several eminent foreign conductors to the London public. M. Ysaye was responsible for a very broad and virile reading of Beethoven's fifth symphony; Herr Weingartner conducted the second symphony of Brahms, besides introducing a brilliantly clever symphonic poem of his own, based on the tragedy of "King Lear"; and M. Saint-Saëns at the final concert superintended some rather tame performances of his own compositions. But the sensation of the Festival was the appearance of Herr Nikisch, the Gewandhaus conductor, who gave a rendering of Tschaikowsky's E minor symphony of such passionate intensity and superb dramatic power as to rouse the audience to an unwonted display of enthusiasm. The ninetieth season of the Philharmonic Society was not very eventful, the chief novelties produced being an orchestral suite by Mr. William Bell, a Coronation March by Dr. Cowen, and a very effective pianoforte concerto by Rachmaninoff. The Richter Concerts that were given in November were announced, to every one's regret, to be the last of the long series that have been connected with the name of the great conductor, but the hope was held out that Dr. Richter would in the future often visit London at the head of the famous Hallé Orchestra. A notable event of the London autumn season was the appearance of the Meiningen Orchestra under Herr Steinbach at St. James's Hall, and the five concerts given by them aroused an unusual amount of interest among music lovers. Their unrivalled powers of interpreting Brahms were conclusively demonstrated, and memorable performances of some of the master's most representative works were given, including the four symphonies, the violin concerto, and the variations on a theme of Haydn.

London again suffered from a deplorable dearth of choral music, the solitary performances, outside those of the Royal Choral Society at the Albert Hall, being a praiseworthy revival of Alexander Balus by the Handel Society, and an inaugural performance at the new Westminster Cathedral in the summer, when some fine specimens of early motets by Palestrina, Byrd, and Blow, were beautifully sung under the direction of Mr. R. Terry and Mr. A. Barclay. The Albert Hall season consisted mainly, as usual, in the production of entirely familiar oratorios, the exceptions being Dvorak's "Spectre's Bride" and Sir Frederick Bridge's Cantata, "Forging of the Anchor," the latter of which did very little to add to the composer's reputation.

Turning to chamber music we record yet another visit of the Joachim quartet, who gave wonderfully luminous interpretations of those works which they have made peculiarly their own, the posthumous quartets of Beethoven. Their veteran leader surprised his hearers by his unabated buoyancy of spirit and freshness of style, and the complete accord prevailing between the four players produced results which were an unequalled object lesson in ensemble performance. The disadvantage under which the Popular Concerts had for so long laboured in not having a permanent quartet was removed in the autumn season by the engagement of a quartet led by Professor Johann Kruse, and the quality of the concerted performances showed, as was natural, a very marked improvement. A number of new foreign works were brought forward, including a string sextet and quartet of Herr Weingartner,

G

but a strange and quite unjustifiable attitude of neglect was adopted towards British artists, whether composers or performers. The line adopted in this respect by the authorities, both of Queen's Hall and St. James's Hall, called forth a considerable amount of public criticism, and may have partly supplied the motive for an important new undertaking on the part of the oldest of English pianoforte firms, Messrs. John Broadwood & Sons. Under their auspices a series of twelve chamber concerts was organised, the chief features of which were the cheapness of the prices and the shortness of the programmes. Special attention was paid to the productions of native artists, while, at the same time, there were several interesting revivals of the less familiar works of classical masters. These concerts may not always have been so attractive to listen to as they were laudable in design and intention, but their main value consists in the fact that they deliberately encourage British musicians, and give opportunities, which hardly existed before, for the production of new and untried works.

Coincidently with the movement in England of which the Broadwood Concerts were the outcome, the appreciation of British music abroad showed a notable advance during the year. One of the chief features of the Lower Rhenish Musical Festival at Düsseldorf in May was a performance of Dr. Elgar's "Dream of Gerontius," under the conductorship of Julius Buths, the work producing, as it always does, a profound impression. It was also noteworthy that perhaps the most successful of the solo artists was an Englishwoman, Miss Muriel Foster, whose singing of the part of the Angel was warmly praised by the most eminent German critics. At a supper given at the end of the Festival the health of Dr. Elgar was proposed by Richard Strauss in a memorable speech, in which he used these words: "I raise my glass to the welfare and success of the first English progressivist, Meister Edward Elgar, and of the young progressive school of English composers," a generous and well-deserved tribute from one eminent man to a brother artist of another race. The toast was received with abundant enthusiasm, and there is no doubt that Dr. Elgar is the first British composer who has ever met with any real appreciation in Germany.

