THE MUSICAL TIMES. FOUNDED IN 1844. THE MUSICAL TIMES is the oldest English journal devoted to music and musicians; moreover, it existence has exceeded that of any other musical journal issued, or that has ever been issued, in thi country. Founded in the year 1844, it first appeared in the form of a modest sheet of eight pages; but in the intervening fifty-eight years it has, like Topsy, "growed," and every issue now consists of seventy-two pages Quantity, however, is not the summum bonum of a musical journal-quality should occupy the firs place. If the quality test can be put to the proof by mentioning the names of contributors, THE MUSICAL TIMES has no reason to fear the result. The following are some of the writers during recent years:C. A. Barry, Joseph Bennett, Vernon Blackburn, Rev. Francis L. Cohen, Frederick Corder, Henry Coward, F. H. Cowen, W. H. Cummings, W. H. Hadow, Edward Heron-Allen, A. J. Hipkins, Arthur Johnstone, A. Kalisch, H. E. Krehbiel, Otto Lessmann, Robin Legge, J. A. Fuller Maitland, W. G. McNaught, Eusebius Mandyczewski, F. Niecks, Ebenezer Prout, W. Barclay Squire, J. S. Shedlock, J. F. R. Stainer, Franklin Taylor, Herbert Thompson and F. Gilbert Webb. Biography has been made a special feature during the past five years. Upwards of fifty bio graphical sketches, with special supplement portraits, have appeared since July, 1897. These articles hav been received with much favour both at home and abroad, and in Britain beyond the seas. English and foreign musicians of eminence, contemporary and bygone, have been included in this large gallery o MUSICAL TIMES Biographical Sketches: the subjoined list of names speaks for itself. Illustrations have become an important and almost indispensable adjunct of present-day periodicals This much appreciated feature has of late been considerably developed in the pages of THE MUSICAL TIMES. A series of articles on English Cathedral and College Chapels has furnished scope for th pictorial embellishment of the descriptive matter relating to these interesting subjects. This Cathedra series will be continued, and also the articles on important musical libraries, public and private. The survey under the heading Church and Organ Music has been greatly extended. The aim ha been to provide matter that shall be both interesting and of practical helpfulness to those who officiate in Quires and places where they sing" and play. 66 The old-established characteristics of THE MUSICAL TIMES have been brought up to date. The "Occasional Notes," or leaderettes-as they are sometimes fancifully termed-cover a wide range o subjects. The monthly letters of such distinguished writers as Mr. H. E. Krehbiel, of New York, and Dr Eusebius Mandyczewski, of Vienna, need no commendation; and the periodical records of music-makings in various centres of musical activity are supplied by the leading writers on music in the Provinces. A somewhat new feature, and one that is steadily growing in usefulness, is the section headed "Answers to Correspondents." No pains will be spared in furnishing satisfactory replies to the questions asked even though the interrogations be, as they often are, posers. Reference may be made to the music-anthems or part-songs-appearing month by month, and to other well-known features of this old-established journal. THE MUSICAL TIMES has a large circle of friends and well-wishers in various parts of the world; and the many gratifying tokens of appreciation that are constantly being received, not only by letter but by frequent quotation in the Press, act as a stimulus to the Editor to increase the brightness of its pages and to make the paper more acceptable in the future even than in the past. THE MUSICAL TIMES is published on the 1st of every month. Price 4d. Annual Subscription, post free, five shillings LONDON: NOVELLO AND COMPANY, LIMITED. CRYSTAL PALACE CONCERTS. The only Saturday afternoon concert calling for notice took place on the 13th ult., when the programme was devoted entirely to music by M. Paderewski, who played with his wonted brilliancy in his Concerto in A minor and Polish Fantasia. The remainder of the afternoon was Occupied with excerpts from his opera Manru,' originally produced at Dresden on May 29 of last year. The piece selected from the first act was the bright and glittering ballet music. From the second act were taken the scenes in which Manru gives expression to his desire to return to gipsy life, as the heroine Ulana sings a tender cradle-song to their child, and the love duet which follows Manru's drinking a love potion given him by his wife to re-kindle his fading affection for her. The cradle-song and the duet were the most satisfactory portions presented on this occasion. They are melodious and refined, but neither strong nor distinctive. From the third act was selected the Prelude and Incidental music, illustrative of a summer storm and Manru's perturbed state of mind, and a spirited and brilliantly scored Gipsy march. The solo parts were dramatically sung by Mr. John Coates and Fräulein Krull, the original exponent of Ulana, and the orchestral portion was effectively rendered under the direction of Mr. Alberto Randegger. The first concert of the Crystal Palace Amateur Orchestral Society's third season took place on the 6th ult. The orchestra was supplemented by the Crystal Palace Choir, which sang Sir J. F. Bridge's 'The Flag of England,' under the direction of the composer. Mr. Walter W. Hedgcock, who has succeeded Mr. August Manns as