Notes of the Week

The chief local event of this week has be the concert given by the Choral Society, the work performed being Handel's Messiah. It is a fact not generally known that this masterpiece of Handel's was composed from beginning to end in 21 days. Such a feat was unprecedented two hundred years ago, and certainly has not been eclipsed since.

This immortal work was very creditably rendered on Tuesday evening, and we have it on the authority of musicians capable of giving an opinion that taken altogether it was a better performance of the Messiah than has ever been previously given in the town. Mr. Skinner was warmly complimented by Mr. Henry Nicholson on his skillful conducting.

By the way, how is it that some members of the chorus cannot be in their places by the time announced for the concert to begin? It is most annoying after the overture and one or two numbers have been performed, for the inevitable late-comers to put in an appearance, and cause a commotion before they settle down into their places.

Talking of music, our bands do not intend to let the grass grow under their feet. The winter evenings are essentially the period for improvement, and during the past week Mr. Owen and Mr. G. F. Birkinshaw have given lessons to the National and Temperance Bands respectively.