114 THE MUSICIAN ABOUT TOWN. 
countrymen ; and Mendelssohn has pronounced him a genius of 
whom we may feel proud. In the character, both of his composi- 
tions and performance, there is an evident feeling of self-reliance 
without assumption, and an independence of thought and action 
without fantasticalness or affectation of any kind ; indeed, he seems 
content to gain the approbation of those who honour the piano-forte 
compositions of Mozart and Hummel, Clementi and John Cramer ; 
and he produces all the effects to be desired from the instrument 
without display or trickery. In short, he appears to be one of 
Plato’s men—the being who “ looks before and after,” and desires 
to do that which “ posterity will not willingly let die.’ May our 
conjecture and his aspiration be realized! The concerto alluded to 
above is distinguished by simplicity and elegance of design, with 
copious and ornate treatment. The subjects are closely and well 
followed up ; and the orchestral portion of the work, if not suffici- 
ently full for the modern school of instrumental writing, was, to 
our taste, ample and satisfactory. In the andante (a beautifully 
instrumented movement) there is some exquisite discoursing between 
the wind instruments and the piano-forte. A composition like this 
is, in our judgment, worth all the affectation and lashing into en- 
thusiasm of the romantique school in art—that trumpery apology 
for slovenliness and impertinence. 
The Philharmonic has closed this season with a strong feeling on 
the part of every one in the profession, and of the most eminent for 
talent among the directors, that, to maintain its ascendancy, it must 
undergo an important reform in the management. ‘There must be 
reform in the band; there must be reform in the conductor’s de- 
partment ; there must be reform in the provision of new music for 
the season ; and there must be reform in the directory constituted 
to judge concerning the new music. The society are in possession, 
it is said, of many thousands in funded property. If this sum be 
not a provision in store for the decayed members of the society, 
(and we have heard that it is not contemplated as a fund for such 
disposal), it is clearly to be understood why there should be so much 
caballing to be elected into the directory, and why an incompetent 
majority there should warily desire that a “ candle-end and cheese- 
paring finance” should continue with regard to the non-remunera- 
tion of the highest talent, and the non-securing, for the exclusive 
benefit of the society, the best modern compositions. This system 
should be changed ; and there should be adopted instead a resolu- 
tion to propose such terms to professors, both native and foreign, 
as shall ensure the first refusal of original compositions ; and, having 
