THE PURCELL CLUB.
'fm: members of the Purcell Club held their annual festive meeting ou Saturday last, at the Sussex Hotel. Judging from the large accession of numbers and the anxiety manifested by many others to obtain ad- mission, it would seem that the music of 11ENny Putmem. has still a portion of its aocient attractive influence. The existence of this Society, a voluntary assoeiation of musicians at their own charge and for their own pleasure, is sonic set-off, in the estimate of professional character, against the concert-jobbing and paltry intriguing of certain members of the fraternity. It is the homage of the heart and the understanding at the shrine of England's greatest musical genius.
The selection comprised that extraordinary diversity of excellence which the vocal compositions of PrlICELT, alone arc capable of atibrding in the like degree. It was remarked by the Gresham professor of Music, who presided at the meeting, that although Pr arE1.5, was of all writers the least of a copyist, it was his humour, occasionally, to measure his strength against the great Italian masters, especially CARISSIMI and PAmisTaINA ; and that even front this encounter he never sustained de- feat. The truth of this remark was fully evidenced in the perftirmance of PencE1.1:8 Motet, "Jellova. qualm( mild ;" than which nothing more truly sublime ever proceeded noun the pen of CA utssmt t himself; while the conclusion of the Jubilate in I) was felt to rival time grandeur of Pat.rsTamsA. In the course of the evening, Pr ttent.t.'s extraordinary perception of the rigia application of music to the drama was displayed in a large and rich selection from his opera of Dioelesian ; and the vigour, truth, and grace of his writing for a single voice in his Cantata " Fly swift, ye hours," which (like many other gems in the Purcell mine) has been overlooked by every tenor.singer within our remem- brance, and which Hones has now auntie his own. A more finished specimen of the vocal art we have seldom heard, From this contem- plation of Pueelam in his grave and graceful mood, the Club de- scended to survey him as the soul and spirit of festive society—as PUncet.t. the catch-writer, and finished the evening with his " Soldier, soldier, take off thy wine."
Among the members present, we observed Messrs. Tents:, Bonus, BELLAMY, HAWKINS, BAYLEY, LUCAS, MOXLEY, HULLAII, Lout), FRAN- CIS, FITZWILLTAM, CLIFTON, and DANDO. Mr. THREE, the worthy successor of PURCELL, presided at the pianoforte ; and the precision with which every composition was performed, was equalled only by the pleasure which each in succession imparted.
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