The Sacred Harmonic Society have at length performed The Seasons
of Haydn, after long hesitation, caused by its not falling regularly under the category of sacred music. There was no room for any such scruple. The Seasons was intended by its author as a companion to his previous work The Creation : they are kindred productions, and belong to the same class, whatever that may be. The Seasons is cheerful and gay ; but even its gayest pictures are "improved" by a devout application, and the ob- ject of the work is to show that the Seasons, " as they change, are but the varied God." Some of the choral hymns in The Seasons are as grand as anything in The Creation. With this work, accordingly, the Sacred Harmonic Society last night began their season. The performance argued careful preparation, and was very effective and satisfactory, except in regard to the solo parts, which were sung with cold correctness, and a total absence of force and expression.
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