MUSICAL NOTES

Our object for the future, under this heading, will be to supply a record, as complete as we can make it, of the noteworthy musical events of each quarter. In this our first issue, we shall rather widen our area in respect of time, and indicate some of the leading organisations which exist in the county for the study and practice of music, as well as the more noteworthy performances which have been given since January, 1891.

The Stratford Musical Festival, which has just entered on the tenth year of its existence, comes before us with more ambitious aims than any other of our county musical associations. Its objects are --- "to offer inducement to the diligent study or practice of music; to bring young and talented musicians to the front; to enable competitors to trace their weaknesses, or observe their strong points. by comparing each other's performances; to interest the public in good music and local resources; and to bind together all who love music, whether as teachers, conductors, singers, or players, for the common purposes of the musical art." The programme for next March is before us; it contains no less than thirty-three separate competitions, vocal and instrumental, solo and concerted. In glancing through its provisions and regulations, it strikes us that the inducements which it offers in the way of prizes are hardly of sufficient value to stimulate competition. For instance, under the head of "Baritone singing" (No.II):--- The entrance fee is half-a-crown; a successful candidate will have to make three return journeys to Stratford, say at five shillings each (for the area included in the operations of the society is extensive, thirty miles radius from Stratford). Then, there is the cost of music and incidental expenses, which will make a total of hardly less than £1, the value of the prize offered. The same test applied to nearly all competitions would reach a similar result. May we make two suggestions? First: that preliminary trials be held in various centres of the district comprised in the scheme; and secondly: that the number of competitions be reduced by one-half, and the value of the prizes doubled. We believe that both these alterations might be made with great advantage to the aims of the society.

The Chelmsford Musical Society, under the direction of Mr. F. R. Frye, Mus. Bac., F.C.O., continues its career of honest work and much usefulness, under some difficulties, chiefly of a pecuniary kind. May we be allowed to hint that a little more of the spirit of adventure in searching farther afield for subjects of study, on the part of the working members, would warrant the conductor in making his repertoire somewhat more eclectic. By the way, has the noble school of English Madrigal, or the rich variety of modern Part-song, no charm for our choice or audiences of today? If so, so much the worse for us all. The society gave us Rossini's "Stabat Mater" and Handel's "Acis and Galatea," at their summer concert.

The "Messiah" was given on the evening of the 15th December with a band and chorus of 120 performers; Mrs. W. H. Brereton, Madame Thomas, Mr. Harry Stubbs, and Mr. W. H. Brereton being the principle vocalists. The quality of the chorus singing showed a marked improvement on some previous performances. The choir was well balanced, and the lights and shades were marked with a distinctness which plainly showed careful and accurate preparation. As the work progressed, the "attack" became smarter, and the enunciation of the words more distinct and syllabic, culminating in a really fine performance of the "Hallelujah" chorus and "Worthy is the Lamb. Amen." The band, almost exclusively amateur, rendered sound and good service, not perhaps beyond criticism, but at all events, in safe hands with Mr. Byford, Mr. Tovey, Miss G. Byford, Mr. Kevan, and Mr. Griffiths as principal strings. Space prevents our saying all we should wish to say of the vocal Quartette. Mr. Brereton, already sure of a hearty welcome from a Chelmsford audience, distinctly added to her popularity by her graceful and sympathetic rendering of the soprano numbers, particularly the aria "Come unto Him" in the first part, and in "I know that my Redeemer Liveth" in the third. Madame sang throughout with good judgement and excellent intonation: we question whether she did not rather detract from the effect of "He was despised" by taking it a shade too slow. Mr. Stubbs sang the tenor solos with so much ability, that we are very reluctant to make any comment which in the slightest degree savours of disapproval: but the (to us) new fashion of singing the word "vessel" in "Thou shalt dash them" to two quavers instead of two crotchets, as written, would we venture to think be "more honoured in the breach than the observance." Of Mr. Brereton's singing it is needless to say more than that it was throughout a triumph of vocal art. He was in grand voice, and his magnificent rendering of the numbers allotted to him, drew forth the enthusiastic applause of the audience. Speking of applause: Why is it so often reserved for solo performances alone, and carefully withheld from the most conscientious and excellent chorus singing --- the admirable rendering of "His yoke is easy" as one instance among many? The Messiah is a long work, and something of course must be conceded to the necessity of curtailment in point of time, but surely, whatever precedent there may be for the "cut", it is a very serious detriment to the "form," musical and literary, of the work to omit "And he shall purify." We are obliged to say that the pace at which "For unto us"was taken seriously impaired the dignity which should find its expression in every bar of this magnificent chorus. The successes of the performance, and they were many and real, are due for the most part to the energy and ability of the conductor, Mr. Frye.