The number of provincial festivals increases yearly, and in 1902 there was an unusually plentiful crop. The small village of Hovingham in Yorkshire led the way with two days' music-making in August under the zealous direction of Canon Pemberton, and, as in previous years, the artistic standard was of the highest. Dr. Joachim again honoured the festival by playing the solo part in Beethoven's violin concerto. A cantata by Dr. Wood, called "The Song of the Tempest," a work of considerable power, was performed for the first time, and the programme also included Sir Hubert Parry's "Judith," which was given by chorus and orchestra alike with admirable appreciation of its dramatic spirit. The Three Choirs Festival was at Worcester, and was distinguished rather by the performance of Dr. Elgar's "Dream of Gerontius" than by the production of any startling novelties. Of the latter, the most important was "The Temple," by Dr. Walford Davies, an oratorio of somewhat old-fashioned type, with a biblical text and a good deal of conventional contrapuntal writing. The work, however,

is marked by a sustained elevation of style, and the choral numbers are broadly conceived and impressive in general effect. The second festival at Scarborough showed a great improvement on the standard of choral performance attained on the opening occasion in 1899, and a programme of familiar character, including the "Messiah," "Elijah,” Berlioz's "Faust," and Stanford's "Revenge," was carried through with very praiseworthy success. In the month of October no fewer than five festivals took place, but that at Sheffield eclipsed all its rivals in interest and attractiveness. This was mainly owing to the quality of the chorus, who fully sustained their already high reputation, by their magnificent body of tone, vigour of attack and profound musical intelligence. The performance of the "Elijah," with which the festival opened, was in itself a memorable one, both from the great distinction of Mr. Ffrangçon Davies's rendering of the title part, and from the highly original interpretation by Mr. Henry Wood of many of the choral numbers, which seemed to endue them with new vitality and interest. As at Worcester, Dr. Elgar's "Dream of Gerontius" was the pièce de résistance of the festival, and curiously enough the Sheffield chorus showed themselves no more capable than that of the Three Choirs of singing a certain celebrated passage in tune. But the performance as a whole was an extremely fine one, and the demoniacal section was given with such intensely realistic force as to be quite a revelation to those who had only heard it in the sedate surroundings of a cathedral. The soloists were Mr. John Coates, Mr. Ffrangçon Davies and Miss Muriel Foster, the latter of whom, as at Düsseldorf earlier in the year, achieved a real triumph by her exquisite singing of the part of the Angel. The novelties were a cantata called "Meg Blane," by Mr. Coleridge Taylor, in which the composer showed again some of those fine qualities which brought him such success in "Hiawatha,” and "Gareth and Linet," by Dr. Coward, the chorus-master, a work full of brilliant choral effects, but of very little musical value. The chorus won numberless triumphs through the week, the greatest of all being, perhaps, in Sir Hubert Parry's "Blest Pair of Sirens," and in Mendelssohn's "Hymn of Praise." At Bristol the chief feature was a revival of Berlioz' "Messe des Morts," but the full effect of this gigantic work was not realised owing to the injudicious cutting down of the number of brass instruments named in the composer's score. Dr. Horatio Parker's "St. Christopher" was also given, and proved to be a brilliant and attractive work. The Festival at Cardiff made a great hit by producing César Franck's "The Beatitudes," which, though composed as long ago as 1871, had only once before been heard in this country. It is difficult to account for such extraordinary neglect, for the work bears the impress of true genius, and is also finely devotional in tone. Lastly, at Norwich, a long and miscellaneous programme was carried through, including Sir Hubert Parry's beautiful "Ode to Music," Sir A. C. Mackenzie's humorous and piquant suite, "London Day by Day," a new Coronation Ode by Dr. Cowen, an Irish rhapsody by Dr. Stanford, and a one act opera by Mr. Randegger, junior, the nephew of the festival conductor.

