18) ij 
[6 7 
- REVIEW OF NEW MUSICAL PUBLICATIONS, 
Ee 
The Singer’s Preceptor, or Corri’s Treatise on 
Vocal Music. In Two Volumes, each 15s. 
PXHIS treatise, Mr. Corri tells us in 
his title-page, is “the result of 
fiity years’ experience.” After a sedu- 
Jous investivation of its contents, we 
find much to sanction the assertion, 
and little that does not reflect ample 
@redit on the author’s professional agsi- 
duity, practical remark, and cultivated 
taste. < . 
» The first volume treats of the nature, 
origin, and progress, of ‘Vocal Music, 
succeeded by observations on the ob. 
stacles to the perfect attainment of the 
art of singing. The second consists of 
‘a collection of English, Scotch, and Ita. 
lian songs, duetts, and trios; embellished 
with graces and cadenzas, exemplifying 
the antecedent rules. 
_ To enter into all the minutie of this 
elaborate treatise, would carry us be- 
yond the bounds we usually prescribe 
to ourselves in this department of our 
miscellany; but the most prominent 
features of the work will not escape eur 
Notice. ‘ ’ 
* Mr. Corri, after presenting the public 
with memoirs of his ‘professional life, 
in which we cannot profess to find in- 
cidents so highly interesting “as to coun- 
tenance its: introduction ina publication 
with which it has no necessary conrec- 
‘tion (since a professor’s didactic lucubra- 
tions, and the incidental ‘progress. of his 
practice, are two distinct abjects,) pro- 
ceeds to the purpose of his treatise, in a 
dialogue between a master and his pu- 
“pil. We here find, amidst a conside- 
fine. number of remarks, many that 
we highly useful, and some’ that, 
we believe, have never before been laid 
before the public. The observations 
yespecting the susceptibilities of voices 
‘of the most common natural powers,’ 
are as just as encouraging. Wiat is 
‘said concerning a good quality of tone, 
‘its superiority over a mere volume of 
‘sound, and the means of attaining that 
“quality, as well as what is observed re- 
specting the importance of the crescendo 
and diminuendo, are truly valuable. 
The stress laid on the necessity of at- 
tending not ouly to the sense but the 
very formations of the words of a song, 
especially their terminations, cannot be 
» tions; 
too much attended to; and the rea 
marks on the various yraces, and the 
readiest mode of acquiring them, every 
reflecting student will know how to aps 
preciate. 
The “ portamento di toce—intona- 
tempo rubato—quickening aud 
retarding the time;—and the hints to 
“parents;” are all highly worthy of at. 
tention, and evince considerable depth, 
and an acute justness, of thinking. 
The numefous rules are laid down in a 
judicious and luminous order, and the 
practical examples, and progressive ex- 
ercises, are well selected. Viewing the 
work en masse, we certainly feel our- 
selves in no danger of being contradicted 
by ‘the candid and judicious, when we 
pronounce Mr. Corri’s vocal treatise, the, 
best that has hitherto appeared in this 
country, 
A-grand Sonata for the Piano-forte, with an 
Accompaniment for the» Violin (obligate. ) 
Composed and dedicated to G. Sinclair, esq, Uy 
1, Jay, Mus, Due. Oxon. 5s. 
This Sonata is comprised in three 
movements: the first is an adagio, in 
common time of four crotchets; the se= 
‘cond an allegro, in coinmodn time of two 
crotcliets; and the third a rondo, in trie 
ple tine of three quavers. Mr. Jay’s 
compositions have often afforded ‘us 
pleasure in, their perusal; but we have 
never, perhaps, had so much reasor to be 
pleased as in the present instance.’ An 
‘obvious improvement in style and manacr 
pervades the work before us; the pas- 
sages are well conteived, and ‘closely 
connected, and the accompaniment is , 
conducted with much real mustery. 
7 
Three favourite Parisian Airs for the Piano-forte, 
with Variations and ‘Imiluiions. By de Ly 
Dussek, esq. 33. Od. ahias ds 
The first of these admirable pieces is 
UAir de Trombour, with eight variations; 
the second Air del Dotter, with seven 
variations; and the third Amuséz. vows 
Belles, arrangér avec variations et inita- 
tions. These airs “in. themselves. are 
highly attractive; but the great merit 
of the work lies in Mr. Dussek’s florid 
and masterly supplements, His vari- 
ations and imitations are every way 
worthy .his Well-known eniinence as a 
piano-forte, 
