BLAGROVE'S QUARTET PARTY.
IN the early part of the season we noticed the formation of a small party of junior instrumentalists for the purpose of producing in public modern compositions for the chamber. It would seem that the Phil- harmonic Concerts ought to give all the requisite publicity to this class of instrumental writing, and that us much of it as the public care to hear ought to be there heard. But it is not so: the preference is usually given to displays of individual rather than combined talent ; and if it happen that a concerto on the violin or pianoforte is played early in the season, a succession of others is sure to follow—as in the present year every night has had its pianoforte concerto. This defi- ciency in our musical entertainments, Messrs. BLAGROVE, DANDO, GATTIE, and LUCAS, have supplied, and supplied it well. The per- fection of quartet-playing, like that of glee.singing, results not only from the separate excellence of each player, but from their frequent arid combined practice—from unity of tune and of style; a difficult and rare result, which has been accomplished by the party in question. It is quite evident that they have laboriously studied every piece which they have fertaken to perform, and given it that perfect symmetry and polish which constant labour directed to the same end alone can produce. The principal feature of the last performance was one of BEET- HOVEN'S Quartets from his posthumous set, containing the move- ment called " A hymn of thanks to God for recovery from sickness." If marked with frequent and powerful indications of its author's genius, it also abounds with passages too rugged and uncouth to impart any of that gratification which it is the usual aim of music to inspire. We regard it as a kind of musical experiment ; and every combination of instruments or voices produced by a mind like that of BEETHOVEN'S, is at least profitable, if not pleasurable, to exhibit. Great pains must have been taken with it by the performers ; for they, like their auditors, must have often been at a loss for any key to its author's men ni ng arid intention. The success which has attended the incipient efforts of this party, will, doubtless, stimulate them to fresh exertions in successive years. It ought also to be mentioned to their credit, that they have success- fully resisted pitiful tax which Mr. Mast" and the rest of the under- lings in the Lord Chamberlain's Office have long imposed on all asso- ciated musical societies and individual professors giving concerts, and which has been quietly submitted to by them all for fear of giving offence to these high and mighty personages. BLAGROVE and his party civilly sent these persons word that they were legally advised that the llailover Square Rooms, being regularly licensed under the act of GEORGE the Second, no other licence was needed. The sneak- ing answer was—not that the claim was legal, and would be legally en.. forced, but that the attempt at resistance should be notified to the Queen, of whose band BI.AGROVE and LUCAS are members, and a hint of their possible removal from their situations was held out. This contemptible threat was disregarded by the young performers; and to them is due the credit of having put an end to a claim which has pressed severely and unjustly on many members of the musical profession.
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