
ARS Be Se 
[ March, 
REVIEW OF NEW MUSICAL PUBLICATIONS. 
NTHEMS, compofed for the Choir Service 
of the Church of England, by John Staf- 
ford Smith, Gentleman of his Majetty’s Royal 
Chapels, and Lay-Vicar of the Coilegiate 
Church of St. Peter, Weftminfter, 11. 5s. 
Prefton and Son, 
Thefe anthems, which the ingenious 
author informs us, are ‘* intended to ex~ 
hibit a clofer analogy than ufual between 
the accent of {peecn, and the melody of 
fong,” are.twenty in number, and oc- 
cupy ene hundred and fixty-feven folio 
pages. After an attentive examination 
of this voluminous work, we have the 
pleafure to find ourfelves juftified in 
awarding it an uncommon portion of 
praife. The tafk Mr. Smith impofed 
upon himfelf in the union which he an- 
nounces in his dedication, was certainly 
as Jaudable as arduous; and, generally 
foeaking, his attempt is executed with 
peculiar fuceefs, But we are obliged 
to obferve, that, notwithftanding his ob- 
vious care to avoid that levity to which 
his aim at the “* melody of fong’’ natu- 
rally tended, yet he has in feveral in- 
fiances facrificed to it the gravity and 
dignity of the choir, and exprefled the 
folemn ideas of the royal pfalmift in 
ftrains which border on the province of 
the theatre. In a critique on fo extenfive 
a publication, it is impofiible to notice 
every excellence and defeét; we thall 
therefore {peak of it in general terms. 
Our objections are very few: the folos, 
duetts, and fometimes even the chorufles 
are too light; ina few places they ex- 
hibit the author as /fraimng alter novelty 
by eccentric diftances, and by movements 
out of cathedral time; and here- and 
there prefent modulations to which, with 
a correct ear, the auditor cannct en- 
tirely affent. But thefe objeéts are tri- 
vial, in comparifon with thofe which de- 
mand our approbation and applaufe. 
The profundity of {cience, and felicity of 
fancy, found in this publication, fel- 
dom unite in theiame work. Every 
anthem, every movement, exhibits a fer- 
tile imagination, and great profefiional 
earning, and many paflages produce a 
better illuftration of the ideas of the fa- 
cred poet than they have yet received 
from any other compofer. The ca/s of 
the melodies, a few excepted. (particu- 
larly, ‘* Come on, Come on’’) are chofen 
with ftriking propriety and judgment, 
and evince a genius operating under the 
guidance of an experienced artift, and 
the moft mature confideration. The 
book is well printed, and remarkably 
correct. The tenor, and counter-tenor 
parts of the choruffes, are given in the 
treble cliff, a praétice which, although 
we do not entirely approve of it, is nor 
without its convenience ; finee every vo- 
cal performer is not acquainted with the 
tenor and counter-tenor cliffs : to thofe 
who need their adoption, the treble 
cliffs will of courfe, be an additional re- 
commendation to the work. 
Pleyel, Cori and Duffek’s Mufical Journal. 
Publifhed by Corriand Duffek. 
This work is publifhed in numbers, 
each ten days after the other. The 
general plan of the undertaking is, to 
furnifh the public, at a cheap rate, with 
periodical and original produétions, both 
vocal and inftrumental, of the bef - 
mafters. Each number is 2s. 6d. and 
contains three compofitions ; one vocal, 
one for the harp. and one for the piano 
forte. Thofe for the voice, when Ita- 
lian’ or French, have Englifh tranfla- 
tions, and accompaniments for one or 
other of the above inftruments. “That 
part of the defign which excludes thofe 
difficulties called **mufical pretenfions,” 
we particularly approve; fince they 
are fo much more calculated to pro- 
mote unmeaning volatility of finger, 
than grace, tafte, cr expreffion. The 
editors inform us, that, independent of 
their own pieces; they have engaged, 
in England and abroad, eminent authors 
for the mufic, as well as for the words. 
And if we may judge of the future 
numbers, by the fix which have already 
appeared, this work will juflify the 
hopes of the publithers, who tell us, that 
they ‘* propofe to render it one of the 
moft pleafing and ufeful works that has 
yet been offered to the public.” 
Marian’s Complaint, written by Mr. Wal- 
cot, and compofed by Mr. Howgill, Organift, 
Whitehaven: 
‘© Marian’s Complaint,” is one of 
thofe compofitions which may defy cri- 
ticifm, becaufe the reviewer, loft in the 
quantity of its defeéts, knows not where 
to commence his remarks. 
<< Hope to me is now a Stranger,’’ a ballad, 
written by Mifs Stockdale ; the mufic by J. 
Tewkibury, 1s. Prefton and Son. 
It is always with vain that we fee realy 
genius mifemployed. Mr. Tewkfbury 
evidently pofleffes confiderable powers of 
imagination, and a tafte for ornament ; 
but they are not of the kind required 
for yocal compofition. “The sel p 
c 
