THE VOCAL CONCERTS.

THE first series of these concerts has closed ; and the good taste and energy which marked their commencement has continued unabated to the last. In our notice of the prospectus which , the Society issued last September, we said that, " with such ma- terials at their command, its members had the power to achieve more for the true interests of their art than any previous or present musical establishment." They have done so; and done it in the best way, and by the best means. There has been a total absence of quackery and humbug,—no subserviency to titled patrons, no truckling to noble directors, and no pandering to igno- rant prejudices or vulgar tastes. Every expectation that has been held out has been fulfilled, and every promise performed. All the threadbare pieces even of the finest authors have been rejected. HAYDN, for instance, has largely contributed to these concerts: not "the First Act of Creation," that everlasting line in Festival and Oratorio bills, but his Masses, his Passione, and his Seasons. The Church Music of LEO, MARCELL° (not his "Qual anelante"), and CAntsstast, has been ranged side by side with that of GIB- BONS. GREENE, and Worrissm.t.; the Songs of PURCELL and HANDEL (not" From mighty kings "), with those of BEETHOVEN and SPOHR ; and the concerted pieces of MOZART and HUMMEL with the Glees of WEBBE and CALLCOTT. And

"To make the charm the stronger,"

the rich stores of the Madrigalian age have been copiously poured in. In looking over the bills of the six nights, we find nearly forty pieces of the most eminent writers, which we have no recollection of ever having heard at any preceding concerts : and this fact, while it proves the industry and zeal of the Directors, is conclu- sive as to the want of such a society. It proves also, what we have a hundred times asserted, that the London public had no ac- cess to the finest specimens of classical vocal music. This oppor- tunity they now enjoy ; and the constant increase in the attend- ance upon the Vocal Concerts sufficiently evidences their willing- ness to hear. We subjoin the scheme of the concluding concert, -distinguishing its novel features with the asterisk, as before. • Full Anthem," I will sing of thy power" Dr. GlrEENE. Glee, By the dark rolling waters WMURDIE. Air, Mr. HAWKINS, " Love in her eyes" HANDEL.

*Gloria (Mass No. I) Havnx.

• Madrigal," So saith my fair" L. Marthrizio. *Aria, Mrs. H. R. BISHOP, " Ah non so id" MOZART. Aria harmonized," If o'er the cruel tyrant" ARNE. • Hymti to the Creator CHEGARD.

Fantasia, Oboe, Mr. G. Coonz G. COOKE.

Sanctus, &c. (Mass No. II.) HUMMEL. Song. Miss STEPHENS, "Sweet bird"..., HANDEL.

*Glee, " Say mighty lore" EVANS. Quartetto, " Alziam gli evviva "(Euryanthe) Warms. Ballad, Mr. BROADHURST," John Anderson"

Madrigal," All creatures now" BENNETT. Deena, Miss Masson and Mr. PHILIPS, " Bell' imago" Rosstxr.

Glee, "Great Apollo" Winne. Finale," God save the King." was an appropriate commence. Dr, Cinsuwa's noble Aniillem

: all its fine and majestic propoi-

ment of stIeh a concert as this tions were fully developed. A bappier specimen of our ecclesias- tical music could not have linen selected; nor, of that of the Catholic Church, a more splendid o.ne than the " Gloria " of HAYDN.

The simple and stately grandeur of he one was happily contrasted with the adorned magnificence of the other. HAYDN 'S climax is

so exciting, so overpowering, that we trembled for the fate of the succeeding Madrigal. But it came off triumphantly, and deser- vedly rEceived as hearty an encore as any of its predecessors. Our best thanks are due to Mrs. BISHOP for the introduction of a very masterly song of MOZART, and for the excellent taste with which she sung it. We are not admirers of harmonized airs ; but the pleasure we felt at seeing Miss STEPHENS again in an orchestra, and the charm which she imparted to this elegant melody, com- pelled us to a surrender of our opinion, and heartily to join in the general cry of " encore." It was worthy of Miss STEPHENS'S good taste thus to appear among the supporters of that style of music of which she has long been one of the most distinguished votaries. Let us, too, express the pleasure we have felt at recognizing among the constant, and evidently delighted auditors of these con- certs, Mrs. MORONS, Mrs. MOUNTAIN, lind Mrs. LISTON,--names associated with our earliest and most vivid musical recollections ; as well as our regret that Mrs. WOOD and Mrs. KNYVETT have not thought fit to contribute their talents in support of an object in every way so deserving of them.

M. CHELARD'S Hymn to the Creator is a composition exhibiting considerable novelty of structure; being accompanied by a double orchestra of wind instruments, without the addition of any other stringed instrument than a harp ; and, of course, demanding art assemblage of first-rate performers to bring out its full effect. It has some passages of- considerable power and beauty, but its ge- neral character is too noisy and full of glare.

The prineipal features in the Second Act were the Sanctus from Huatinst.'s finest Mass ; Miss STEPHENS.S song ; and the lively, bewitching Quartetto from Euryanthe. Will it be believed, that in the year 1833, at the King's Concert-room, Hanover Square, and by a crowded audience, a madrigal of BENNETT'S (date 1601) was encored with enthusiasm ; while the "Bell imago" of Ros- SINI fell dead ! Yet such was the fact. We leave our readers to draw their own inferences from it ; assured that it will serve as a warning to directors and singers, not to venture ROSSINI again into such company as that Of HAYDN and MOZART, or of our own countrymen GREENE, WhEBE, or BENNETT.

The room, we have said, was crowded : and ffs fact, taken in connexion with the deserted state of the Opera-house, indicates a cheering progress in the musical taste of the metropolis. The Vocal Society has upraised good music, and it has also put down bad. It has enabled the public to form a standard of musical ex- cellence, of which they had heretofore been wholly destitute ; and thus the respective merits of' different schools will be accurately weighed and properly appreciated. That its labours will continue, there can be no doubt. The Vocal Concerts are the most popular as well as the best exhibitions of the art ; and the Society, encou- raged by the well-earned fame which has attended their efforts, will be stimulated to fresh exertions in the honourable and success- ful career on which they have entered.

A list of the subscribers and the members, which was distri- buted in the room, enables us to state the names of the Committee to whom we are indebted for the management of these concerts. They are Messrs. BKLLAMY, T. COOKE, HAWKINS, HORNCASTLE, TURLE, C. TAYLOR (Treasurer), and E. TAYLOR (Secretary). Of the good taste which these gentlemen have displayed, we have be- fore spoken and of their industry and forethought this may be taken as sufficient evidence—that, amidst all the novelty and va- riety which their selections displayed, not a single piece has been omitted, altered, or displaced, throughout the season.