ABSTRACT
The ceremony of conferring the degrees on the successful students of the Royal Irish University, was one of special interest, for not only was this the first occasion since the establishment of the University upon which degrees were conferred upon its own alumni, but chiefly on account of the fact that nine ladies were among those upon whom the degree of Bachelor of Arts was to be conferred. The Duke of Abercorn, Chancellor of the Royal University, presided, and there was a densely crowded attendance, multitudes standing outside the door for an hour before it was opened. One lady, Miss Charlotte Taylor, had also conferred upon her, in addition to the degree of Bachelor of Arts, the degree of Bachelor of Music, and the performance of a musical exercise composed by her formed the first part of the day's proceedings, Miss Taylor herself presiding at the organ. When she took her seat at the organ she was greeted with cheers. The cantata consisted of a setting of portions of the 518Latin version of the 57th Psalm, "Miserere mei, Deus." It included short choral movements in D minor, B flat major, and D major; a soprano solo, a quartett in G, a duet for tenor and bass in B minor, and a closing fugue chorus. The composition showed a high degree of musical power and feeling. There was much tenderness in the soprano solo and the duet; the counterpoint all through the concerted portions was broad and clear, and in the closing fugue the lady showed herself remarkably at home in that difficult form, adding marked interest to it by the modulations preceding the final return to D major. The soprano solo was nicely sung by Miss Mary Russell, the duet by Mr. Henry Beaumont and Dr. Carte, and these were assisted in the quartett by Miss Spackmann. The chorus was formed of about forty of Miss Taylor's friends, including the choir of Donnybrook Church, where she is officially engaged, and where her organ performance has long been deemed unusually excellent. Sir Robert Stewart conducted the performance of the cantata. The following are the portions of the 57th Psalm which were included in Miss Taylor's setting:—
