Thomsett (piano), and Mr. Funnell (harmonium). There were altogether nearly 50 performers, all of whom appeared to perform their allotted task in the most creditable manner indeed, it was said by some of the audience that they were surprised to find so much musical talent in the town. The hall was full in every part. The Concert realized £25 for the Lancashire Distress Fund.
Sol-Fa Concert. A monster meeting of Mr. Warr's pupils and the public took place at the music Hall on Tuesday evening, the 10th of February, for the two fold purpose of assisting public charities and of affording an opportunity of judging how far the Tonic-Sol-Fa method of singing had been successful. The vocalists were about 140 in number, and the audience nearly a thousand and the ante-room being nearly filled as well as the large hall. The programme consisted of 32 pieces, all of which gained applause and a few of them repeated, thus protracting the performance considerably beyond the usual time. The admittance was without charge, but about £22 was voluntarily contributed and a note of thanks was vociferously accorded by the audience to Mr. Warr for his indefatigable exertions.
Volunteer-Band Concert. - A vocal and instrumental concert was given in the Music Hall on the evening of the 19th of March for the benefit of the bands of the 4th Cinque-Ports Artillery and the 1st Cinque-Ports Rifles. There was a numerous and fashionable audience who evinced their pleasure by frequent manifestations of approval. The concert was regarded as being in every way successful.
The Orpheus "Glee" Union (with whom on one occasion the writer held it to be a privilege to sing) appeared in a concert at the Music Hall on the evenings of Monday and Tuesday, April 6th and 7th, with Mr. T. Cooke, as pianist and Madame Alexander Newton as lady vocalist. The names of the executants in addition to those already cited were Messrs. Fielding, Carter, Fagan, Baxter, Ball, Percy and Theodore Distin. On each evening about 16 pieces constituted the programme, the performance of which, as solos, duets, part-songs and glees, elicited in every instance lively plaudits and in several cases enthusiastic demands for repetition. To have heard only Mr. Fielding, "the best alto in Egland[sic]", was of itself a rich treat; but with the addition of his compeers - all talented musicians - and Madame Newton + a powerful sopranoe may be said to have afforded the acme of delight to an appreciative audience.
Christy's Minstrels gave two entertainments at the Music Hall on the 9th of November, and on each occasion to a crowded audience. These artists - for such they really were - had always met with a good reception at Hastings, but in none of their previous visits had their powers of pleasing been exhibited to greater advantage. To say nothing of their funny jokes and comicalities, there was a full equivalent to the price of admission in the rich and varied harmony of their instruments and voices. If there was anything more prominently praise-worthy than the last, it was the marvelous solo performances -
