8 OCTOBER 1853, Page 9

The Concentores Society held its first meeting of this season

on Wed- nesday evening, at Gresham College. Mr. BISMurdie was the president of the night ; and among the company were Sir Henry Bishop, Professor Taylor, Mr. Goss, and several other eminent musicians, who have espe- cially devoted themselves to the cultivation of English vocal harmony. The Concentores Society has never made itself conspicuous in the eyes of the general public ; to do so would be foreign to its character and its ob- ject. The requisite qualification of its members-that they must be vocal composers-makes them few in number ; and the purpose of their union is their own practice and improvement in the pursuit of their favourite art. They meet together for the purpose of trying and hearing each others' compositions, judging of their effects, and making their workman- ship the subject of colloquial criticism, pleasant, good-humoured, and in- structive. Thus the Society has pursued the even tenour of its way for more than thirty years, making little noise in the world, but exercising a great deal of influence on our music. The best glee-writers of the time have been its members, and many of their finest works have been first heard at its meetings. One change in the Society's proceedings has fol- lowed the general change in social habits : for many years a tavern din- ner was deemed indispensable ; now they meet in the evening, with a few glasses of wine and biscuits. A serious expense is thus got rid of, and the curtailment of convivial appliances has not at all lessened the spirit of the meetings. Several excellent compositions, partly manuscript and partly published, of Sir Henry Bishop, Mr. Goss, and Mr. Mthlurdie, supplied the entertainment of Wednesday evening. The meetings con- tinue to be held fortnightly during the season.