Sol-Fa Concert. The second public rehearsal of the St. Leonards Sol-fa Singing Class took place on the evening of Sept. 22nd in the Market Hall at Hastings, the profits of which were to be added to the Lancashire Distress fund. The performance was thoroughly enjoyed, if judged only by the plaudits which followed each piece and the frequent calls for repetition.
Sam Cowell and Company gave a concert at the Music Hall on each of the evenings Thursday and Friday, Nov. 6th and 7th, and which must have been greatly enjoyed, this evidenced by the rapturous applause and hearty laughter with which the hall resounded. Sam was evidently a comicality of the first water.
Professor Frikell, the cleverest conjurer of the day, gave his "Two Hours of Illusions" at the Music Hall on Monday evening, Nov. 3rd to a numerous and astonished audience.
"The Seven Ages of Human", so admirably delineated by Miss Emma Stanley at the Music Hall on the evenings of the 12th, 13th and 14th of Nov. were again represented on the following afternoon.
Mr. Edwards's Panorama, entitled "Two Hours in the New World" was exhibited twice a day during the week ending on December 6th, and was largely visited at each performance. The representations consisted mainly of American scenery, accompanied with a descriptive lecture, appropriate music, songs, dances, anecdotes, &c.
The Band Concert, at the Music Hall on the 17th of December arranged by Mr. S. Hermitage for the benefit of the bandsmen of the Fairlight Artillery Volunteers, was fairly attended, and the entertainment, consisting of songs, glees, recitations and instrumental pieces, appeared to give general satisfication.
The Harp Recital at the Music Hall on the 16th of September, was thinly attended, much of course to the performer's disadvantage. Mr. Aptoma's abilities on the harp had a wonder-stirring effect; and, remembering his previously grand reception at St. Leonards, it is possible that all the publicity to the "recital" at Hastings was not given that might have been.
Two Grand Concerts arranged by Mr. Lockey, on behalf of the distressed operatives in Lancashire and the local medical institutions, under distinguished patronage, took place on Friday, Dec. 26, and were very numerously and fashionably attended. The morning concert consisted of sections from the sacred compositions of Handel, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Rosini(sic), added to which were some Christmas Carols and other pieces appropriate to the season. The evening concert consisted of secular pieces. The celebrated Orpheus Glee Union took part in both concerts, and in which the superb alto of Mr. Fielding was conspicuous. Poor Fielding! he afterwards died at Battle, in the cemetery of which town his remains were interred and a mural monument was raised to his memory by his musical friends, at the uncovering of which the compiler of this history was privileged to participate.
