Glee and Madrigal Concert

Event Information

Venue(s):
Steinway Hall

Performance Forces:
Vocal

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
17 February 2025

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

09 May 1873, Evening

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Vocal Society of New York;  Henrietta Beebe;  William C. [baritone] Baird
2)
"Wish, The"
Composer(s): Kücken
Participants:  William C. [baritone] Baird
3)
"As Vesta was from Latmos hill descending"
Composer(s): Weelkes
4)
"Down in a flow'ry vale"
Composer(s): Festa
5)
Madrigals, voices (3-6), set 2. Sweet hony sucking bees
aka Sweet honey sucking bees
Composer(s): Wilbye
6)
"Integer vitae"
Composer(s): Flemming
7)
"Hark the cock crows"
Composer(s): Callcott
Participants:  Henrietta Beebe
8)
43. Psalm
aka Judge me, O God; Psalm 43
Composer(s): Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

Citations

1)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 07 May 1873, 5.
2)
Announcement: New York Post, 07 May 1873, 2.

Memorial concert to the late Dr. James I. Brown, organizer of the society; proceeds to be tendered to members of his family.

3)
Review: New York Post, 10 May 1873, 4.

“There was a pleasant sight at Steinway Hall last night. A concert had been organized for the benefit of the family of the late Dr. James L. Brown, and the house was crowded in every part.

The New York Vocal Society, which is composed of picked singers, devised the concert of last night as a grateful tribute to the memory of their late leader, as well as a practical method of benefitting his family. Both in its intent and management, the enterprise was a success. Its artistic aspect was equally cheering. The selection of glees and madrigals was very choice and pleasing, and when this style of music was departed from, the works of Mendelssohn, Kucken and Lachner were drafted upon. Among the selections which won marked favor were: ‘The Wish,’ by Kucken, sung by Mr. Baird, with a vocal accompaniment of men’s voices; Weelkes’ madrigal, ‘As Vesta was Descending’; Festa’s ‘Down in a Flowery Vale’; Wilbye’s madrigal, ‘Sweet Honey-sucking Bees’; Fleming’s ‘Integer Vitae,’ sung to absolute perfection by men’s voices; Calcott’s glee, ‘Hark! the cock crows,’ in which Miss Beebe’s pure soprano voice was heard to advantage; and Mendelssohn’s ‘Judge me, O God,’ which was superbly sung.”