MUSICAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEASON.
So dull a musical season as the present we do not remember. The music-shops, to be sure, present their usual array of bills set off with the accustomed diversity of type and colour, and all the addenda, honest and knavish, by which ignorant seekers after amusement are ex- pected to be beguiled of their money and their time. But as an exhibi- tion of the powers of the art, we cannot recollect any thing so wretched
as these performances usually display. There is no music for the London public now but that of the Italian Opera; the joint roasted there on the Saturday, is warmed up again and again through the suc- ceeding week ; with a little variation in the garnishing or arranging of the dishes, but the ingredients are, substantially, the same—the same materials and similar cooks. This is the 'dainty dish" which is " set before the Queen ;" and of the same her loving subjects must partake, OI starve. Lucia di Lammermoor at the Opera-house, ditto at Buck- ingham Palace, ditto at the Hanover Square Rooms, ditto at Willis's. When we reflect on what the art is capable of unfolding, of all its forms of grandeur and sublimity, its graceful and lovely attributes,—of the men who for centuries, in Italy, Germany, and England, have de- voted their powers to its service, and enriched it with works of im- perishable fame,—und turn to the miserable puerilities which we have allowed to usurp their place ; our estimate of the taste and knowledge of those who not only tolerate but patronize such exhibitions, and such aione, must needs be very low. But it is not lower than that of those who address themselves to the public in the shape of benefit concert- givers. Many of these presume on the ignorance and gullibility of the town to any extent ; and, entering on their speculation not merely as traders, but as unscrupulous traffickers in the commodity which they vend, disregard the means by which their trade can be carried on, so len as profit is the result. A new device has this year been resorted to, and in the absence of all novelty, (the great source of attraction,) no new singer or player of any eminence having visited London this season, the public are seduced end gulled by a display of names the respective owners of which are at Paris or Milan, ignorant of the min. scrupulous use which has been made of them, or of the concerts for Which they have been announced. Thus-, in large capitals, the names of PASTA and CINTI DAMOREAU have appeared at the head of certain concert.bills, %chile in small—so that he who runs may not read—is added "will be offered an engagement on their arrival." On the strength of this announcement, the speculator hopes "to take in the flats ;" and, no doubt, many are so taken in, for who ever reads care- fully and deliberately through an entire concert-bill ? Tickets are sold ; the concert takes place ; and the ready answer to the duped and remon- strant purchasers is an appeal to the unobserved clause of qualification, and professions of regret that "these celebrated vocalists" had not arnved.
This .device, borrowed from what are facetiously termed "cheap 3130Ps," ts Just worthy of them, though practised by those who are the professors of what ought to be regarded as a liberal art. In no traffic of any kind lore there been a more unblushing system of puffing than In the musical announcements of the present season ; nor dues it end With "puffs preliminary ; " the work is not complete, and the object is smattained unless " proper notice" he taken of the concert ie the morning papers. The indiscriminate laudatory tone with which each Is recoided, forbids the supposition that they are all the subjects of editorial criticism. Evety concert is " crowded with fashionable au- doom ; " every singer is received with marked approbation ;" every selection comprizes " the choicest ntorceaux of the day." The English singers, as well as English mmic, seem fairly driven out of the field : we know not one, unconnected with the theatre, who bus ventured to enter it. Even Veucoao and HOBBS have withdrawn from the contest.
We desire, emphatically, to exempt from this description of the " genus omne " of benefit concerts, that of Moscileres. But Mos- CIIELES is not a music.monger or music-jobber, but a musician, in the highest sense of the word. His concert, on Wednesday, evinced at once his elevated taste end his enthusiasm. We owe to him the per- formance of BEETHOVEN'S Choral Sinfonia ; and this was the chief feature of his scheme. Here was a large and liberal expenditure for the accomplishment of a great work, and it was worthily associated with compositions of high character.
