"the form "in the "blue vapours." After this we have “there is a tie," over again, and "Yes-yes-we must part-perhaps !" And Mr. Salaman goes off in a dozen bars of pleasant arpeggios, full of new progressions, till in the last half of the last bar but one, he walks out of B minor (the key of the song,) into G major, (for change of air,) and returns back before you "Jack Robinson." It is rather cruel of Mr. Salaman to have made this song so excessively difficult-he should have recollected that Chauncey Hare Townsend is by no means as "slap up' a player as himself." can say, We could have forgiven Mr. Salaman for his bad music, and the still worse poetry of his friend Chauncey Hare Townsend, but we cannot allow the beautiful thoughts of Shelley (or Shelly, according to Mr. Salaman's version of his name) to be lacerated and destroyed, in order to make them fit his musical aspirations, without expressing our disapprobation of the same.-The first song in the set is called a serenade, and the poetry selected are those exquisite lines of Shelley-"to an Indian air,”—which Mr. Salaman has had the ill taste to alter and misplace; and-what is worse than all -he has rewritten, (or persuaded Chauncey Hare Townsend to rewrite for him,) the greatest part of the last verse ! ! !—Quelle immense bétise! We give both versions Shelley. I arise from dreams of thee In the first sweet sleep of night, The wandering airs they faint Like sweet thoughts in a dream; Beloved as thou art. O lift me from the grass! I die, I faint, I fail! Let thy love in kisses rain On my lips and eyelids pale My cheek is cold and white, alas ! Mr. O. Salaman (or C. H. Townsend). I arise from dreams of thee In the first sweet sleep of night, And a spirit in my feet Has led me-who knows how? To thy chamber window, sweet! [A spirit hath led me to thee, sweet! a spirit The wandering airs they faint, Like sweet thoughts in a dream; The gentle dews of sleep Are falling on thine eye, THOU KNOW'ST NOT I AM NIGH!!! My cheek is cold and wan, My heart beats loud and fast, O press it to thine own! OR it will break at last! [A spirit hath led me to thee, &c.&e. This is quite sufficient to shew that Mr. Salaman has not one spark of poetry within him, or he would not have dared to substitute such common-place senseless rubbish for the passionate poetry of Shelley. So barefaced and impudent a piece of humbug deserves to be exposed, and laid before the public in all its heinousness. To substitute or for that beautiful and deep-meaning where, in the last line, explains the order of Mr. Salaman's poetical temperament with more truth and accuracy than pages of criticism could have effected. After this specimen of his taste, we think our readers will have had an ample dose of Mr. Salaman and his friend Chauncey Hare Townsend, otherwise we might have said something about the songs Nos. 2 and 4, the words of which have been supplied by Messrs. H. W. and T. E. R.geniuses apparently much of the same calibre. Alas! for this infernal cacoethes scribendi! what fools it makes of some of God's simplest creatures! Let us earnestly recommend Mr. Salaman to adhere to his fantasias for the orchestra, and leave Shelley alone-Shelley will do much better by himself, than under such profound superintendence. As to Mr. Chauncey Hare Townsend, advice would be thrown away upon him;-and if we turn our reader's attention much more to his lucubrations, we sadly fear that "The gentle dews of sleep Will be falling on their eyes !" In No. 4, Mr. Salaman pays a visit to about eighteen keys, and gets very clumsily out of each of them. Among other peculiarities in this song, we may mention that there is no rhythm, and that none of the discords are resolved.-Something new ! VOL. I. A A "We must follow to the Tomb." Sacred Song, written by T. HAYNES BAYLY, Esq.; composed by EDWARD J. LODER. "The first created Man." Ditto. DITTO. Keith & Prowse. These sacred inspirations from the composer of the ill-fated Nourjahad-ill-fated because allied to such a miserable libretto-are in every way worthy of their author -displaying the evident hand of a master, and the surest indications of genius, viz. elegant melody, and harmony which does not destroy it.-The first of these songs in A is one of the most beautiful we have for a long time had the pleasure of welcoming from the musical press.-We wish Mr. Loder would write a few more such things as "We must follow to the tomb,"-and we are sure that the distinguished station in his art-which his talents entitle him to occupy, would never for an instant be disputed-though perhaps his purse would not be so well filled, as by the production of such popular clap-traps as " The brave old oak !" MISCELLANEA. Among the novelties at Drury Lane, we are to have a grand fairy ballet, for Mademoiselle Fanny Elsler, the music of which is to be composed by Mr. W. L. Phillips, of the Royal Academy of Music, and first violoncellist in the orchestra. We shall expect something intelligible in the music of this ballet, which will be a rara avis indeed; but we entertain a high opinion of the abilities of Mr. W. L. Phillips, and we can venture to prophecy, that he will not disappoint us. We are glad to learn that Mr. T. Green, our old favourite, is coming to take the place of Mr. Charles Matthews at the Olympic. Mr. T. Green is one of the best actors, in his line, of the day; and great as is the loss experienced by the departure of Mr. C. Matthews, we think his place will be fully and adequately sustained by the talent of his successor. In the present dearth of comic talent among "the fair sex," it will be gratifying to our readers to know, that a young lady of very great promise has made a most successful debut in Mr. Barnett's theatre, at Ryde, in the character of Lady Teazle. Report speaks very highly of the talents of this young lady, and we understand that she is a pupil of Mrs. Davison. We shall be delighted to hear that she makes a progress of sufficient importance to enable her to make an early appearance on the London boards. Her name we believe to be Topping. The forthcoming music to Shakspeare's "Tempest," is to proceed from the pen of Mr. T. Cooke, instead of Mr. G. A. Macfarren, as was stated is our last number. We hope Mr. T. Cooke will do