Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-14
CORRESPONDENTS.


 | A Musical Treat in Northampton, Mass. NORTHAMPTON, Mass, Jan. 10. 1 To the Editor of the JOURNAL COURIER: had the pleasure of attending the grand oratorio at the First church. of the above place on the occasion of the meet ing of the Hampden and Hampshire County Musical association when
 they presented Mendelssohn's Hymn of
 Praise' and also choice programme of or chestral and solo selections. The principal | singers were Mrs. E. Humphrey AL l l len and Prof. James Labor, and there was a splendid orchestra consisting of about thirty pieces, under the direction of Mir. B. 0. Blodgett, with Mir. E. B. Story at the organ. There were also present a full orchestra of solo artists from the Harvard Symphony or chestra of Boston, and the Beethoven quar- tette from the same city.
 To give an idea how much interest is taken | in the performance by the surrounding towns, special trains were run from all prin- cipal points at excursion rates, and it was | ''the talk'' all through this portion of the State. The people up here are certainly of a 1 musical taste. for the most breathless atten- ton was given to the music from the begin
 ming until it's close. The first part of the pro- 1 gramme was devoted to instrumental parts, | with the exception of a few vocal solos but l in the second part, when the treat of the evening was rendered, the stage audience, which was composed of many noted singers ! in the neighborhood of Northampton 1 took part. There were nearly two hundred ladies and gentlemen who formed this chorus, and their look upon the stage was very fine The pulpit of the church was entirely cov- cred by the platform, and, in fact, the whole of the organ end of the edifice was arranged so as to form one grand stage, and from the | body of the church the sight was truly inn posing.
 ! As 1t is known that this orator1o was com l posed in 1S4O to commemorate the Tooth anniversary of the invention of the art of l printing, your more intelligent readers need not be given any detailed description of its symphony -cantata movement, for l it has often been heard in your city. But I question if ever there was so much pains taken in the City of Elms to have it so well given as on this occasion. Certainly it would be difficult to get so large an audience out this dreadful night, with the snow and slush over foot deep, and almost impossible to travel either on foot or by conveyance yet they were here. It has been the pleasure of your correspondent to attend many of the best operas in the past twenty years, to listen to some of the best concerts in New York, Philadelphia and Boston, and to enjoy some of the most cultivated productions of music of the day, and do not exaggerate whensI say this (fOr It's kind was one or the very | best ever listened to. The time was almost perfect, the harmony was well blended, and | the parts taken by all were well performed. I do not think the choir at the Church of the Redeemer, which listen to every Sunday, could have done as well, certainly not better. The chorus fairly excelled themselves, and had they all been company in training with the orchestra for months ! they could not have kept better I time with the director. watched them critically through all the difficult parts, almost fearing they could not carry the per fection with which they began to the end, but they did. It is no easy matter for a company who have practiced little together l to come to concert and go through such a 1 performance with sach accuracy, and it cer- l tainly is much to the credit of every one who | took part both for musical ability and local 1 training.
 l I understand that in May next they are to
 have the oratorio of '.St. Paul' by the same author, and it is the wish of the writer that
 many of your numerous readers may, to- gether with himself, enjoy the same. must
 not close without word of thanks to the members of the society who were kind
 enough to furnish me with splendid accom-
 modations to both see and enjoy this excel lent musical treat. M. 0. s.
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