DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2548, 18 April 1871, Page 2

DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY.

The first meeting for practice of the newly formed Dunedin Choral Society, took place la-t evening, at the Masonic lial : . About eighty ladies and gentlemen were present. After the necessary preliminaries of arranging the singers accoi cling to the parts they were to take in the choruses was accomplished, the President, his Honor Mr Justice Chapman, sii 1 ; -Tadic; and gentlemen—l have been requested to say a few words by way of inaugurating tbo first meeting of the Choral Society, and I think I may justly congratulate you, and I include myself, as I am a member, in successfully commencing this institution. I think fmther, lam not over sanguine in predicting that the Society will be a decided success. Of the utility of an institution of this kind, I think there can be no doubt. Eosid'-s the advantage of persons meeting together for practising music, and perfecting themselves in that de; lightful art, they carry with them to their homes a facility of execution and knowledge which has a tendency to make home more agreeable. Many of the greatest geniuses have not thought it beneath them to take part in mu-ical recreation. Ono of the greatest diplomatists of Europe, whose name you will all well.know, Prince Metternicb, for a long time prime minister to the Emperor of Aus'ria, was a considerable proficient himself, and a great patron of the art, It is told of him that when Rossini was about to commence the opera of Semiramide, he suggested to him that ho should make the burden of the opera the old charming air fireut ench ties M'fi]*, well-known in England as “Idfo, let lis cherish," ‘Rossini took the hint, and accordingly the theme of the first passage in the overture is “Life, let us cherish,’’ and parts of it will be found to crop out at different times in different stages of the opera. The late great Duke of Wellington, waa a ;;erf ct judge of music. I do not say that ho fid led or fluted but he was not only an excellent judge, but a treat patron of music. This taste he inherited from Lis grandfather, I.ord Mornington, who was a great composer. The last time I saw the Iron Duke was at one of the pcrformnqqos at Bxetot Hat], am] I could not help noticing how judicious' his applause was—not thrown away in applaudin" everything that occurred—but discriminating applause. Another instance 1 may mention of a great genius who cultivated music, but who did not allow it to int rfero with other pursuits—that was Jeremy Beatham—a man who did more than any other person to re orm the law of England. Ho ws,s a qcjmnetcut performer on the violin, and if you come across his life written Ity Sir John Barwon, you will find some amusing aneclotes of his peculiarities as a violinist ; but that did not prevent his attainiug great c -lebrlty in philosophy aud jurispritd nice. I will not detain you longer, for if I wore to tell all the great names who have been lovers aud patrons of music, I should trespass too much upon time that should he devoted to your pract ••. I shall therefore say no more. I wfsh the Society success, and I think this first meeting, which is so' nil! merously attended, gives every promise of it.

Of the practice .it may be fairly siid that very rarely have so many persons unaccustomed to sing together had music placed before them for the first time, that was rendered so accurately. The practice consisted of choruses selected from Judas Maccabeus, Elijah, and the Messiah. Mr West conducted, Mr Towsey presided at the piano, and Mr Little Jed the opphes'-r^,