Amidst this scene of contention and cabal, this ostentatious display of quackery, we yet despair not of the advance of mesical taste. In the letter part of last week our attention was called to an exhibition 55 hich gives us more hope on this subject than any thing we ever witnessed. The disgraceful transactions we have noticed, as well as the existing depravation of taste, have their origin in the general musical ignorance of the English people. The remedy is musical education—not to a few, but to all ; for when once this is imparted, quacks and impostors may shut up shop : their vocation will be gone. ‘Ve have more than once had occasion to notice with emphatic com- mendation the publications and labours of Mr. HICKSON', who has been endeavouring to diffuse amcng the people the elements of vocal knowledge. He has begun at the right end, and in the right way, by teachieg children to read from notes ; and at Willis's Rooms he delivered a most senFible and instructive lecture on the importance of a general diffusion of musical education. His address was pregnant with matter which the moralist arid the statesmen would do well to ponder, and which could not fail to cheer the heart of every true phi- lanthropist. Mr. HICKSON'S is no wild speculation, but the sound and legitimate conclusion of experience. We know that in Germany musical education is universal : we also know its effect, that it substi- tutes a cheap and rational amusement—a refined and intellectual grati- fication for those of mere sense—it is music instead of gin. To be- stow the same blessing on England, is Mr. HICKSON'S aim ; and to this end he lies undertaken to prove the practicability of its attainments, Icy devoting a regular portion of time to the vocal instruction of certain schoils founded on the LANCASTER or BELL system. About fifty of the children so trained illustrated his lecture, by singing from notes and in parts, various glees and other compositions adapted for choral effect ; which they executed with a degree of steadiness that proved the efficacy of his plan of teaching. How far the exhibition was an affair of memory, and how far of reading, we had no means of know- ing; but Mr. Hicesors's elementary weeks have passed under our re- view, and of their merit, considered in regard to their professed object, there can be no doubt. The result has been the formation of a society for the general diffusion of vocal instruction. Scant time—a generation, perhaps—will elapse, before all the advantages of this plan are perceived and recognized ; but the work is begun, and it must proceed. We shall watch its progress with anxious attention : at first it will have to encounter prejudice, ignorance, and selfishness ; but over all these it will certainly trimnph ; and we shall hereafter see the very persons who are now exerting themselves to ridicule and thwart Mr. HICKSON'S en- deavours, eager to encumber them with their pretended help.
Another evidence of improving taste has been afforded by the per- formance of entire Oratorios at Exeter Hall. These have hem often rough and rude ; but, regarded, as they ought to be, as the commence- ment of a series of experiments, they are highly meritorious. In addition to Judas MaccalKeus and Solomon, Israel in Egypt has beret drawn from its obscurity by the laudable exertions of a society of amateurs; and the real admirers of Ile:solo. have had the gratification of listening to those oratorios which professional domes and dunces have so long doomed to neglect.
In this cursory glance at the state of music at the present moment, we should mention that the members of the Glee Club gave their yearly prizes at their last two meetings. The prize for the serious glee was obtained by Mr. ATKINS, that for the cheerful glee by Mr. ELLIOT; the latter, as we think, deservedly ; the former not so. ELLIOT ranks among our best glee-writers, and his prize glee, if not equal to some of his former productions, will not lessen his general reputation. The Melodists Society give their prizes for the best song and best duet at their next meeting. The Aladrigalians are in happy ignorance of all music but that of a certain age, and time and fashion make no change in their habits or tastes. Their worthy President is this year en-
cumbered with the High Shrievalty of the c y of Devon, and his attendance has Dot been so frequent as usual ; but the Society never was in a more prosperous state. Long may it so continue !
Here we conclude our bird's-eye view of music in London during the present month. We hope something more worthy of notice may arise before the season terminates, but our expectations are not san- guine. We have not yet acquired the enviable art of making a fricas.ce out of a kid glove, an art which is attempted day by day in the morning Papers. It is music, considered as an art, with which we profess to deal—not music as a trade.
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