend on their loftier pleasures. II illus
tration of Wordsworth's ''plain living aud high