Manners and customs of ye Englyshe/A Promenade Concerte.
Manners and Customs of ye Englyshe in 1849. No. 40.
A Promenade Concerte.
MR. PIPS HIS DIARY.
A Promenade Concerte.
[Thurfday, December 6, 1849.]
DID ſet my Wife, poor Wretch! this Evening to mending my Socks, which is a pretty Employment for her Leiſure; and myſrlf to Drury Lane, to Monsieur Jullien his Concert. The firſt Part of the Concert all Dr. Mendelssohn his Muſique, which I did long mightily to hear, and, ſo to do in comfort, buy a Ticket for the Dreſs Circle, coſt me 1s. 6d., but found the Seats all full, and obliged to ſtand the whole While, which made me mad, but a pretty full-eyed young Lady being forced to ſtand too, and cloſe by me, though with her Brother, did comfort me a little, not that ſhe could not ſit, but that ſhe was by me. Heard a Symphony that did well pleaſe me, ſeaming to lift me into the Clouds, and was mighty myſtical and pretty; and the Muſique in the Midſummer Night's Dream did give me much Delight, the Twittering throughout the Overture putting me in Mind of Singing-Birds and Fairies and I know not what, and the ſleepy Paſſages very ſweet and lulling. Mightily taken with the Prelude to the Mock-Tragedy, Bottom his March, as droll Muſique as I ever heard; but what did moſt of all delight me was the Wedding March, a noble Piece, and I did rejoice therein, and do think to hire a Band to play it under our Window on my Wedding Day. Monsieir Jullien in his white Waiftcoat and with his Mouſtachios mighty ſpruce and as grand as ever,
and did conduct the Muſique, but ſo quietly in the firſt Part that I could ſcarce have believed it, and methought ſhowed Reverence for the Compoſer; which was handſome. But good Lack! to ſee him preſently, when he come to direct "God Save the Queen," flouriſh his Batoon, and act: the mad Muſician! All the Company riſing and taking off their Hats was a noble Sight, and grand, the While, to hear that majeſtical Anthem, till preſently ſome moſt ridiculous and impertinent Variations ſet all the Houſe a laughing and ſome hiſſing, and I do ſuſpect Monsieur Jullien had a ſpecial Audience this Night, that would not away with ſuch Tricks. Between the Parts of the Concert, I into the Pit to walk about among the Sparks, and there a great Preſs, and the Houſe crammed to the Ceiling. Did viſit the Refreſhment and Reading Rooms, where young Blades and Laſſes drinking of Coffee and eating of Ices, and ſome Reading of the News, and with Shrubs and Statues round about,and the Houſe all White and Gold, and brightly lighted, mighty gay; and the Sparks jaunty, but not, I think, wearing ſuch flaming Neckcloths and Bread Pins as they were wont. Did ſtay out the ſecond Part only becauſe curious to hear the Row-Polka, and heard ſome Muſique of the Prophète, full of Snorting of Braſs Inſtruments and Tinkling of Triangles, and a long Waltz that did give me the Fidgets, and nothing wherein I could take any Delight at all, fave in Jetty Treffz her ſinging of "Trab. trab." which was pretty. At laſt, the Row-Polka played, and well-named it ſeemed to be, and very droll and abſurd, with Chiming-in of Voices and other monſtrous Accompaniments, making a good ridiculous rough Muſique. But many of the Hearers did hiſs, methought with Unreaſon, the Polka being no worſe than any other Polka, but better, as leſs empty, having ſome Joke in it. Home, the Wedding March running in my Head, and glad to find good Muſique drawing ſo great a Houſe, which I do hope will be a Hint to Monsieur Jullien.