MUSIC IN EDINBURGH.
SEASON 1887-88.
INSTEAD of reporting our Musical doings in the orthodox form, I give the following list of the principal concerts, etc., that have taken place this season. 4 Orchestral Concerts, conductor Mr. Manns, enterprised by Messrs. Paterson & Sons. 2 Orchestral Concerts, conductor Dr. Charles Halle (Reid Festival). I Orchestral Concert, conductor Mr. Carl D. Hamilton (Scottish Professionals). 4 Choral Concerts, conductor Mr. Collinson (Choral Union). I Do. Concert ('St. Paul'), conductor Mr. Collinson (St. Mary's Cathedral ). I Choral Concert, conductor Mr. Millar Craig (Waddell's Choir). 1 Do. do. (Haydn's Passion Music), (St. John's Episcopal Church). 2 Choral Concerts, conductor Mr. Kirkhope (Kirkhope's Choir). 3 Ballad Concerts (Mesdames Adelina Patti, Sinico, and Nordica). I Chamber Concert (Dr. Halle, Mme. Neruda, and Mr. Franz Neruda). I Chamber Concert (Dr. Halle, Mme. Neruda, and the principals of Halle's Orchestra in connection with the Reid Festival. ) 6 Chamber Concerts (Messrs. Townsend, Delia Torre, Colin Mac- kenzie, and G. Macneil). 3 Chamber Concerts, under direction of Mr. A. Gallrein. 1 Chamber Concert (Miss Fanny Davies, Mile. Soldat, and Signor Piatti ; Philosophical Institution). 2 Pianoforte Recitals (Joseph Hoffmann). I Do. Recital (Franz Rummel). 1 Do. do., (Delia Torre). I Violin do., (Carrodus). I Do. do., (Sarasate, accompanied by Herr Schonberger, pianist). Besides these, many smaller concerts have taken place, in which the following local artists have made their appearance : — Mme. Anne Grey, Mrs. Millar Craig, Messrs. Arthur Edmunds, A. Bach, Millar Craig, and W. Ives, vocalists ; Messrs. Bridgman, Hartley, Lingard, Tom Craig, and W. Waddell, instrumentalists. Add to this various musical performances in con- nection with churches and bazaars, and it will readily be seen that as to quantity there has been no lack. Much may, however, be said about the haphazard way in which a good many of these concerts were produced. Too much is left to cliance ; there is a want of organisation, and in my opinion, as far as regards local performances, co-operation on the part of the local musicians would produce a far better result from every point of view. For instance, when larger choral works are attempted, the orchestral accompaniment has almost always to be ignored ; the choral part may be well rendered, but when, for the full orchestra, a couple or so of strings, with piano and harmonium, are substituted, the result is scarcely satisfactory. Then, the public can scarcely be expected to be continually patronising the smaller concerts — the attraction is not sufficient. If concerts were definitely organised for the season, and duly advertised, I am convinced there is talent enough among the musicians resident here to enable them to give orchestral concerts regularly through- out the season, and, as far as the pecuniary result goes, more would be gained by co-operation for a few really important and good performances than by so many smaller ones, which tax the public far more without giving any distinct and valuable result. Tliat this matter is quite feasible has been amply proved by the Orchestral Concert given on the 19th of April in the Music Hall, under the direction of Mr. Carl Hamilton, led by Mr. Daly. The per- formers, numbering about sixty, were all professional musicians, brought together by Mr. Carl Hamilton ; among them were a few from Glasgow and Dundee. The following was their programme : — Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony ; Oveiiiires : — Mozart's ' Zauber- flbte,' Mendelssohn's ' Ruy Bias,' and Weber's ' Oberon' ; the Saltarello from A. C. Mackenzie's 'Colomba'; and Beethoven's Third Concerto for Piano and Orchestra ; with Mr. Delia Torre as pianist, and Mr. Glencovse as vocalist. The great success of the performance, looking at it from a strict and critical point of view, ouglit to induce the public to support and keep together this orchestra for regular concerts, so that our local choral performances may have a chance of being heard in their entirety, besides the orchestra per se giving regularly a series of really good concerts at a mucli more reasonable price than is charged for the or- chestras that have liitherto been brought together at enormous expense. It is to be hoped that Mr. Carl Hamilton will succeed in this scheme, and I am sure he has all music-loving people on Jiis side. Of course these concerts need not do away with the occasional visits of other orchestras, such as Dr. Halle's and Dr. Richter's. There is no doubt that as a pleasure, a fashionable entertainment, or an accomplishment acquired with other branches of education, music plays an important part in this and other cities of Scotland. There is certainly no lack of excellent academically-trained masters for the different branches of our art who de-
