( 496) 
[June 1, 
REVIEW OF NEW MUSICAL PUBLICATIONS. 
The Soldier’s Return, or What can Beauty do? 
a comic Opera, in two A€is, as performed at 
the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane; the Mufic, 
qith the Union Overture, entirely new. Com- 
poled by F. Hook, Efg. 8s. 
E find much to praife in the mufic 
of this comic fketch. Its general 
conftruétion is flight ; but the ideas, gene- 
rally fpeaking, evince the yet living em- . 
bers of a fancy whofe fparks have long 
cantributed to the gratification of the mu- 
fical public. The overture to this piece 
we cannot, in the points of force and ori- 
ginality, juftly compare with fome other 
inftrumental produétions from the fame 
ingenious pen; but the trio A little 
farm well till’d” is happily conceived, as 
alfo the duet “* When inclination leads 
the way,’” in which the parts bear into 
each other very pleafingly. ‘ For my 
Henry is no more!” is a fimple, affecting, 
little air, and the “* Tambourine Roan- 
delay” is fprightly and novel; while 
«¢ Strike the bold ftrain’’ is fo florid and 
animated, as to do much honour to the 
compofer’s fancy and judgment; and 
«© The primrofe wet with morning dew” 
is characterized by the appropriate and 
engazing delicacy of its ftyle. 
wf Concerto for the Piano-iorte, with Accompa- 
niments for a full Orcheftra. Compofed and 
dedicated to F. B. Cromery Efg. by George 
Eugene Griffin. &s. 6d. 
This concerto, which has been per- 
formed by the author at the Opera Con- 
cert Rooms, confidered as his firft pro- 
duétion, is a work of no inconfiderable 
merit. Many of the ideasare playful and 
ftriking; and the paflages, for the moft 
part, rife out of each other eafily and na- 
tually ; and though a brilliancy, a 
ftrength, and an identity of character, are 
not among its good qualities; yet fufh- 
cient effe&t is cecafionally produced to 
evince that Mr. Griffin enly wants what 
is neceilary to excellence in every {cience 
—experience—to become a highly refpect- 
able infirumental compofer. The varia- 
tions and embellifaments to Mrs. Jordan’s 
popular air are given with much tafte; 
and the fucteeding rondo, both in its 
theme and digreifions, is fanciful and 
pleafing. On the whole, the merits of this 
concerto lead us to hope that its recep- 
tion with the public will be fuch as to en- 
courage the author to proceed, and to give 
- further proofs of rifing talent and accu- 
mulating {cience. 
Three Sonatas for the Piano-Forte; exprefsly , 
compofed and calculated for the Improvement 
of juvenile Performers, by L. Hoberecht. 
45. ! 
The fimplicity and familiarity of thefe 
fonatas well qualify them for that praéti- 
cal improvement for which they are de- 
figned. The execution is diltyibuted with 
propriety to doth the hands ; and its pro- 
grefive character is no trivial merit to a 
work dedicated to the advancement of 
the juvenile finger. 
“* The Maid of Yarrow 3” a favourite Scottifp 
Ballad, as fung by Mrs, Bland; the Words 
written by Mrs. Rannie, and the Mufic com- 
pofed by C. F$. Dare. 18. 6d. 
This ballad is by no means deftitute ¢ 
merit; yet we muft, in candour, fay, 
that we trace the works of a mind want- 
ing that experience neceflary to a free con- 
ception and facility of expreflion: in a 
word, to the production of an eafy and 
natural effect. A fault in the fecond bar 
of the lower ftave of the fecond page in- 
duces us to recommend Mr. Dare to a 
more rigid application to the eftablifhed 
evolutions of harmony. ," 
Trois Grandes Sonates pour le Piano-Forte ; coma= 
_ pofeds et dedicés a fon Ami F. L. Duffcks par 
F. B. Cramer, Efg. 8s. 
Mr. Cramer has difplayed much of his 
ufual ability in thefe fonatas. The paf- 
fages are ingenioufly conceived, and af- 
ford to the hand a fpecies of exercife 
that cannot fail to improve the pratti- 
tioner, and fit him for application to the 
moft difficult compofitions. 
Anew Edition of the celebrated Mufic_in the 
Lenpeft ; compofed by Henry Purcell, 12s. 
Tt was with much pleafure that we in- 
fpected the prefent edition of this fine 
mufic. As lovers of the good old fchool, 
we could not but be happy to find the re- 
vifion and correction of the Tempeft had 
been undertaken bya gentleman to highly 
qualified for the tafk; and we truft that 
the elegance of the engraving and accu- 
racy of the text will enfure fach a fale, 
as toinduce Dr. Bufby to oblige the pub- 
lic with an entire edition of the compo- 
fitions of this great mafter: a work that 
would form a noble article in our cata- 
logue of Englifh mufic, and that every 
admirer of fterling and claffical compofi« 
tion would be proud to poffefe, ‘ 
sé To 
