Glee and Madrigal Concert: Benefit of James A. Johnson

     “A glee and madrigal concert will be given this evening, complimentary to Mr. James A. Johnson, who is well known as an excellent singer.  The programme is full of the most beautiful specimens of the old madrigals and English glees, interspersed with some fine German selections.  From our knowledge of the vocalists who will appear, we are satisfied that the performance will be well executed and of great interest.”

    “GLEE AND MADRIGAL CONCERT. A most charming concert, consisting of glees and madrigals, interspersed with songs and a violin solo was given in Dodworth’s Hall last evening. This class of music is unfortunately but rarely heard in New York now, and yet its repertoire contains some of the most exquisite gems of musical thought extant. In the days of the old Vocal Society, the best vocal society ever heard in this country, this music was a rare attraction, and with its existence the music ceased to have a representative, but we hope soon to chronicle its revival for the sake of the vocal art.

     The programme last night was of great length, but the promptitude of the director not only prevented any delay, but avoided any weariness on the part of the audience. We do not propose to go through the programme, or specify separate pieces, but we will say that the performance of the concerted music was in every way creditable to the vocalists, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Miller and Messrs. Demarest, Miller, Johnson, and Aiken. They sang with spirit and taste, and exhibited careful practice and intelligent training, in the delicate coloring, the lights and shades of the compositions.

     Miss Toedt performed a violin solo most charmingly; taste, expression, neat execution and feeling distinguished it throughout. She won a well-deserved encore. The vocal solos were also worthy of warm praise. The enthusiasm of the audience which crowded the hall was altogether unusual, for attempts were made to encore nearly every piece. This would seem to prove that there is an audience for this class of music if there was a chance given for them to come out. The concert was a compliment to Mr. J. A. Johnson, a vocalist of well-known reputation, and it proved a very flattering compliment indeed.”

    “A number of our best resident vocalists gave last evening at Dodworth’s Hall a concert for the benefit of Mr. J.A. Johnson.  The programme consisted chiefly of glees and madrigals, which were sung with precision and good effect.  Miss Toedt, the violinist, added much to the interest of the concert by her charming violin solos.  The audience was large despite the unpleasant weather.” 

     “A very interesting Concert took place at Dodworth’s Hall on the 12th, given by a number of amateur singers for the benefit of Mr. James Johnson.  The principal feature of this concert was the refined, tasteful, in every respect highly creditable rendering of some Madrigals and Glees by such composers as Morley, Festa, Ford.  When we consider that there is so little attention paid here to the rich and in every way original and highly artistic vocal works of the masters of our earlier epochs of musical writing, in the 16th and 17th centuries, and, if considered in the right light, the only real vocal compositions, instrumental music being then at a low standard, it is gratifying to see men endeavoring with true enthusiasm to devote time to the practice of these charming, although not easy works.  That is the real love for art, the real appreciation of it, when people do not cling one-sidedly to this or that species of works, to this or that composer, to the present or the past.  We like to see every composition of true art cultivated and brought forward, no matter who is the author of it, no matter what time produced it.” [Signed, Lancelot]