Of individual performers who were prominent during the year pride

of place must again be given to the brilliant young violinist Kubelik, who invariably drew a large and enthusiastic audience whenever he appeared. Another violinist of hardly less remarkable attainments, Fritz Kreisler, made his début at a Richter Concert, and the ranks of virtuosi were further swelled by the appearance of Földesy, a violoncellist of the most astounding technical proficiency, but of apparently little feeling for the higher things of his art. Among the concert singers the great advance made by Miss Muriel Foster has already been noticed, and of the rest Mr. Ffrangçon Davies, Dr. Lierhammer, Mr. McInnes, Miss Agnes Nicholls and Miss Ada Crossley won an increasing amount of popular favour and appreciation.

The number of well-known musicians who died during the year was comparatively small, the list including G. B. Arnold, the organist of Winchester Cathedral; Emil Bach, the composer; Piccolomini, the writer of several well-known drawing-room ballads; James Higgs, the organ professor; Thomas Chappell of the famous music publishing firm; and A. C. White, the contrabassist.

J. E. TALBOT.

OBITUARY

OF

EMINENT PERSONS DECEASED IN 1902.

JANUARY.

On the 1st, at his Suffolk residence, Aldeburgh Lodge, aged 70, Thomas Frederick Charles Vernon-Wentworth, of Wentworth Castle, Barnsley, s. of F. W. T. Vernon-Wentworth, by Lady Augusta, 2nd dau. of 1st Marquess of Ailesbury. Educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. M., Lady Harriet de Burgh, dau. of 1st Marquess of Clanricarde. As a Liberal contested Ailesbury, 1859, and tied with the second of the Conservative candidates, who, however, was awarded the seat on a scrutiny. Served in one of the Yorkshire Militia regiments. On the 1st, William Henry Hodges, b. 1830, rose from being clerk in the accountants' department of the Midland Railway Company, to the position of chief accountant, which he held for more than thirty years. Was made a Director of the railway on retiring from the staff. On the 1st, aged 65, Dr. John Birrell, Professor of Hebrew and Oriental Languages at St. Mary's College, St. Andrews. Educated at St. Andrews University and at Halle. Entering the ministry of the Scottish Established Church, he was minister (1864-73) of Dunino, Fife; was appointed (1871) by the Crown to the chair of Hebrew and Oriental Languages at St. Mary's College. Was a member of the Old Testament Revision Committee, and Examiner of Secondary Schools in Scotland, 1876-86; for fifteen years chairman of the St. Andrews School Board; had the honorary D.D. of Edinburgh. On the 2nd, at Portsmouth, Lieutenant James Webber. As boatswain of the Monarch he was present at the bombardment of Alexandria, and commended by the Admiralty for services there; served with the Naval Brigade in the Soudan, and in the Nile Expedition for the relief of General Gordon; was mentioned in despatches by Lord Charles Beresford, and in 1887 received a commission as lieutenant in the Navy, being the first chief boatswain so promoted. On the 2nd, W. Henry Lumley, aged 63, a well-known auctioneer, author of several novels, and of a highly considered pamphlet on "Leasehold Enfranchisement." He made a practical survey, 1872, for Sir Moses Montefiore, of the water supply of Jerusalem, and his scheme was adopted; was made by Victor Emmanuel a Chevalier of the Crown of Italy as inventor of "Lumley's Patent Rudder," adopted by the Italian Navy, 1862. On the 3rd, in Florence, Prebendary Henry William Tucker. Educated at Exeter Grammar School and Magdalen Hall, Oxford. After holding two curacies he was appointed assistantsecretary to the S.P.G. in 1865, and chief secretary, 1879; he devoted his whole life to the service of the Society, and practically ruled it for many years. He was a great master of detail, though somewhat lacking in sympathy and geniality. He wrote several books bearing on missionary subjects, including "Under His Banner," and the lives of Bishop Field and Bishop George Selwyn. On the 3rd, in London, aged 80, Sir James Parker Deane, s. of Mr. Henry Deane, of Hurst Grove, Berks. Educated at Winchester and St. John's College, Oxford; called to the Bar, 1841; his practice lay chiefly in ecclesiastical suits; he stood unsuccessfully for Oxford City in 1868 as a Conservative against Mr. Cardwell and Mr. Vernon Harcourt, the election causing great excitement; was appointed Vicar-General of the province and diocese of Canterbury, and held that office till within a few days of his death; was also Admiralty Advocate and