344. 



New Music, anil the Uraina 



A Seremde for the Flute and Piano-Forte, 

 in which is introduced Mozarfs favorite 

 Air, " La ci Durcm," and " Cnyid's 

 Dream," an original Rondo, composed by 

 ./. Arthur. 3s. 



The inlroduction to this Rondo is 

 bolJ, and its general features are stri- 

 king. Mozart's elegantly chaste air of 

 " La ci Darein'' succeeds, tiie pleasing 

 eflfcct of which is much heightened hy 

 the flute accompaniment. ''I'hc Rondo, 

 "Cupid's Dream," occupies cojisider- 

 ahly the larger portion of tiie piece. 

 The .suhjcct of this latt<T air is spright- 

 ly, and the jiassages iiaiurally fail into 

 each other. The minor key is judi- 

 ciously introduced, and tiie general 

 cliect is pleasing and impressive. 

 Overture to the Opera of " II Barlicrc di 

 Seviglia," as composed for the Piano- 

 Forte, by Rossini. 3s. 

 This overture, in the key of E major, 

 is spirited, ctl'cctive, and pleasing. 

 Tiie second movement in E minor, 

 is vivacious and impressive ; the pas- 

 sages, free and fanciful in their slyle, 

 succeed each other witli much force 

 and originality of efl'ect. Were wc 

 to institute a comparison between tiiis 

 and the otiicr operaiic overtures from 

 the same master, wc .should unequivo- 

 cally declare, in favour of the present 

 jiublication, hoth as cxliiliiting greater 

 compass, conceplion, and a superior 

 vigour and aptitude of combination. 

 " The Soldier's Adiev,'" tin-itten by Thomas 

 Blake, and inscribed to Miss GruJdon. 

 The music hy C. M. Sola. Is, erf. 

 " The Soldier's Adieu," though trivial 

 in itself, derives some degree of im- 

 portance from Rlr. Sola's treatment of 

 the subject. The accompaniments are 

 not loo elaborately construeled for the 

 simplicity of the melody they sustain ; 

 and tha air itself conveys, appropriately 

 enough, the sentiments of the words. 

 These are not very interesting, yet not 

 altogether destitule of merit. 



THE DRAMA AND ORATORIOS. 



During the present month, Passion 

 Week and the Oratorios have largely 

 interfered with (he dramalio province. 

 At Drury Lane, Kean's Lear and S/u/- 

 loek ; Mrs. West's Portia and Mrs. 

 Haller ; and Braham's Bertram, in 

 " G(iy JUannering," wilh Mi.ss Sle- 

 pliens's Lucy Bertram, have been the 

 principal treats, to the lovers of fine 

 acting and super- excclkut singing; 

 vihiie, at Covrnt Garden, Miss Paton's 

 Victoria, in " Pride shall have a Fall," 

 and Young's Kimj Jrlm and Sir Per- 



[May 1 , 



tinax Macsijcophanl, have formc'd the 

 chief attractions, 'i'he highly favour- 

 able recej)tion, however, of the two 

 grand pageants, produ<:ed for (he enter- 

 (ainment of the Easter-holiday folk. 

 Lave, in no small degree, recompensed 

 the drama's lost time. But, before wc 

 speak of these, a word on the Oratorios. 

 • — Tiiese sublime perfoi mancrs closed on 

 tlie 9th instant. Though (he growing 

 parlialily for Italian music has. of late 

 years, induced a deviation from the 

 original and pmpcr style oF our Lent 

 musicals, llicy stiil remain sulii- 

 <;ienlly chaste and grand, to obtain the 

 approbation of the la&teful, anil even 

 of the exclusive admirers of PurccI, 

 riandcl, Purgolese, and other masters 

 of the fine old school. Mr. Bochsa, 

 widi llie double object before him of 

 indulging the modern |)enchant, and 

 yet of demonstrating iiis respect for 

 (he compositions that gratified the cars 

 and touched the bosoms of our fathers, 

 has presented the public v\i(h a diver- 

 siliecl jet select assemblage of pieces, 

 both vocal and instrunienUil, which 

 proved his zeal and indefatigable ability 

 ill the discharge of his arduous duty, 

 as manager and director. For the sup- 

 port of his own laudable cflbrts, he 

 enlisted the first British talents. The 

 mellilluous Stepiicns, the florid Salmon, 

 the brilliant Paton, the tasteful Sinclair, 

 the impressive Sapio, and the inimitable 

 Braham, gave an eclat to the front line 

 of his orchestra, tliat was worthily sus- 

 tained by the capabilities of the hinder 

 ranks, both instiumenlal and choral. 

 A more skilful conduclor than Sir 

 George Smart, or an abler leader than 

 Mori, could not have been a|>pointed ; 

 and (he subsidiary aids of Nicholson's 

 and Guillon's liquid flulcs; Williams's 

 expressive clarinet ; Wigley's piano- 

 forte concerto ; and Bochsa's harp ac- 

 companiments, filled up (he measure of 

 harmonic excellence. Of the new 

 compositions and airangements, the 

 simple and deliglitful litlJc ballad of 

 " Kelvon Grove," sung by Braham, 

 in his most enchanting manner ; a rich 

 and truly euphonious duet, composed by 

 Dr. Busby, and admirably suited to the 

 powers of Braham and Miss Paton; 

 and an original modification of "God 

 .•^ave the King," prepared by the same 

 scientific master, for the winding up of the 

 season, were the most cemspicuous and 

 striking. But to return to the drama: 

 " Zoroaster, or the Spirit of the Star," 

 produced at Drury Lane, is replete with 

 the allurements of magic, and the charms 



of 



