The centenary anniversary of the Noblemen's Catch Club has been
celebrated this year by a competition for two prizes—the first, a silver goblet, the second five guineas—for glees. The first prize has been awarded to Mr. William Cummings,' and the second to Mr. George Benson. The proceedings of the Catch Club during the past century hold an important place in the annals of music in England. In the list of competitors for its prizes we find the names of Arne, Battishill, Abel, Hayes, Clarke, Barthelemon, Cooke, Webbe, Atter- bury, Paxtbn, Stevens, Billineton, Callcott, Horsley, Elliot, Goss, and many others who have done honour to the English school of vocal harmony. Burney, our great historian of music, writing in 1789, said, "The spirit and liberality with which this establishment has been supported, has not only much improved the manner of per- forming the catches, canons, and glees of the old masters, but has been productive of innumerable new compositions of that kind which are of a still more ingenious and elegant texture." A just eulogy which the Catch Club continues to deserve.
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