The Chelmsford "Sette of Odde Volumes" brought together a strong party of musicians, Professional and amateur , at their soirée on january 26th. The leading numbers were admirable; pianoforte performances by Miss Jeanne Douste, and songs by Mdlle. Douste de Fortis, Miss Greenhow, of Chelmsford, and others. These pleasant gatherings attract a goodly number of "volumes," and their "manuscript" friends. We hope they may become an annual fixture for some date in January.

The Romford Musical Society gave a very successful performance, with orchestra, of Cowen's "Rose Maiden" in the Public Hall, on February 9th, Mr. A. How conducting. The chorus acquitted themselves with credit. Madame Barter, Miss Jacob, Mr. Clunch, and Miss Thompson were the principals. Two concerts were given in the afternoon and evening of june 9th, at the Chelmsford Corn Exchange, under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Rogers. The solo pianist was Mr. John St. O. Dykes; and the vocalists, Mrs. W. H. Brereton and Miss Rose Somerset. Mr.Dykes' masterly rendering of Mendelssohn's Prelude and Fugue in E minor, in the first part; and of Liszt's "Waldesrauchen," and a "Staccato Etude" of Rubinstein, in the second, called forth well-merited applause from a critical audience. Other noteworthy features were Beethoven's trio in C minor for pianoforte, violin, and violoncello; and Rubinstein's Andante and allegro from the trio in B flat --- both admirably played by Mr. and Mrs. Walter de Zoete and Mr. Frank Jackson. Glees by Horsley, Webbe, and Callcott, and Hook's charming ballad, "O listen to the voice of Love," sung by Mrs. Brereton, were striking features in a most interesting programme of a distinctly high type.

The annual Festival Service of the Chelmsford Association of Church Choirs was held in St. Mary's Church on June 16th. Twenty choirs, comprising some five hundred voices, took part in the service. Vinning in E flat, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, was followed by Dr. Chipp's anthem, "As I live, saith the Lord," and hymns by Barnby, Rogers, Armes, and Prout. Mr. Frye, Mus. Bac., the choirmaster, conducted, with Mr. W. G. Wood at the organ. The whole service went with excellent effect, good help being rendered in the processional and other full parts of the service by a brass quartette from the band of the Royal Artillery. The service was intoned by the precentor (Rev. Dr. Rogers). and the lord bishop of the diocese preached and admirable sermon. It is intended that lectures on choir-training, similar to those delivered last year, shall be repeated by Mr. Frye. This society is doing good, sound, useful work in the church choirs of the district. We Heartily commend it to the support of the public of the neighbourhood. In this case, as in so many others, further funds would mean more extended influence.

Mr. Charles Byford, a familiar name in Chelmsford musical circles, gave a most successful orchestral and vocal concert at the Corn Exchange, on Wednesday, November 4th. The band was composed of members of the Chelmsford Philharmonic Society, augmented by several professional performers. Leading features of the concert were pianoforte solos by Miss Gertrude Byford, and the violin playing of Miss Edith Byford, both of great merit, and assuring a successful future. Miss Eleanor Rees sang two songs in her best, most charming manner; Miss Greenhow, though apparently rather nervous (why she should be so before a Chelmsford audience, we don't quite understand), sang very sweetly; and Mr. Rogers, Head Master of Chelmsford Grammar School, contributed very pleasantly to the success of the programme.

Is it too much to hope, that Chelmsford will one day have a concert-room worthy of the county town? The ball-room at the Shire Hall is for many reasons inadequate for anything like a concert on a large scale. The Corn Exchange is acoustically very bad, and anything but comfortable in its arrangements, both for performers and audience. Will some of the leading men of the new borough take the matter up? Cannot something be done with the site so soon to be vacated by Chelmsford School?