DURING the last week but one in June, the annual COMMEMORATION of the Founders and Benefactors of the University was celebrated in the usual academical manner, and by several musical performances.

On Monday evening, June 17th, a concert was given by the members of the Amateur Musical Society, in the New Assembly Room at the New Inn; at which there were upwards of 500 visiters, who were all, and with good reason, much gratified by the performances they were invited to hear.

On Tuesday morning, June 18th, the vice-chancellor, heads of houses, proctors, &c. assembled in the Radcliffe Library, and thence proceeded to St. Mary’s Church, to hear a sermon preached for the benefit of the Radcliffe Infirmary. Full service was performed by the members of the different choirs in Oxford, under the direction of Mr. Vicary, who took the organ.

On Wednesday, the 18th, the heads of the University, the young noblemen, &c. attended at the Sheldonian Theatre, to hear the Crewian Oration, in commemoration of the founders and benefactors, &c., and also the several literary compositions to which the prizes for the present year had been adjudged. They entered and retired to solemn peals of the organ.

The Stewards of the Music Room, with that zeal which always marks their management, made ample preparations for two concerts to be given in the Town Hall, on the evenings of Tuesday and Wednesday, for which they engaged Madame Malibran, Sig. Tamburini, M. de Beriot, Mr. Willman, the clarinet, and many excellent orchestral performers, in addition to the force resident in Oxford: but the illness of Madame Malibran frustrated all their intentions, and the absence of an individual rendered unavailing, it seems, the talents of all the rest. Upon such occasions, why not engage a double; one who is able, if required, to take the pieces intended to be sung by the principal? Thus the accidents to which female singers are occasionally liable, and the caprices in which they more frequently are suffered to indulge, would be provided against, and the public be saved from that complete disappointment which the absence of the only female performer must necessarily produce.

When it was found that Mad. Malibran could not perform, the Stewards immediately issued a bill, announcing the fact. Nevertheless, about 300 persons were present. “At the commencement of the concert,” says the Oxford Journal, “Mad. Malibran was handed to the front of the orchestra by Mr. Nicks, and an apology made.... The lady certainly appeared ill; but it may be asked, if Mad. Malibran had been ill for three or four days, as stated, why did she venture to come to Oxford? But we learn that she played exceedingly well (at Covent Garden) on Saturday night. Be it as it may, Mad. Malibran has lost the esteem of the Oxford audience; many of whom were not sparing of exclamations against her when they left the hall.... The other performers exerted themselves to the utmost, to supply the vacancy; but the absence of the only female singer left a chasm that could not be supplied. Sig. Tamburini sang an extra song; and the powerful efforts of M. de Beriot and Mr. Willman, who generously played an extra concerto each, failed to restore harmony to the company.”

Now we cannot help thinking that the Oxford critic is a little hard on Mad. Malibran. That she was ill he seems to admit, and that she did all in her power to convince the company of the fact is proved by her having been a second time led into the orchestra, and, as she could not sing, sitting down to the piano-forte, and accompanying Sig. Tamburini in the air “Largo al Factotum.” Of course the lady did not receive, or expect to be paid, the 200 guineas for the two concerts.

An express was sent to London the same evening, which brought down Mrs. Bishop on the following afternoon; who, at the second concert, sang “Gratias agimus tibi,” and “Should he upbraid?” with much applause. But the principal feature of both concerts was M. de Beriot on the violin; who produced as much effect on a University audience as he had before done on the best judges in the metropolis.

Sig. Tamburini sang with great ability some arie of Rossini—(everlasting Rossini!) which were well received: but many wished that he, as well as other singers, would a little enlarge their repertoire, and endeavour to learn that there are other composers besides those of the last dozen years whose works are worth studying, and would be infinitely more acceptable to real judges of music than pieces which, whatever their merits, are worn threadbare, and become almost nauseous from frequent repetition.

Mr. Marshall (of Oxford) led the band at these concerts, and Mr. Vicary (a Mus. Bac. of this University) sat at the piano-forte.