The epithet "popular," as applied to a performance of music,
no longer means something adapted to an uneducated and unrefined taste— something in which the high and classic productions of the art are eschewed as being calculated only to weary the audience. At some of our popular concerts, the customary fare is fit for the palate of the most fastidious amateur. And, far from being neglected on this account, such concerts flourish more and more. Such is the case with the " Monday Popular Concerts," given every week during the season at St. James's Hall. At first, we had some suspicion of the-reality of the musical taste shown at these concerts. When we heard pieces of great length, .highly complicated, such as we had always believed to be " caviare to the general," not only attentively listened to but applauded with enthusiasm we could not help .thinking that there must be some affectation at bottom, and that people would tire of pretending to be delighted with things they did. not understand. But tune has shovrn that this was a mistake. These Concerts, successful -the first season, are still more successful the second. They are even improved in quality; an inferior piece is never admitted into their programmes, nor is an inferior performer employed. Yet the spacious hall is every night crowded to; the doors by persons in the habit of frequenting cheap enterraepta rai. and no assembly of cognoscenti could show a sounder or more discrimi- nating taste. And the consequence is, that theee Co acerb, are now at- tended by the most musical people in London.
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