The first of Prof. Paine's series of historical concerts was given last evening in Sever 11, before an audience which comfortably filled the room; undergraduates were largely represented, while there were many Cambridge people also present. The musical part of the programme was furnished by six excellent singers, of which two were ladies, and an interesting series of early examples of musical art was given, comprising sextetts, quartets and solos. The lecturer began by sketching the rise of the art of music from the earliest times. Music properly so called is the youngest of the fine arts. Its progress is traceable to four different sources-the Christian church music, the troubadours, the opera oratorio, etc., of the 17th century, and lastly the rise of modern instrumental music. Harmony was unknown in the earliest music; scales and notation were introduced, but the first experiment of harmony was made in the 9th century. Not till several centuries after did counterpoint come into use; it arose from the Gregorian chant. The old Flemish school received an illustration by a gloomy chorus of Josquin de Pres, the contrapuntal church style by a selection from a mass by Palestrina. Next came the popular and secular music especially of the troubadours and minnesingers. Of the English school a very old melody was sung, proving to be a tender, delightful bit.

The lecture was closed by an illustration of the madrigal of Italian and English origin, by mixed quartet.

The lecture gave promise of a very interesting course to follow. It was not by any means dry nor abstruse. The illustrations are excellently performed by a competent selection of artists, and add much to the interest.