THE PURCELL CLUB.
THE members of the Purcell Club assembled on Monday last, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in undiminished numbers and unrelaxing zeal. It would seem somewhat strange that in a society restricting itself to the compositions of one man, and he living at a time when the resources of his art were but imperfectly developed, there should be displayed the greatest variety of musical entertainment ; that year after year new pieces should be performed, exhibiting the widest diver- sity of style, and unfolding the power of the art in the most opposite directions. It is probable that the Purcell Club comprises those mem- bers of the profession who are most familiar with his works ; and yet it was remarked by the President, that the three principal compositions of the evening were equally new to all of them—that if known and studied, they had yet never been heard. The first of these was the Anthem composed for the Coronation of Jemes the Second. "My heart is inditing,"—a more elaborate and masterly work than that of HANDEL, and one on which not only the genius but the erudition of its author is abundantly lavished. Another of his Anthems, also written in eight real parts, "0 praise God in his holiness," succeeded. To the performance of these compositions our skeleton Cathedral Choirs are wholly inadequate—that of St. Paul, for example, could not furnish half a voice to each part ; and the only chance of hearing anthems which were especially designed and pro- duced for the service of the Church, is now in a tavern ! One of the blessed effects of Cathedral plunder. The Verses were chiefly sung by the members of the Abbey Choir, and the chorus sustained by the other members of the Club.
Another interesting feature of the evening's entertainment was the Ode for St. Cecilia's Day ; the history of which was related by the Pre- sident previously to its performance. It appears that in the time of PUR- crax, and for years after his death, there was an annual commemora- tion of Music's patron saint at Stationers Hall, where a certain num- ber of stewards presided; some persons of rank, and some members of the musical profession. A Cecilian Ode, written and composed for the occasion, formed the principal feature of the evening's entertainment. At the commemoration of 1692, PURCELL produced the Ode, which was now, probably for the first time, revived. The entire composition com- prises about twenty movements; of which nearly all were performed. The choruses strikingly exhibit the grasp of PURCELL'S mind : the re- sources of his art are poured out in prodigal abundance, and the artful text re of the harmony is no less conspicuous to the eye than its massy gra deur to the ear. Two of them, "Soul of the world," and " Hail, bright Cecilia," contain ideas which, here compressed into bars, many a c mposer would have spread over a larger number of pages. It app4ars that on the first performance of this Ode the admiration it ex- :8e produced its immediate repetition : and yet it never was pub-
/ , tithed, and had not been heard by any person living ! Such is the dis-
' • minating taste of musical England. ''The selection from PURCELL'S dramatic compositions consisted of pieces from Don Quixote and Dido and iEneas ; and the evening's entertainment closed with one of his Catches.
The chair was again occupied by Professor TAYLOR; and we were gratified to bear from him that the Club exhibits every appearance of vigorous health and undeclining prosperity. Mr. TURLE presided at the pianoforte ; and among the principal singers were Messrs. HOBBS, HAWKINS, SALE, MORLEY, GEAR, ARADBURY, and CHAPMAN. OUR of the advantages resulting from this club is the perpetuation of the tra- ditional style of PURCELL'S music. Some of the singers who assisted in handing it down to us have lately been "gathered to their fathers " : the last of eminence among the once splendid choir of the Ancient Concerts—BELLAMY and VAUGHAN—are gone ; but to those who re- member it, the performance of Monday evening affords a welcome assurance that the spirit of PURCELL still lives.
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