THE VOCAL CONCERTS.
THE fifth Vocal Concert was on Monday night, and consisted of the following selection. I. Coronation Anthem," My heart is MANDEL. 2. Glee." Mark a here the silver queen" R. COOKE. 3. Catitutiet, Miss ‘roolivarr," Ssnipatliy " nv.r. NI
4, ndrigal," Stay, Corydon." n 5. Offertorium." Alma Virao" Hommel,.
6. Glee, " Blow, blow, thou whiter wind," STEVENS. 7. Ain*, Mr. Barra," NON andrai" Mossier. R. Chorus," 0 the plea,re or the plains" HANDEL. 9. Quartet, Messrs. 131.AOROVE,DANDO, Dad
Lucas Ilecrnovtsr.
10. Motet," Praise Jehovah" MOZART. It. Cantata. Miss Massott," Rawl) coolest thou" 111.71.11.AH. 12. Glee, " Volate piu iii venti" • E. TAYLOR.
13. Quintets°, " Sento, 0 Diu" Mos ter,
14. Nlitill igal," 1.0 ahem with flowery lit•ad" Moar.rv. 15. Ballad, !iliss RAI:4E01M,, 11104 %%ill, thee" T.Coons.
16. Glee," The blossom so pleasing" Writer:,
17. Chorus," Arise, arise !" (Choice of Hercules) HANDEL.
Although this scheme comprises many pieces of unquestioned ex- cellence, most of them are familiar to the subscribers to these concerts. The Society, it is understood, has been devoting itself to the ueees. stay preparation for the honourable and arduous duty to which it stands pledged—the production of the last and greatest effort of Scotia's genius, his oratorio The crucifixion. The least known, though must excellent of HANDEL'S Coronation Anthems, was finely performed, and was one of the most attractive pieces of the evening. We never heard the introductory chorus from Adis and Galatea with more pleasure. Some parts of it are easily and generally vulgarized—at the Ancient Concerts invariably ; but the chorus-singers at the Vocal Concerts, who, in fret, are for the most part principal singers also, impart a degree of finish and refinement as well as precision to choruses, which is sought for in vain elsewhere. This appears in all their full pieces, but in none so conspicuously as in their Madrigals, where there is no instrumental varnish to hide ally de- fect, but where every roughness or inequality is palpably offensive. No. 10 is one of W.u.eve's choicest compositions, full of variety and beauty. No. 14 is a pleasing specimen of 3Icou.Ev's playful style. Each re- ceived the welcome which attends every madrigal at these concerts. Of the Glees, No. 2 was the best-sang. The part which its author mote for HARRISON, and which his silver-toned voice was so well cal- culated to sustain, was beautifully sung by HOBBS. The only song which deserves particular notice was IIrt.LAti's Can- tata. This species of composition, once so much cultivated by Eng- lish as well as 'foreign writers, is now seldom attempted (and the at- tempt is usually a failure) by the former. The truth is, that here PURCELL shines with such unrivalled lustre, that his successors, hope- less to equal it, are content to " pale their ineffectual fires." Mr. HULLAICS composition has many traits of genius, and more evidences of study, both of which are listened to with approbation ; but it appeals feebly and transiently to the feelings. In Pencer.t.'s Cantatas all thought of their author is gone : we think only of the person through whom be speaks to us, whose varied passions and emotions excite and animate our own. But it is scarcely fair to measure Mr. Ilto.t.an's composition by that of Pericer.r. : the accidental circumstance of their occurring in successive concerts, sung by the same singer, has rather forced the comparison upon us. It is almost needless to add, that it received ample justice at the hands of Miss Alassox.
The Vocal Concerts of the present season, according to their usual plan, may be said to have terminated with the present evening ; and
they have fully sustained their former reputation. The accession which they have made to our sum of musical enjoyment has been large aid liberal. With equal industry and discrimination, the Society has gathered the produce of different nations and ages into their garner. They have rescued from dust and cobwebs the most delightful compositions of the Madrigalian age : from their exertions springs the knowledge of them now so widely diffused. The various Madrigal Societies which are arising throughout the kingdom are but offsets from the Vocal Concerts. And similar zeal hiss been manifested in the production of modern excellence. On the some night, composi- tions of Weeen and BATESoN, or of SPOIIR and WILDeE, were intro- duced into an English concert.room for the first time. It is thus that every liberal professor should strive to advance the true interests of his art, as well as to render it subservient to his own best interests. This is an association from which we can distinctly trace practical good as the result, and the extinction of which would leave a musical void which no existing society has the will or the ability to supply. It was gratifying on this, as on a former occasion, to see the finest instrumental performers of the present day giving their assistance to their associated vocal brethren. Our opinion of their performance, and especially of the Quartet they played this evening, has been recently given. It was a pleasure which repetition served only to heighten. Between the acts of the concert, the Secretary announced to the -audience that the performance of Sroua's Oratorio was unavoidably postponed to Monday the 27th instant.
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