THE MADRIGAL SOCIETY.
TOE first meeting of the season was on Thursday evening; and the society mustered strong. Sir JOHN ROGERS the President and Mr. CAPEL the Vice-President were there; arid among the members, Messrs. STREET, BAUMER, HAWES, R. TAYLOR, E. TAYLOR, and some others whom we have been accustomed to meet in the same spot these many years; and among the visiters were Messrs. TURLE, Hones, HAW.. KINS, .HOLMES, and BRADBURY. The following pieces were per. formed- SanetlIS ORLANDO GIUBONS.
" Come,clap your hands" WEELIO.S. " I follow, lo, the footing" NIORLEY.
" Draw on, sweet night" %VtLwrs.
" Mud by a crystal fountain" G CROCE. " C1011, SOD tido amaute" A. STADELLA. " Come, lovers, follow me" ISENNET. Sweet Pltilomel" WARD.
&pima media" FIRRETTI.
" I was full near" FERABObCO.
" Sint' avert iti " FERRETL
A more choice and varied selection of madrigals we have seldom heard. There was but one—that of FERABOSCO—of inferior preten-
sions : but, beautiful as were those of the other Italian writers, the palm remained, as usual, with the English. WILIWE'S " Draw on, sweet night," is perhaps his masterpiece : vocal harmony has produced nothing more perfect of its kind than the commencement of this lovely composition. WAtin's " Sweet Philomel" is full of its author's ten- derness and fit ling; qualities which lurk in most of his madrigals. BENNET and MORLEY were exhibited in their playful guise, and con-
tributed their full share to the pleasure of the evening. Never was this venerable society in a more prosperous state. Long may it continue so : for, independent of the musical instruction and grati- fication which it imparts, it is the only place in which music assumes a social character—where every distinction of rank subsides—where all the members deposit at the threshold whatever differences of sect or party distinguish them in the world, and meet in harmony and good fellowship on common ground ; each contributing to the general musical treasury all be has to give, be it little or much, and each contribution being received with equal cordiality and good feeling. There are no
fastidious or (still worse) 'gut:staid auditors to please or humour; tor every loan is a singer—and the door is shut against critics or reporters, who, in truth, would find little to understand or " report" in the per- formance of compositions two centuries and a half old. The Madrigal Society is quite out of the reach of newspaper shot : and in stating that we never heard its voices in better trim, the members will not thank us for our praise ; and censure, if censure were given, they would
esteem as lightly.
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