PURCELL CLUB.
THE members of the Purcell Club held their half-yearly meeting last week, (on Thursday evening,) at the Crown and Anchor; when the music to the Tempest and to Boruhtert formed the ohief features of the entertainment. The late popularity of the TcHipest has familiarized the public with that. portion of PuneELL's music which he set to the Ivords of SHAESPERE; but the much larger 'met, beImile written Air the altered play and set to Da vitEs's words, teas omitted. The entire com- position has rarely been perfhrmed in modern times, even whon the more favourite pieces used to adorn the Concerts of Ancient Music, where Pinicamr, is now unknown. Nevertheless, it has scarcely- a weak point, and contains many scenes of surl, ',sing vigour and beauty. The dialogue of the black fiends," and the chorus of their aitendants--the sweet and expressive supplication of Mirindo, " Dear, Irrettc ytrutt"- the mandate of Eolus, " Come down, ye blast erers"--to say nothing of the more popular songs, all bear the stamp of their author's powerful and fertile mind.
On Saturday morning, the menthers of the (1111) united themselves to the Choir of Westminster Abbey, and there paid their animal homage to the genius of Pt:in:ELL. Among the number, were Howls, l',11.NO,
BELLAMY, HAWKINS, FRANCIS, 1.1:,11;■ A i)!II"Itr.,:111,1 ',1111171'1*,T and.
GreSharn 1}TO!.111'S. 1,'11111 wa, itio:1,1, in Dowigioally Written lhr the yearly orlehration of Si, ('(cilia's I iay, and 1113;Q: years performed at the meeting in St. Paul's for the benefit of the S max of the Clergy. If' the Tu. Dean] which 11 %Nom, comp vsed and compi!k,f1 for the victory of -11)etting,on is, on the wh, de, a more pleasing and popular composition than that of PrarELL, the latter exhibits a deeper and stronger musical ex presHon of the words. The anthem " 1 was glad," is a perflict gem. So true to nature is every vocal phrase, that it seemw as if written not by an elliirt of genius, lmt that each almost of necessity assumed its existing futon, which the heart and the IIIVIerst::1,ding at once feel and recognize as the correct musical expression of the psalm. The service concluded with the anchors more flOptIlar al/1110111, " O give thanks." Such a display of the int( greatness of the En:..!'tt h school of church musie, as this moming's perthrmanee exhibited, is ore. Our Cathedral Choirs, robbed of their endowment S. diminished in num- bers, and supplied by incompetent persons, are unequal to the task of doing justice to the works of our great musters, The list of the Abbey Choir, doubtless, comprises the names of s/eue of our hest Etigiislt singers ; but of these I loans alone habitually performs his own duty ; while the Vicars Choral, from all of whom the statutes require compe- tent vocal knowledge and daily attendance and assistance in the choir, give only their occasional and alternate presence, and. never sing. And this shameful abuse is suffered in nearly every cathedral in the king- dom. The number of singers at the Abbey on Saturday (chiefly con- sisting of the members of the Purcell Club) was forty ; and the statutes of this church, and also of St. Paul's, require the constant attendance of a similar number, while the endowment for tlicir maintenance is ample. What becomes of the money ?
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