English Glee Concert: 3rd

“The third programme of the series of English glees and madrigals which has been given at Lyric Hall the last few weeks by a club of resident ladies and gentlemen, was listened to attentively last evening by a large audience.

The programme consisted of quartets and quintets for male and mixed voices, a duet for male voices and a solo for each of the ladies.

Of the male quartets ‘The Sands o’Dee,’ a superb part song by Goldbeck, seemed to us the most deserving of praise, not because of its superior intrinsic merit as a composition, for the glees, ‘With Sighs, Sweet Rose,’ and ‘When Wearied Wretches,’ by Bishop, abound in rich melody and pleasing passages, but because of the manner in which it was sung. It is one of the most difficult part songs written, and that Messrs. Bush, Rockwood, Becektt and Aiken succeeded in rendering it in so smooth and acceptable a manner is most creditable to their musical intelligence and training.

‘Ye spotted snakes,’ by Stevens, a glee for mixed voices, is a delicate and delicious composition and received dainty interpretation. ‘Charm Me Asleep,’ a madrigal of Leslie’s, sung by the entire Club, deserves special notice.

Miss Finch sang a solo of Sullivan’s, and although embarrassed, we believe, by a severe cold, she sang well; her voice retaining sufficient of its accustomed sweetness of quality to accord plaintively and satisfactorily with the music which is made the medium of the sad story of ‘Guinevere.’ We would especially commend the careful and distinct manner in which Miss Finch pronounces her words. She was heartily applauded.

Miss Beebe’s high, pure soprano voice was heard to advantage in one of Bishop’s songs, ‘Should he Upbraid.’ This lady possesses a lovely voice, which she has in excellent subjection, and the evenness of her register, and excellence of her method, were advantageously exhibited in her effort last evening, winning for her a well-deserved recall, in response to which she sang a very ancient English ballad, ‘The Balliff’s Daughter of Islington.’ The accompaniment was quite peculiar, and was played with much taste by Mr. Florio. This gentleman, by the way, is one of the few good accompanists we have in our city, always making the accompaniment subjective, and playing with care and taste. A good accompanist is such a rarity that we take special pleasure in thus expressing our appreciation of the fact that no small part of the pleasure derived from the solos during these ‘evenings’ is due to his intelligence and judgment.

Messrs. Aiken and Beckett rendered an ancient duet written by Purcell about two hundred years ago. It is called ‘Awake, ye dead!’ and is not inappropriately named. It is a massive and somewhat intricate composition abounding in stirring passages. It was given with much dignity and spirit and received critical and marked attention.

We consider it a compliment to the musical taste of the audience that such a piece was selected for their pleasure and we would that such music were oftener heard in our concert rooms.

This concert closes the present series of ‘evening’s given by this club, who, we think, are to be congratulated on their success. Such music rendered, as it is by them, with care and intelligence, purifies the musical taste of the listener, and we hope that the good work these ladies and gentlemen have begun they will carry on. Some things are there, of course, to criticize in their performances; but where there is so much that is excellent, and such marked improvement made in the few concerts in which we have heard them, it would be impossible and unnecessary to call attention to shortcomings which time and practice will of themselves remove. The club go next week to Boston, where they always attracted marked attention and [illeg…] judging from the exhaustive and enthusiastic notices of our Boston colleagues.”