with Reference to Sound. 359 
wally prevailing around, gave a deeper and more solemn interest to the 
* * * * * * mr 
_ “Suddenly the notes of the deep laboring organ burst upon the ear, 
falling with doubled and redoubled intensity, and rolling, as it were, 
buge billows of sound., How well do their volume-and grandeur ac- 
cord with this mighty building. With what pomp do they swell through 
ls vast vaults, and breathe their awful harmony through those caves of 
of the choir break out into sweet gushes of melody; they soar aloft, 
and warble along the roof, and seem to play about these lofty vaults 
€ the pure airs of heaven. Again the pealing organ heaves its 
thrilling thunders, compressing air into music, and rolling it forth upon 
the soul. What long-drawn cadences! What solemn, sweeping con- 
cords! It grows more dense and powerful—it fills the vast pile, and 
seems to jar the very walls. And now it is winding up in full jubilee— 
itis rising from the earth to heaven—the very soul seems rapt away, 
and ating upwards on this swelling tide of harmony !” 
The commemoration of Handel, which took place in West- 
Minster Abbey in 17 84, forms one of the grandest musical epochs 
in history. ‘This festival lasted five days, and was conducted in 
Presence of the Royal Family and many of the nobility of the: 
fealm, and the public in general to the number of three or four 
thousand persons. The number employed in the instrumental 
and choral band amounted to between five and six hundred. In 
1834, just fifty years afterwards, this festival was repeated, and 
cee account of it, a writer in the Musical Library speaks as 
follows : 
“The nave of the Abbey is 150 feet long, and, including the aisles, 
22 feet wide ; its height 101 feet. This space was converted into a 
‘om about eight feet from the floor to the middle of the great window ; 
we principal singers and the instrumental performers occupying the 
the arches. In each aisle was built a long deep gallery extending from 
the orchestra to the royal boxes, and projecting from the wall to about 
three feet beyond the columns. The galleries contained several rows 
Of seats, rising to the key-stone of the arches. The aisles below were 
fitted P in a manner similar to the galleries. : 
. lis admitted that the performers, on the present occasion, excelled 
+ ounted to five hundred and ninety-one; and the band generally, 
both instrumental and vocal, can only be mentioned in terms of the 
St praj 
