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a series of separate pieces of music, of airs, duets, and finals, 
having little reference to the action of the piece, and merely 
connected together by a dry recitation. His supreme purpose 
was the attainment of musical expression and dramatic truth, 
and to accomplish this he ultimately sacrificed the whole 
apparatus of absolute musical forms. He totally abolished the 
Aria proper, the whole weight of his musical powers being 
placed in the dialogue, rising wherever occasion offers to the 
fervour of musical passion, and always surrounded with a flow 
of beautiful melody, but never descending to ill-timed sentiment- 
ality. He did not expel the Aria, etc., through any whim of 
destructive speculation, but he merely discontinued using these 
forms as unadapted to the particular thing he wanted to express ; 
he rejected them also on the ground that they impeded the 
action of the Drama, in order to afford the singer time to display 
his power of vocalisation. In its place he substitutes a kind of 
Recitative, full of dramatic passion, and supported by Orchestral 
accompaniments of the most varied and ingenious character, 
producing effects which no other composer has ever either 
attempted or imagined. Further he systematically and exten- 
sively introduced what he called ‘‘ Motives’? or ‘ Illustrations’’ 
for the purpose of musically characterising, foreshadowing, and 
conjuring up to the minds of hearers, — persons, events, and things. 
In the “ Nibelung’s Ring” we find the following Motives :— 
the Primordial Element, the Ring, the Smithy, the Curse, the 
Sword, Love’s Fetters, Love-longing, Love-greeting, Love, 
Renunciation, Ride, Love of Travel, the Magic Delusion, the 
Giants’, Wotan’s Displeasure, Boding of Fate, Slumber, &c. 
The artistes on the occasion were :—Miss Horner, soprano ; 
C. A. Smith, tenor; W. Arnold, baritone ; J. W. Clough, baszo ; 
A. Pollard, violin; the Burnley Orchestral Union, conductor, 
F. Myers. 
The following was the Programme performed :— 
Part First (Selections from Wagner's Works ). 
March......... ‘* Hail! Bright Abode”’—Tannhauser......... Bann. 
Song...... ‘* Star of the Evening’—Tannhauser...... Mr. Arnoup. 
Song... “‘ Lohengrin’s reproof to Elsa’”—Lohengrin...Mr. Smrra. 
Song...“ A Ship was on the Ocean tossed” —F'lying Dutchman... 
Miss Horner. 
Song...... ‘* Daland’s Song’—F lying Dutchman......My. Cuouau. 
Selection.......:....... ** The Flying Dutchman” ......... .... Ban. 
Part Second ( Miscellaneous ). 
TIO! tecsevesss wacecssa-.* Up, quit thy Bower’... 2:csmsteeemees eee 
Miss Horner, Messrs. Suira anp ARNOLD. 
Song......... ‘‘ Down in the Deep’’—Hatton.........Mr. Crovex. 
