The Press.
London, England, 1858-11-27 00:00:00

THE PRESS, NOVEMBER 27,1858.

1164

character. Of the Mozart symphony the people's
song is the chief element. lie breathed into his
instruments the yearning tones of the human voice,
with which his genius most strongly sympathized.
He poured rich streams of harmony into the heart
of melody thus confided to mechanical instruments,
to achieve the portrayal of that peculiar depth of
feeling, that emotional intensity, that glowing com-
pleteness of impassioned sentiment, for the expres•
sion of which the inmost heart supplies ample,
indeed inexhaustible, resources to the human
voice alone. Thus, whilst giving free vent to the
peculiarly vocal bias of his genius, by acquired. as by
original means, by unsurpassable contrapuntal skill,
no less than novel richness of harmony and tcnal
colouring, Mozart raised the orchestral instruments
to an extraordinary capability of vocal expression,
and, by causing them to express in his symphonies
almost every passion, sentiment, and emotion with
equal truthfulness, made a decided advance upon
Day dn, whose efforts, great as they were, had been
almost exclusively confined to the expression of com-
placent gaiety or tranquil pleasure. The most free
and boldest use of the illimitable resources of instru.
mental music was, however, reserved for Beethoven.
He it was that invented a new musical language
whose marvellously significant accents almost ex-
pressed a moral will and equalled words in defini-
tiveness of meaning. By unheard-of—almost super-
human—efforts, he at length, in the third and last
period of his artistic career, endeavoured to make
music express more than, unaided by the sister arts,
it could possibly express; and these Titanic heaven-
storming aspirations eventually led him to the dis-
covery of his error, and brought about the grand
climax which we find in the immensely great choral
symphony which is the redemption of art—the
glorious herald of the still more glorious day which
shall witness the reunion of the long unnaturally
divided art-sisters—the triumphant inauguration of
the "future work of art." After this colossal work
had been given to the world (continues Herr
Wagner), all " absolute " music must necessarily
cease, for everything bad been accomplished which
was possible to music as an independent art,
Vainly might those who could discover nothing in
the ninth symphony, but a " symphony with cho-
ruses," fume and fret, and fancy themselves inspired.
Vainly might they borrow from Mozart, gird up
their loins with the heavy contrapuntal armour of
Sebastian Bach ; compose oratorios (those sexless
embryos of operas), "songs without words," operas
without text. Vainly might they endeavour to
imitate Beethoven's inimitable last symphony by
writing three very long instrumental movements,
and thanking God at the end for enabling them to
get through the onerous task with all possible clever-
ness. Vainly might they endeavour to stem the
ever onward-flowing stream of time by making for
themselves a kind of intellectual steamboat, which
guided by their own egotistical freewill, would take
them anywhere against both wind and tide. The
still progressing course of years must on, despite their
sublime ingenuity, and leave them behind as highly
intelligent anachronisms, destined to hold no essen-
tial position in the history of art
Thus much have we communicated respecting
Herr Wagner ana his doctrines for the information
of our musical readers, but, be it understood, with
many critical reservations, and altogether without
prejudice," as the lawyers have it, to any judgment
we may on a future occasion think it necessary to
pronounce. Having other claims upot our space,
we must for the present take leave of our intellec-
tual artistic reformer, but not without strongly re-
commending his extremely clever book to all Ger-
man scholars who take an interest in the subjects of
which it treats.

The Three Favourite Masses of Haydn, Mozart,
and Beethoven. The Accompaniments Arranged
by Vincent Novello. Critical Remarks by E.

Holmes. London : A. Novello.
Tim above great works—namely, Haydn's " Impe-
rial " Mass, Mozart's so.ealled 12th, and Beetho-
ven's Ist—are too well known to require a word of
comment. The accompaniments are judiciously
arranged for the pianoforte from the orchestral
scores; the critical comments of Mr. E. Holmes are
for the most part interesting and instructive. The
volume (in which all three masses are included) is
stoutly and handsomely bound, and the price ex-
tremely low.
With such a rare combination of merits, it were
strange indeed if the publication under notice
should not meet with a ready and most extensive
sale. We cordially recommend it to the notice of all
lovers of fine music.