justice to this great play. The public will be the best judges as to whether they are losers or gainers by the change. Que chacun choississe entre le materialisme et le spiritualisme-nous verrons. We hear that the Members of the Committee of the "Society of British Musicians," do not intend giving any concerts this year. If such be the case, we think they might as well disband-for the only useful result of their existence as a body will be thereby annulled, viz., that of bringing before the public native talent, which would otherwise remain unknown. If there be not sufficient spirit in so large a body to raise among themselves adequate funds for such an object, we should recommend them to "leave the field"―cease complaining of neglect and attend to their preceptorial duties- commending "fame and honour" to the Devil. It is very singular that so many complaints should be made about the dearth of tenor singers, and that yet no manager should have thought of engaging Mr. Clement White, a gentleman of vastly superior endowments to any tenor singer at present on the London stage. Mr. White was a pupil of Mr. Rooke, and also we believe at one time of Mr. T. Cooke. We have heard him lately at Liverpool, and must confess that, in our opinion, he is a much better singer than either Templeton or Wilson. Mr. Bunn might think of this with advantage, for it is very certain that Mr. Clement White would come for less than forty pounds a week, though, as we are given to understand, a certain gentleman, (to our knowledge, not be compared to him in ability), has refused to accept a lower salary for his services! W. Davy, Printer, 8, Gilbert-street, Oxford-street. HARRISON'S MONTHLY COLLECTION. No. VI. NOVEMBER. Contents. Page 1. Translations of celebrated Foreign Works. No. 1. "Monsieur Frontin," from the French of Ch. Paul de Kock m 289 311 312 2. Contribution for an Album, by I. J War 5. Memorial Sonnets, by D. R. No. 2, ib. 322 Clifford 323 326 7. The First Night of Winter, by F. A. Cranmer 327 9 Miscellaneous Criticisms, No. 5-A Glance at the Periodical Press 335 10. Foreign Correspondence - Berlioz's New Opera, Benvenuto Cellini, by Lyrus 338 4, ORCHARD STREET, PORTMAN SQUARE. T. WEBB, DUBLIN; T. CLARKE, EDINGBURGH; GRIFFIN, GLASGOW; HARGROVE, YORK; DILLON, DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN. The Proprietors respectfully announce, that they have concluded arrangements by which their Publication will assume a new, and they trust, an improved form and character, on the 1st of January next. With a view to perfect the several Tales, &c., of the present series, they have extended the quantity of letter press, which they venture to hope will be received as an equivalent for the embellishments usually given. A general Title, Preface, and Index to the first Volume will accompany the number for December, together with a Prospectus of the New Series to commence with the New Year. Notices to Correspondents. "Lyrus" will perceive we have availed ourselves of his notice. We trust to hear from him frequently, premising that all communications intended for publication shall be forwarded by the middle of the month-postage free. to. Our "Isle of Man" correspondent will be always attended The answer to a "Yorkshire Friend," is-York, you're wanted. "Mr. Arthur Pendragon" is informed, that his Essay would by no means suit our pages; it is, to us, and we imagine would be to our readers, a matter of absolute indifference whether Henry I. died of eating too many lampreys, or too many periwinkles. The "Writer in the Conservative Journal" had better send his Latin Epigram to his own paper; his latinity is by no means of the purest-the genitive case of lex is legis, not lexis. "Eugene Sue," in a future number. We shall be glad to hear in another shape from "Sylvanus Morgan; but a little less Hebrew would suit us better. "Musicus seems to be about as well acquainted with Athenagoras as with Doctor Burney-he sadly misquotes both of them. We must decline his paper. Thomas Paine was born at Thetford, not at Deptford; it is rather too late in the day for dissertations on the Rights of "The Treatise" will be left at the Publishers. man. Mr. Edward Taylor is only a theoretico-historical musician, and by no means a very profound one. We know nothing, and care nothing, about his musical education. had better apply to him in person. "A. M. R." "E. L. B."- "Judæus ""F. W. L.". "A. Y."—"Zeno" 99 Anti-Cardanus -" W. S. B-y," and " Rory O'More," are declined with thanks. Letters are left at the Publishers for "R. H. S.". "G. D." -"Theophilanthropist "-"S. W. M."-"Cui bono," and "H. J. P." The vocal music in "The Devil's Opera," will be reviewed in our next. MONTHLY COLLECTION. TRANSLATIONS OF CELEBRATED FOREIGN WORKS. No. I. MONSIEUR FRONTIN. From the French of CH. PAUL DE KOCK. CHAPTER VII. TOO STUPID. MONSIEUR GIRARDIERE by no means considered himself discomfited. He invariably accused his destiny, which from tender youth had been cruelly adverse to him in his attempts to triumph over the fair sex. This same unhappy destiny has many imputations to support; against it we ever complain, in our moments of ill-humour, in our reverses, in the checks received by our self-love. Instead of owning frankly to ourselves that we have committed a folly,—that we have been wanting in tact or management, we prefer launching a bitter sally against our destiny, which is nevertheless very innocent of our misfortunes; and we never call to mind those words of St. Gregory, which ought to be engraven on our hearts :-"When a misfortune happens to you, reflect for a moment, and you will find that there is always something of your own fault." Theophilus Girardière, who had sagely formed the resolution, to insist no longer upon fortune, since fortune had disdained him, soon began to make the following reflections: Why should I lay stress on beauty?-beauty passes away; -a chance, an accident, a malady may entirely destroy it.-We may observe this daily.-Some women even have had the smallpox after being vaccinated!-We ought to esteem the charms of the face, but a trifling matter.It is to the soul, the mind, the heart that we must look for lasting attractions, for the soul, the mind and the heart are unchangeable !" VOL. I. BB 2 |