and Paul Ludwig, Maurice Sons, James Leyland, Henry Bird, Daniel Price, J. M. Coward, Oliver King; also by Mrs. Henschel, Mesdames Marie Duma, Marian McKenzie, and the Misses Fanny Davies, Ilona Eibenschütz, Dale, and Evangeline Florence. The growth in popularity of the orchestral concerts is largely due to excellent and varied performances at the Queen's Hall, with its admirable, and now permanent orchestra, under the able conductorship of Mr. Henry Wood. In January Mr. Robert Newman organised a series of Saturday Afternoon Symphony Concerts, which were very popular. The programmes were attractive; special days were devoted to Grieg, Wagner, and Beethoven. The novelties introduced were Alex. Glazounoff's "Fifth Symphony in B flat” (op. 55), and his “Carnival Overture" (op. 45); Tschaikowsky's "Overture" to A. N. Ostrovsky's drama "L'orage"; Felix Draescke's "Tragic Symphony" (op. 40); César Franck's symphonic poem "Le Chasseur Maudit," founded on 66 66 Bürger's ballad "Der Wilde Yaeger"; a suite 'Capriccio Espagnol" (op. 34), by Rimsky-Korsakoff; Alex. Borodine's "Danses Polovtsiennes " from his opera "Prince Igor"; Anton Arensky's "Symphony in B minor" (op. 4), written at the age of twenty; Saint-Saëns' setting for voice and orchestra of Victor Hugo's tragic ballad La Fiancée du Timballier," when M. Gregorowitsch, a young Russian violinist, made his début. The vocalists for the series were Mme. Blanche Marchesi and Mr. Louis Frölich. The Promenade Concerts continue to be an unqualified success, as also are the Sunday Orchestral Society and the Queen's Hall Choral Society. It is impossible to give in detail the important works performed at these Promenade Concerts; but the following are the English novelties introduced a "Liebeslied for Orchestra" by Dora Bright; Concertstück" for piano and orchestra, by G. W. F. Crowther; "Scènes des Bacchanales," arranged from Ernest Ford's "Faust Ballet"; orchestral legend "Undine" by Amy E. Horrocks; "Ballad for Violin and Orchestra" by Maud Matras; an entr'acte "Summer Dream" by W. H. Squire ; "Sketches for Orchestra” by T. H. Frewin. Dr. Richter's spring series of concerts commenced on May 24 in the St. James' Hall, when Richard Strauss' tone poem "Don Juan," based on Nicholaus Lenan's romance, was produced, and on May 31 F. H. Cowen's daintily-scored symphony "The Idyllic." At this concert appeared a promising young Russian pianist Gabrilowitsch. Herr Mottl's series of concerts commenced on March 16 at the Queen's Hall. The programme was largely drawn from works by Mozart, Berlioz, Beethoven, and Wagner. One concert was devoted to illustrations of "The Development of the Overture," from Handel's 'Agrippina" (1708) to Wagner's "Meistersinger" (1862). Herr Mottl was assisted by a fine choir from Leeds (April 13), and the choirs from the Royal College of Music, by Frau Mottl, the Misses Tomschik, Esther Palliser, Rosa Green, Agnes Nicholls, Hilda Foster, Helen Jaxon, Eleanor Jones, Ruby Shaw; by Herrn. Vogl, Wachter, M. Balling, by Messrs. David Bispham, Andrew Black, O. Fischer-Sobell, Lemprière Pringle, and Adolph Beyschlag. At M. Charles Lamoureux's six concerts in March he conducted to his satisfaction the Queen's Hall orchestra (he had brough this Parisian orchestra on his previous visit in November, 1896). Paderewski, at his orchestral concert, conducted by Mr. Henry Wood, played brilliantly among other things Schumann's "Pianoforte Concerto in A Minor." Other orchestral concerts held at the Queen's Hall and elsewhere were given by the Royal Artillery Band under Cav. L. Zavertal; the Royal Engineers' Band under T. Sommers; Royal Amateur Orchestral Society under George Mount; Stock Exchange Orchestra and Choral Society under George Kitchen; Strolling Players Orchestral Society under George Megone; Westminster Orchestral Society under Stewart Macpherson; Imperial Institute Amateur Orchestra under A. Randegger; Clarence Orchestral Society under Lennox Clayton; also single orchestral concerts were given by Adele Verne (pianist), Mme. Burmeister-Petersen, Emile Sauret (violinist), Eileen O'Moore (violinist), Irma Sethe (violinist). CHAMBER CONCERTS. Good work was done, though with little fresh element, by the Saturday and Monday Popular Concerts. The most important and regrettable event was the retirement of Signor Piatti, also of Mr. L. Ries. During the season appeared the Joachim Quartet, the Bohemian, the Gompertz, the Kneisel Quartets; also Messrs. Walenn, Fowles, Carrodus, Hans Brousil, Clinton, Isidor Cohn and the Grimson Family. The pianists were Ilona Eibenschütz, Leonard Borwick, Katie Goodson, Slivinski, Fanny Davies, Adela Verne, Frederick Lamond, Henry Bird; the violinists (solo), Joachim, Lady Hallé, Johannes Wolff; the vocalists, Miss Evangeline Florence, Mrs. Helen Trust, Miss Louise Dale, Mr. Kennerley Rumford, Miss Thudichum, Mr. Byard, Mme. Bertha Moore, Misses