Sabilla Ncvello's " Voice of Vocal Art." London :

A. Novello.
WF: need only call attention to the reprint of this
well-known and really excellent compendium of
vocal art, which is generally acknowledged to be one
of the best things of its kind, as well as the cheapest

vet published. It deserves a place in the library of
every student of singing.

Chappell's One Hundred Dances. Arranged for the
Cornet-a• Piston by Franz Nava. London :
Chappell and. Co.

T►lE greatest praise we can award to this little work
is, that the various tunes are for the most part good
of their kind, and effectively arranged for that new
and favourite instrument, the cornet.

Almost any moderately endowed player could make
an effect in them, and nothing is wanting hut a
pianoforte accompaniment to render the publication
complete in a musical point of view.

usir.

DRURY-LANr: THEATRE.

Tun Pyne and Harrison season of so-called English
opera is drawing to a close at the above house. Mr.
Harrison takes his benefit on Monday evening,
when Il Trovatore will be performed for the first
time this season, and with the beneficiare and Miss
Louisa Pyne for the first time in London as Manrico
and Leonora. The performances of the past week
presented no novelty whatever, unless a repetition,
or " revival," as the bills had it, of the eternal
Bohemian Girl can be considered as such.

Miss Louisa Pyue sang the music of Arline
delightfully, and Mr. Harrison exhibited his peculiar
abilities to great advantage as Thaddeus. Mr. 11.
Corri's Dev ilshoof was a very spirited and vigorous
impersonation, and Mr. St. Albyn made an efficient
Florestan ; but the rest of the characters were but
feebly supported.

LYCEUM THEATRE.
M. JOLLIER'S CONCERTS.

M. JumrEN is indefatigable as ever in his efforts
to provide tempting musical fare for the million,
and, we are happy to add, quite as successful us in
years gone by.
He continues to blend the utile et dulee in his
attractive programmes, and to win the approbation
of cultivated musicians, as well ai the substantial
patronage of the general public. During the past
week the Lyceum theatre has been crowded nightly,
but no novelty sufficiently important to require
special criticism has been produced.

qt grain

MR. KEAN'S RENDERINGS OF

SHAKESPEARE.
THERE is nothing more difficult, we imagine, than to
present in action a comedy of Shakespeare's to the
present generation. Passion is the same in its
phenomena throughout the existence of the world,
and successive ages introduce but little variation,
even in its modes of expression. The tragedies,
therefore, of the great Poet address themselves as
fully to the men and women of 1858 as they did to
the men and wohien of the last two centuries, touch
as nearly their hearts, and subject their feelings to
as searching an analysis. But it is otherwise with
the comedies. Objects of humour pass away, and
the fashion of wit changes ; and what once made the
hearer laugh till his face was like a wet cloak ill
laid up, now excites often but a yawn or a reprobating
frown.

This might well have been supposed would have
been the case with Much Ado about Nothing, the
last of Mr. Kean's revivals. The " merry war of
words," the thrust and fence of wit, the wonderful
keeping up of the shuttlecock between the bantering
conversationists, are not in accord with the present
habits of Society, and run great chance of being con
sidered tiresome or voted vulgar. Never, in our
opinion, did Manager, Actor, and Actress run greater
risks than did Mr. and Mrs. Kean when they put
Much Ado about Nothing first upon the stage, and
never did they in each capacity achieve a more
signal triumph than both then and now. So racily,
and yet so delicately, did both render the conception,
out of which Benedick and Beatrice were produced,
and the language in which before the public they
are made to have their being and to move, that the
entire audience, from the educated who went to
criticize in the boxee to the crowd who went simply
to be amused in the pit and gallery, were from
beginning to end in continuous enjoyment and
laughter.
Our space will not permit us to criticize at this
moment the performance in detail. We can but
indicate the character of its excellence, and add to
our general remarks an observation upon the remark.
able skill with which the rendering of their respec-
tive parts by Mr. and Mrs. Kean exhibited the real
strength and solidity of character which lay
under the froth of both Benedick and Beatrice. In
justice to the performers, we should say that the
cast was excellent, and that Mr. and Mrs. Kean were,
upon the whole, admirably supported.

