590 KEPORT— 1891. 



Purcell also wrote much beautiful secular music, some of 

 it iu operatic form. You shall hear his setting of Shake- 

 speare's " Come unto these yellow sands," and also that of the 

 words, "Come if you dare," which I think may be classed 

 with our great national songs. 



Perhaps the nearest approach to our anthem in the Eomish 

 Church is the motett, of which most of the great composers 

 wrote specimens. No finer example exists than Mozart's 

 " O God ! when Thou appearest," which you shall hear. 



Although music has ever been advancing since the time of 

 Palestrina, very few new forms have been invented during the 

 present century, and none of them have taken the place of 

 those I have mentioned. Some writers think that the oratorio 

 has had its day, and that modern listeners have only patience 

 to hear cantatas, which are shortened oratorios. The best 

 answer to this is perhaps the fact that the days on which the 

 "Messiah" and the "Elijah" are given at any of the prin- 

 cipal festivals remain, as they have ever been, the most 

 popular. 



I think the most beautiful of cantatas is Sterndale Ben- 

 nett's " Woman of Samaria," which many of you have heard 

 perform'ed in our cathedral. 



Of the many living Englishmen who have attained to a 

 very high standard in the art of composing cantatas, none, 

 probably, have exhibited greater talent than Arthur Sullivan ; 

 and, bemg an Englishman, of whom all English musicians are 

 proud, I think I cannot do better than conclude my lecture by 

 two excerpts from his greatest cantata, " The Golden Legend." 

 The choir therefore will sing " The night is calm and cloud- 

 less," and the evening hymn, " O gladsome light !" 



The following illustrations were sung by the members of 

 the Cathedral choir (twenty-four boys and fourteen gentle- 

 men) : — 



1. Kota, " Sumer is a comin in." — From old MS. about 1226. 



2. Madrigal, " Down in a flow'ry vale." — Festa, 1490 to 1545. 

 8. Motett, " O, be joyful."— PaZesirwm, 1524 to 1594. 



4. Motett, " I will give thanks." — Palestrina, 1524 to 1594. 



5. Madrigal, " In going to my lonely bed." — Edwardcs, 1523 to 1566. 

 G. Madrigal, " Flora gave me fairest flowers." — Wilbye, 1564 to 1612. 



7. Oratorio (solo), "Arm, arm, ye brave" ("Judas Maccabseus ").— ■ 

 Handel, 1685 to 1759. 



8. Oratorio (Nightingale Chorus), " May no rash intruder " (" Solo- 

 mon").— Handel, 16S5 to 1759. 



9. Oratorio (solo), "Angels ever bright and fair" ("Theodora"). — 

 Handel, 1685 to 1759. 



10. Opera (solo), " Che faro " (" Orfeo ").—GlUck, 1714 to 17S7. 



11. Anthem, "Rejoice in the Lord."— PwrceW, 1658 to 1695. 



12. Motett, " God ! when Thou appearest." — Mozart, 1756 to 1791. 