Florence and Bertha Salter, Mme. Alice Gomez, Mr. James Leyland, Mme. Lena Law, Mr. Thomas Meux, Mme. Marchesi, the Misses Louisa Dale, Agnes Witting and Miss Ada Crossley. The Musical Guild (Kensington) (which gave a series of excellent concerts) have announced that owing to "the failure to obtain genuinely wide and substantial support" they are forced to discontinue their concerts. For eight years the guild has been composed of young and enthusiastic musicians from the Royal College of Music, who have done good work, the high quality of the music selected having been their first consideration. Concerts and recitals have been given respectively by Sarasate, Paderewski, Mr. Eugene d'Albert, Herr Emil Sauer, Mr. Frederick Lamond, Miss Fanny Davies, Miss Adela Verne, M. Delafosse (pianist), Miss Katie Goodson (pianist, first recital in London), M. Gabrelowitsch, Miss Elsie Hall (pianist), Miss Edith A. Greenhill (pianist), Mark Hambourg, Mr. Arnold Dolmetsche, Mr. S. Coleridge Taylor, Mr. George A. Clinton, the Musical Artistes' Society, Miss Fanny Woolf (violinist), Miss Maud McCarthy (violinist), Mr. Henry Sach (violinist). CHORAL AND VOCAL CONCERTS. During the twenty-sixth season of the Royal Choral Society Professor Bridge acted as conductor. He was ably assisted by Mmes. Albani, Belle Cole, the Misses Anna Williams, Edith Palliser, Ella Russell, Maggie Purvis, Margaret Macintyre, Sarah Berry, Lucie Johnstone, Marian McKenzie, Hilda Foster, Murial Foster and Mrs. Katherine Fisk; also by Messrs. Santley, Edward Lloyd, Henschel, Plunket Green, Andrew Black, Ben Davies, Iver McKay, C. Ackerman, Avalon Collard, Lloyd Chandos, Daniel Price. The most important events were the singing of "In Memoriam "; Sir Joseph Barnby's anthem “As we have borne the image of the earthly "; the performance of Dr. Hubert Parry's "Job"; and at the Commemoration Concert the performance of Mr. Eaton Faning's "Queen Song" to words by Sir Edwin Arnold, and of Professor Bridge's setting to Mr. Kipling's poem "The Flag of England," when the solo was sung by Mme. Albani. The Queen's Hall Choral Society, under Mr. A. Randegger, gave excellent performances, mainly of well-known oratorios, the exceptions being Saint-Saëns' Biblical opera "Samson and Delilah," Sullivan's "Golden Legend," and Berlioz's "Faust." The soloists were: Mmes. Marie Brema, Ella Russell, Marie Duma, Clara Samuell, Belle Cole; the Misses Thudichum, Ada Crossley, Margaret Hoare, Hilda Wilson, Clara Williams, Lucie Johnstone; Signor Foli, and Messrs. Santley, Edward Lloyd, Watkin Mills, Andrew Black, Ben Davies, Iver McKay, Lemprière Pringle, Lloyd Chandos, Ranalow, R. Brophy, Hinchliff, Louis Frölich. The Bach Choir, conducted by Professor Stanford, gave a Bach Festival at the Queen's Hall in April, which opened with the "Passion Music according to St. Matthew (in German), and ended with the "Mass in B minor." Among the soloists were Mme. M. McKenzie, Mrs. Hutchinson, Miss Fillunger, and Messrs. Robert Kaufmann, Kennerley Rumford, Francis Harford, Andrew Black. Good work has also been done by the Handel Society, Lombard Amateur Society, Victoria Madrigal Society, and the Civil Service Vocal Union. The London Ballad Concerts and the St. James' Hall Ballad Concerts retain their popularity. At the former the following novelties were produced: "The Fortune Teller's Song," by Eaton Faning; three songs by R. H. Walthew; "The Calico Dress," by Dr. C. Villiers Stanford; "Evening Shadows," by Arthur Somervell; "Who'll Buy My Lavender?" by Edward German. Recitals were given by Messrs. Plunket Green and Leonard Borwick, Mr. David Bispham, Mr. Walter Ford, Mme. Blanche Marchesi, Mlle. Chaminade, M. Jacque-Dalcroze (of the composer's own music), Mme. Antoinette Sterling, Miss Rosa Green. SUNDAY CONCERTS. Sunday concerts have become a recognised and important feature in the life of the metropolis. They are as follows: Queen's Hall Sunday Afternoon Orchestral Concerts under Mr. Henry Wood; the National Sunday League under Churchill Sibley; Afternoon Concerts at the Albert Hall; Sunday Evening Chamber Concerts at the small Queen's Hall; the People's Concert Society at Westminster Town Hall; the South Place Sunday Popular Concerts, and the Sunday Afternoon Concerts at Leighton Hall Neighbourhood Guild. MUSICAL FESTIVALS. Several important new English works were produced at the various provincial musical festivals during 1897. At Birmingham (October) Dr. Villiers Stanford conducted his "Requiem" (op. 63), written in memory of Lord Leighton; Mr. Edward German conducted his symphonic poem "Hamlet"; Mr. Somervell conducted his "Ode to the Sea," composed to words by Mr. Laurence Binyon; and Dr. Richter conducted a new edition by Mr. Fuller Maitland of Purcell's "King Arthur." At Bournemouth (May) an excellent rendering was given of Dr. Parry's well-known "Ode on St. Cecilia's Days." The