25 MARCH 1911, Page 17

tTo THE EDITOR OF vnz SPECTATOR. "] Sin, — In your note last

week referring to the suggestion that the100,000 children at the Crystal Palace should sing together, you say, "There ought to be in existence some song or hymn suitable for the purpose." Surely the beautiful " Children's Song" at the end of "Puck of Pock's Hill," which can be sung to the tune of "Sun of my soul," is exactly what is wanted P

Haydn was not the only musician who was impressed by the singing of the children at St. Paul's. The following account is given by Mr. Krehbiel in his description of Haydn's note-book. He there tells how Berlioz

" wrote a description of the meeting of 1851 for the Journal des Debats, and told how he put on a surplice, took a place among the bass singers, and was so moved by the stupendous sonority of the choir that, like Agamemnon with his toga,' he hid his face behind his music-book. Duprez, the tenor, who was also present, grew terribly excited. Berlioz says, never saw Duprez in such a state. He stammered, wept, and raved.' J. B. Cramer was also present, and, rushing up to Berlioz als ho was leaving the cathedral, shouted: ' Cosa stupenda ! Stupenda ! La gloria deli' Inghillerra:"

What did the Dean and Chapter think of these excitable foreign musicians, we wonder P—I am, Sir, &c., H. S.