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FINE ARTS. 



" Sweet is the balmy evening hour, 

 And miid the Glow-worm's light, 

 And soft the breeze that sweeps the flower 

 With pearly dew-drops bright," 



suggest to the mind a beautiful evening in summer; and true to its 

 purpose, the music seems absolutely redolent of the perfume of the 

 flowers, after a sultry day in July. A languor steals over the balmy 

 evening hour ; the introduction to which is commenced pianissimo, 

 and a gentle crescendo leading to a dolce, ushers in the subject. The 

 time is slow of course, and the movement six-eight, being the most 

 tranquil and soothing for all smooth and pastoral subjects. 



The other duet, Go gentle Zephyr, is of a more simple character, 

 reminding us slightly, in its structure, of the Carnival of Venice, 

 though here its similarity ends. As a chamber duet it is particu- 

 larly attractive, and being remote from difficulty, will probably be- 

 come the more popular of the two. Some may consider our praise 

 of these compositions as " beyond their desert ;" but we are confi- 

 dent that our opinion will be verified by every accomplished musi- 

 cian. 



The Si?igi?ig Master : containing instructions for teaching singing 

 in schools and families, the notation of music, rudiments of the 

 science of harmony, and a selection of popular airs, arranged as 

 songs, and also harmonized for three voices, as glees, or short cho- 

 russes, adapted, with suitable words, for the use of children, and 

 young persons of different ages. London : E. Wilson, Royal 

 Exchange. 1836. 



Excellent in plan and able in execution, this little work has 

 for its aim the cultivation of the ear at a period much earlier than 

 is generally thought either necessary or expedient. The author 

 considers that the chief cause — and one of the chief causes it un- 

 doubtedly is — of the difference between the musical talents of chil- 

 dren, is their greater or less habitude of hearing such music as they 

 can understand, from their earliest years, — while one infant in arms 

 is suffered to cry itself to sleep, another is constantly amused with 

 lively nursery songs. Parents knowing this, will always make a 

 good voice and " musical ear" a sine qua non in the female attend- 

 ants of young children. In teaching those of a somewhat more ad- 

 vanced age, such a work as the present is indispensable. With- 

 out a good guide — even supposing a competent instructor within 

 reach — many bad habits will be contracted, which, if suffered to 

 gain ground, are extremely difficult to eradicate. Mr. Hickson 

 suggests the propriety of employing some instrument, such as the 

 clarionet, to support the voice of both teacher and pupils. We 

 should be inclined to give the preference to instruments of the violin 

 kind, which would allow the master to sing and play at the same 

 time, or to give hints or admonitions without interrupting the 

 music. 



