Mr. Hullah has announced a series of concerts at St.
Martin's Hal of extraordinary interest to the lovers of music in its noblest forms. They are to be monthly—in the course of the eight months included by Novem- ber and June next. The selections, though not restricted to music of any one class, school, or age, will consist chiefly of music requiring the union. of a chorus and orchestra. A number of great works, and portions of great works, known only by name to the present generation, are pro raised. Among these are Haydn's " Seven Last Words," the most sub- lime of all his sacred compositions ; several of the choral works of John. Sebastian Bach ; and the dephtha of Carisaimi. To us the announcement of this last work is perhaps the most welcome of all. It is of extreme rarity ; and certainly it has not been heard in England (at least in pub- lic) within the last hundred years. It is a gem of the purest water, and contains things—particularly the scene of Jephtha's fatal meeting with his child, and the chorus lamenting her untimely fate—which have never, probably, been excelled in beauty and impassioned expression. The re- vival of this music will show what giants there were in Italy in those days, and how little the lyric drama has gained by the lapse of two cen- turies in some of its highest attributes.
Mr. Hullah gives a list of a strong and select instrumental orchestra; and his enumeration of singers engaged might be consulted. with profit by the directors of the National Concerts.
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