and has
A new farce, in one act, entitled Thirty•three next
piece, which is an whip.
Birthday, was produced on Monday,
pre-
ceded the Shakespearian performances during the
le'ersesncetif, dtheepends less on its histriouic
twaeteiokn.
froin The
thestic
merit than on the graceful sprightliness of Miss
Murray, as the heroine, and the droll humour of 211 r.
F. Matthews and Mr. Cooper.

lEnt glarktt anb

FRIDAY EVENING.
THE return of the Bank of England for the week
ending Wednesday last, the 2lth inst., shows the
following changes compared with that for the week
preceding :

81:t8:61:6;63:° large irn
Decrease in Circulation
y
Increase in Public Deposits sh4s2,l
Inmease in Other Deposits 2:19.31
Increase in Securities ..
Increase in Bullion
Increase in Rest
Increase in Reserve
" • • • • • • 516,0 in
Bullion in both Departments
Circulation, including Bank Post
pTohret a
n
yshownare p
principally
pthis
eancomparisonsed2j•
amount paid on public account, and by the addition
to the aggregate of private securities. The Public
Deposits now stand unusually high, amounting to
no less than 7,671,0001. ; and, mainly through the
additions made to them during tha week embraced
by the return, a large aggregate has been added to
the Reserve. There can be little doubt that these
revenue payments have been one cause of the
increase in the securities. The abundance of money
out of doors, and the difficulty of finding profitable
employment for it, has induced an addition to the
Private Deposits, principally from hankers. The
Bullion is again approaching towards nineteen
millions, while the unemployed notes are more than
twelve millions and a quarter. The Bank, there-
fore, is in a very strong and satisfactory position.
From the character of the Money Market this
week it seems not improbable that we may have to
recal the opinion that rates will advance before the
end of the year. That opinion was not expressed
hastily or upon insufficient data, and it was
held also by men of the widest financial experience;
but it must now be modified so far as to say that the
probability of an advance appears somewhat more
remote than we anticipated. That it will be made
before long there are manifest indications. Trade is
extending; a number of feasible projects for profit-
ably employing capital are prepared or preparing,
and there are altogether many signs of approaching
activity. Whenever that period arrives money will
be largely wanted, and capitalists will not be slow to
take advantage of the increased demand. During
the whole of this week we have had most abundant
supplies in the open market, and the rates have
seldom been higher than 2i per cent. for the best
bills, fluctuating between that price and 21 per cent.
To-day the general run of transactions was no
more than two per cent. upon the best bills.
The supplies have arisen from a remarkable ua•
willingness on the part of the public to invest iti
any sort of securities, and they have consequently
lodged their money with the dealers at call. Indeed,
there has seldom been a week when fewer invest.
ments were made by purchases upon the Stack
Exchange. This may be explained by the fact that
the Funds are considered to have attained their full
value, especially as the political horizon appears a
little clouded by the state of affairs in the Italian
Peninsula, and by the trial and condemnation of 31.
de Montalembert. At all events, whatever mit, be
the cause, the public are keeping their balances
immediately available, instead of employing
in securities, the present prices of which may net
be fully maintained. The commercial inquiry has
been rather active in Lombard. street; and the
Bank, though three per cent. remains the minimum,
has been doing a fair, quiet business. them
some With l
slight
regard
estimate
at lice
of
futthuerier calls
probableup on
Ititen t
already be formed. Yesterday a Chilean loan or
1,554,500!. was announced by Messrs. Baring.
Brothers, and Co., in four-and a•fialf-per-cent. bonds
at at 92, with dividends from the Ist December. 1.1
instalments are to be monthly, and their
will extend to the 13th May next. The EgYPtolaul.'
marketnl
2,000,000/. The only question in this Mae one "t•
Government are also in negotiation foPraYamt;2l:Ett..
security. The wants of the Viceroy
may
be met through the Peninsular and Oriental
Banat
Company ; still they must produce a certain etlect
to be
upon the market. Other proposals are ready
ofm atdhee, andne x t
some
ee
mayprobably appear in the course
fortnight.
The Bullion movements of the week ha
iihaebeen
cotton in the United States, paid for by bills v"
comparatively unimportant. Large purcs
England, have diminished the Worts of si4clu