THE MUSICIAN ABOUT TOWN. 115 
done this, there should be such a preponderance of talent in the 
directory as shall preclude the chance of a meritorious work being 
rejected because some of the judges are neither in advance of the 
age, nor competent to pronounce a correct opinion upon it ; and, yet 
more, that this preponderance should steadily dam out the pert and 
washy effusions of pretenders, who happen to have the good fortune 
to possess friends in the committee of management. There is no 
question that the close borough system, and consequently, one of 
palpable favouritism, has, for some years past, reigned triumphant 
in the Philharmonic Society ; and this dry-rot in the establishment, 
if not speedily checked, will infallibly bring the whole to the ground. 
Meritorious artists, who disdain to wriggle, truckle, and intrigue, 
have either been wholly neglected, or, if engaged, been visited with 
the fussiness of the pettifogging, or thwarted and annoyed by the 
jealousy, of the grasping and hungry. 
The subscribers to the concerts have been much dissatisfied, this 
season, with the provision of new music that has been set before 
them, and yet more with the arrangement respecting the singers. 
In the high walks of the art, there has been no positive novelty in 
the article of composition ; and, as regards the vocal department, 
the defalcation has been almost as signally conspicuous. It is idle to 
answer the complaint of the subscribers by the stale truism, that 
our native singers have not the organs of the Italians. They have 
not ; but they possess considerably more various acquaintance with 
classical composition ; and this knowledge the directors did not 
convert to sufficient account. Upon most occasions, the singers 
were huddled together in concerted pieces, and those not sufficiently 
practised ; and upon other occasions they were allowed to under- 
take solos for which they were either not qualified, or which, as com- 
positions, were not worthy of the Philharmonic Society’s concerts. 
This department, then, demands especial attention and alteration ; 
and, in connection with it, the conduct of the band, in accompany- 
ing the vocal music, must be reformed. It is to be questioned 
whether any orchestra in Europe—certainly no orchestra in any 
capital where music is held in consideration—is ever heard to accom- 
pany a singer in the coarse style that distinguishes the Philharmonic 
performances. It may be an exceedingly good jest with the gentle- 
men of the band to “ Burke” an unfortunate singer ; but it is very 
offensive to the subscribers, and, indeed, has been so frequently and 
generally expressed, that they will, no doubt, take an opportunity 
of signalising their disapprobation of this conduct on the part of the 
accompanyists.. Moreover, there is an evident disposition in the 