conductor to the Society, is to be congratulated upon the excellence of the concert. Miss Helen Jaxon was the solo vocalist. London and Suburban Concerts. SATURDAY POPULAR CONCERTS. There is to record at these concerts, now held fortnightly and entirely given up to foreign music, the first production on November 29 of a sextet in B minor for pianoforte and strings, by Herr Felix von Weingartner, who played the pianoforte part. The work is not strong music, but it shows independence of thought, ingenuity in securing bright effects, and adeptness in part-writing. The first two movements are the most attractive. On the 13th ult. a sonata for pianoforte and violin in C minor by Hermann Grädener was brought forward, and proved pleasing and scholarly, if somewhat conventional. It was well interpreted by Mr Borwick and Mr. Kruse. The first performance in London of a pianoforte trio in F sharp minor (Op. 79) by Herr Constantin Sternberg deserves record, for it is a pleasing and tersely-developed work. It opened Mr. Newlandsmith's chamber concert on the 11th ult. at Bechstein Hall, and was played by Miss Evelyn Suart, Mr. William Southworth, and the concert-giver. Three vocal recitals at St. James's Hall obtained distinction by the production of new artistic music. That of Mr. Francis Harford on November 27, who brought forward six new songs, the best of which were The Phantom Lover, by Mr. W. Y. Hurlstone, and 'Stars of the Summer night,' by Dr. Ernest Walker. Mr. Campbell McInnes, on the evening of the same day, sang for the first time a cycle entitled 'A Lover's Moods, by Mr. C. A. Lidgey, clever settings of well-selected poems; and on the 2nd ult. Mr. Frederick Keel introduced at Miss Eldina Bligh's concert Four Elizabethan Lyrics of his own composition. On the 9th ult. was played by Miss Hester Sloman, at her concert at Bechstein Hall, an attractive pianoforte sonata in G minor by M. Felix Borowski. The last two movements are specially clever and attractive. Other performances meriting record by reason of their artistic value are the pianoforte recitals given at Bechstein Hall by Signor Busoni on November 26 and the 3rd ult., and by Madame Carreño on the 8th ult., the violin recitals by Herr Kreisler at St. James's Hall on the 3rd and 12th ult, the pianoforte duet recital by Messrs. Borwick and Tovey on the 5th ult., and the chamber concert given by M. Ysaye, Signor Busoni and Madame Calvert on the 15th ult. at Queen's Hall. The Dulwich Philharmonic Society gave a performance of Sullivan's Ivanhoe' at the Crystal Palace on the evening of the 13th ult., when a satisfactory rendering of this beautiful work was secured by the painstaking conductor, Mr. Arthur Fagge, the choir singing as usual in such a manner as to indicate thorough training. The solo vocalists were the Hon. Margaret Henniker, Miss Ida Soldi, Miss Jenny Atkinson, Mr. Whitworth Mitton, Mr. Henry Plevy, Mr. Meurig James, Mr. Charles Copland, Mr. Frederick Ranalow, and Mr. Arthur Winckworth. Thanks to the enterprise of Mr. James Brown, Richmond can boast of an entirely new Musical Society entitled The New Philharmonic Society,' which made its first appearance in the Castle Theatre on the 10th ult., and at once justified its claims to recognition by an excellent performance of Gade's Erl King's Daughter' and Elgar's Banner of St. George.' These were the chief features of a programme which included Stanford's 'Shamus O'Brien Overture and German's Henry VIII.' dances. Both choir and orchestra worked together with zeal, and Mr. Brown again proved himself an excellent conductor. gave an Invitation Concert at the Camden Athenæum on the 15th ult, when the pieces contributed by the choir were Mendelssohn's motets, To the sons of Art' and The word went forth'; glees, In the pleasant summer day' (Beale), 'Beauties, have you seen' (C. S. Evans); part-songs, The love spell' (Evison) and 'The long day closes' (Sullivan). The Prince of Peace,' a sacred cantata composed by Mr. Colin McAlpin, was performed for the first time on the 17th ult. by the members of the Choir and Musical Association at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Clapham Road (of which the composer is organist and choirThe work, set for chorus and soprano, master). tenor and bass solos, is pleasing and melodious, and the scholarly character of the writing is apparent throughout. The soloists-Miss Edith Caney (soprano), Mr. Donald Mr. Henry Turnpenney (tenor), and McHardy (bass)-sang the music allotted to them with great expression and feeling, and the choir, under the skilful guidance of the conductor, Mr. Henry Beauchamp, acquitted themselves admirably, the rendering of the March to Calvary' being especially dramatic and impressive. Mr. McAlpin presided at the organ with marked ability. The Manor Park Vocal and Orchestral Society gave a performance of Handel's Judas Maccabæus in the Methodist Free Church on the 2nd ult. The choir sang with good expression and attack, and the orchestra was also efficient. The solo vocalists were Miss Mabel Manson, Miss Gertrude Macaulay, Mr. Henry Turnpenny, and Mr. Bernard Fountain. Mr. Bernard Long was the organist, and Mr. F. W. Long conducted. The Stephen Memorial Hall Choral Society, Finchley, gave a successful performance of St. John's Eve' Cowen) and a miscellaneous selection on the 11th ult. The soloists were Miss Carrie Tubb, Miss Agnes Jackson, Mr. Arthur Crowe, and Mr. Leonard Willson. A small band supplied the accompaniments. Mr. G. H. Powell conducted. |