choir during the festival was conducted by Mr. Augustus Manns. Two specially composed works were composed at Bridlington, "Introduction and Three Dances," for orchestra, by J. Camidge; a setting for contralto and orchestra of Sir Walter Scott's ballad "Troubadour" by J. W. Hudson, who conducted. Mr. Somervell's Leeds cantata "The Forsaken Merman" was also given. The Triennial Musical Festival was held this year at Chester in July. The novelties were a symphonic overture, "Saul," of passionate, tragic character, written and conducted by Granville Bantock; and “Resurgam," set to a poem by the late Rev. Gerard Moultrie. The Three Choirs Festival took place at Hereford in September. The new productions were a specially composed "Te Deum" and "Benedictus" by Edward Elgar; a beautiful and impressive "Magnificat" (with Latin text), composed and conducted by Dr. Hubert Parry; and "A Hymn of Thanksgiving for the Queen's Long Reign," specially composed for the festival by Dr. C. H. Harford Lloyd. There remain still to be recorded the Handel Festival, and musical festivals at Carnarvon (July), Cumberland (January), Stratford (April); Tonic Sol-Fa at the Crystal Palace (July); the Nonconformist Choir Union (June); the Welsh National Eisteddfod (August), when a 2007. prize was awarded to the Pontypool choir, and 50l. to the Anglesea choir; the Irish "Feis Ceoil" held in Dublin in May, and composed of ancient and middle-period Irish music and ancient songs in the Irish language. OBITUARY OF EMINENT PERSONS DECEASED IN 1897. JANUARY. Sir Travers Twiss, D. C.L., F.R.S.Travers Twiss, son of the Rev. Robert Twiss, of Trevallyn, Denbighshire, was born at Westminster on March 19, 1809. At the age of seventeen he went to University College, Oxford, and in 1830 graduated with a First Class in Mathematics and a Second Class in Classics. He was soon afterwards elected Fellow and appointed Tutor of his College. In 1835 and the two following years he was Public Examiner in Classics, and in 1838-9 and 1840 in Mathematics. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1838, he succeeded, in 1842, Herman Merivale as Drummond Professor of Political Economy, and on the close of his tenure a volume entitled "A View of the Progress of Political Economy in Europe since the Sixteenth Century" appeared (1847). In 1846 he published an essay on the Oregon question, which at one time seemed likely to embroil this country in war with the United States, but was, happily, adjusted by a delimitation of British and American territory, practically by the forty-ninth parallel of latitude. In 1848 Dr. Twiss published a treatise on the relation of the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein to the Crown of Denmark and the German Federation; and two or three years later Dr. Twiss espoused the cause of Papal aggression in England, which had been taken up by Lord John Russell, in a little treatise entitled "Letters Apostolic of Pius IX. Considered with Reference to the Law of England and the Law of Europe." Moreover, having adopted Niebuhr's views on early Roman history, he published in 1837 an epitome of that great historian's work, which he followed up with an edition of Livy with Latin notes. In 1852 he was appointed to the Professorship of International Law at King's College, London, which he resigned after three years' tenure, to succeed Dr. Joseph Phillimore in the Regius Professorship of Civil Law at Oxford, which he held for fifteen years. Meanwhile he had become an advocate of Doctors' Commons in 1840, and was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in the same year. In 1849 he was made Commissary-General of the city and Diocese of Canterbury, and in 1852 was appointed Vicar-General of the Archbishop. On the promotion of Dr. Lushington to the office of Judge of the Court of Arches in 1858, Dr. Twiss was made Chancellor of the Diocese of London, and in 1862 Advocate-General of the Admiralty. Meanwhile, Doctors' Commons, with the ancient ecclesiastical jurisdiction and its venerable traditions, had, by the passing of the Probate and Divorce Acts of 1857, become a thing of the past, and in the following year Twiss became a Queen's Counsel. In August, 1867, on the promotion of Sir R. Phillimore, he became Queen's Advocate-General, an office which had for many years been held by Sir J. D. Harding, and, though extraparliamentary, formerly held precedence over those of the Attorney and SolicitorGeneral, carrying with it a knighthood. Dr. Twiss's services were constantly required for royal commissions and public inquiries. In 1852 he sat on the commission which inquired into the regulations of the College of Maynooth; in 1867, on that which investigated the laws of neutrality; in 1868, on the Naturalisation and Allegiance Commission, which resulted in the two statutes passed in 1870; and, in 1869, he served on yet another, which |