18 SEBASTIAN BACH AND HIS WORKS. 



both may be acquired without in the least cultivating the taste or 

 imparting vigour to the higher powers of the mind. Further, in 

 the present state of society, it is difficult for the majority of the pub- 

 lic to obtain even this slight modicum of cultivation ; and in the 

 present state of society it is, perhaps, impossible for the majority to 

 make that perfect use of their faculties which the Creator in bestow- 

 ing them evidently willed. As long as things continue thus, man 

 cannot enjoy that degree of happiness of which his mental constitu- 

 tion renders him capable, and to the attainment of which all his ef- 

 forts are, or ought to be, directed. That things will always con- 

 tinue thus, we think too highly of the benevolence and wisdom of 

 the Creator and of the just adaptation of all parts of his creation to 

 each other to believe. We deem it every way possible, that each 

 individual in a highly-civilized community may find not only lei- 

 sure, but means also, for the due cultivation of the faculties granted 

 to him for his happiness by the Creator : but until this is the case, 

 how can we expect a due and universal appreciation of the wonders 

 of Nature or of Art, designed, through the medium of those facul- 

 ties, to be conducive to the well-being, to the felicity, of the human 

 race ? As it is, art is not art in its noblest acceptation — namely, 

 when considered as the means of producing the highest gratification 

 to faculties in the highest state of cultivation ; but a mere farce, a 

 juggler's trick, at best but the pander to individual vanity or igno- 

 rant presumption. 



In conclusion, our thorough conviction is, that Sebastian Bach, 

 having shewn in his works what art should be, not what it is, must 

 still wait many a long year for general appreciation, genei-al admi- 

 ration ; but that, when once appreciated, once admired, he will be 

 looked upon as the great pioneer who, disregarding vulgar and tem- 

 porary applause, singing only for " himself and the muses," cleared 

 the way for the new and glorious career which art has yet to run, 

 under auspices more bright— for aims more noble. 



[Since the above was written, we understand that the directors of theBir- 

 niingham Festival intend (and before this meets the reader's e3'e the intention 

 will probably have been fuUilled) to favour the public with one or two speci- 

 mens of Bach's powers, selected from the Pasxionsmnsik, noticed above. 

 Better late than never, say we ; but why these eternal selections, why this 

 insane policy of givuig one or two bricks as a specimen of the entire edifice ? 

 The directors intend to give Mendelsohn's Paul entire. Now, we ask, which 

 has the greatest claims to be considered as the greater composer, Slendelsohn 

 or Bach ? The answer to this question should decide, in our opinion, the 

 propriety of giving the work of the one in all its completeness, and of the 

 other scattered fragments only.] 



