THE MADRIGAL SOCIETY.
THE old-fashioned tastes of the Madrigalians seem to generate corre- sponding habits. Their season begins when the days shorten and the leaves fall, and when the fireside is again welcome. Resolutely they reassemble in October, although "not a creature is in town ;" and, in utter defiance of all the decrees of fashion, their meeting on Thursday wona numerous one. We preserve the incognito of certain members well kno v., in Lishionable circles ; but the reputation of the President will not suffer by our announcing his presence ; neither will the pro- fessional character of Messrs. VAUGHAN, E. TAYLOR, TURLE, TER- RAIL, HORNCASTLE, KING, and FRANCIS, be damaged by a similar disclosure regarding them.
The following pieces were performed-
. ` Choral, " How still and peaceful" Dr. TYE. Bladrigal, " Delay breeds danger" GiOvANELLI. "With wreaths of roses" COBROLD.
Anthem, "I will sing of thy power" Dr. GREENE.
Madrigal, "To Cynthia fair" L. MARS:NM°.
"Lady, your eye " . WEELKES. "Oft have I viewed " WILRY E.
"The white delightful swan " 0. VECCHI.
"Now each creature" FARMER.
"Every bush now ringeth " CAVENDISH.
This short list contained as much variety of matter as could well be compressed into a similar number of compositions for yokes—from the deep solemnity of TYE to the sprightly jollity of WEELEES. Several of the Madrigals were new, even to veteran members of the Society; so exhaustless is the mine of musical wealth of the age of ELIZABETH. At the head of all, whether native or foreign, WILBYE'S fine Madrigal must be placed—a composition as pregnant with learning as it is rich in melody and expression. It is due to the memory of this great writer, for such he may truly be called, that his compositions (which were exclusively Madrigals), should be scored and published. Few of them, and those not the best, are within the reach of his countrymen.
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