The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-23 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, .A 1

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(11011 001 WIN

(OUST 23, 1867.

ARUM/.
THE HEREFORD MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
(Thou 01:111 BPSCIAL COAREILPONDI2II%)

PARIS, THURSDAY EVENING.
The Epoque, which affects to have very special I HEREFORD, THURSDAY.
information from Spain, and was in point of fact The third morning's performance commenced to-
the first journal to publish several things about day at half-past eleven' by which time the nave of
the cathedral was quite filled by the most numerous the insurrection which turned out to be true, says
thin evening :
audience yet assembled at the present festival per-
The leaders of the revolution have formed • provisional formances. On this occasion was produced the newsacred pastoral Ruth, composed expressly for this
festival by Mr. Otto Goldschraidt.
government, which will be proclaimed as soon as any great
town shall be in their power. The movement has not
The composition of sacred music as an offering
slackened, still less are the insurgents dispersed, as tele-
of art toirards the highest and sublimest objects—
grams from a suspicions source assert. What is called a dis-
the praisel of God or the illustration of holy writ—
portion of the insurgents is in most cams but a manceuvre has generally been with the great composers a re-
to deceive the Queen's troops. The Correspondences sult of proved natural genius and practised tech-
of August 17 announces that five colonels, four lieutenant- • nical aka In these days, however, we too fre-
quently see hasty ambition aiming at a short and
colonela, ten majors, nineteen captains, and a considerable
number of lieutenants and sub-lieutenants, have been sus-
immediate path to renown in sacred composition,
pended. The deputation from the &Kansa or unionist which is scarcely attainable but by the
slower process of gradual approach from rireviously
committee was to leave Madrid to-day for Lisbon. It is
ascending efforts. Handel produced a long series
affirmed, but we state this under the most express reserve,
that the French and English governments. having been of successful Italian operas before the composition
ilsh oratorio Esther--Spohr com-
i
sounded by the leaden of the movement, have declared that of his first E
they will in no way interfere with a political affair which posed acknowledged masterpieces in the various
regards the interior of Spain exclusively. France merely forms of secular music previously to the production
reserves the right of watching the frontiers with a view to of his fills great oratorio, The Last Judgment (Di,
the preservation of order and the maintenance of her' Let=ters Dispe)—liaydn's Creationa and ne Beaseta
friendly relations with the Spanish government. Far were the closing and crowning works of a long and
from having " fled," as reported, General Cintreras has successful career as a great symphonist, quartet
recruited many followers. General Milian de Bose is now ; writer, &c.—Mendelsohn, before the production
at the head of the regular troops which have joined the of his oratorio St Paul, young as he was, had
insurrection. We are informed that the government has , already taken his place as an acknowledged master
proclaimed all Spain in a state of siege. by such productions as his Otetto, orchestral sym-
On the other hand the Pays and Patrie confi-
phonies, and ove
ranked with those of the greatest composers.rtures, besides other worka long aince
dently assert that the insurrection is all over, and Beethoven's first was composed after his opera
that the leaders have deserted the poor fellows they Fidelio, several of his great symphonies, sonatas,
deceived, and other immortal works. These men, great as
A Bayonne letter of August 21 says that Nar-
they were, and conscious as they must have been
vaez is determined to give no quarter, and that if of their greatness,had the modesty to wait until
their powers had been thoroughly tested before
he gets hold of Prim he will certainly shoot him. I
applying them to the highest piose to which
A laconic but significant telegram stated yester- music or any other art can be applied—its maxis-
day that a ministerial council had been held at tion with sacred history and religious sentiment
Now, Rowever, we have composers, hitherto com-
Munich, to consider whether the King of Bavaria
unknown, striving to burst into sudden
should join the illustrious party at Salzburg, and paratively
importance under cover of such associations, the
that the important question had been decided in , tendeng of which is to stifle the active criticism that
the negative. The inference deducible from this, would more freely applied toe secular production.
news is that the effect of an alliance between France The fact is that an oratorio or any work of that class
and Austria would be to make Bavaria and all South- I claiming to identify itself with the profoundest
, and hottest of all sentiments, is one that should not
ern Germany cling loser to Prussia. The incident
is instructive for those who attach any credence to be undertaken by any but a proved and acknowledged master. It is impossible, therefore to avoid
the pompons, mysterious, and anonymous essay1 the conclusion that, in the present instance, Mr.
which the /Mbats published a few days ago as from Goldsahmidt's ambition is far in advance of hie
" its correspondents," for the purpose of proving I power. This gentleman, apart from his having
me the husband of the great singer, Jenny
that Southern Germany was weary of Prussian
Lind, Is somewhat favourably known as a clever
domination, and longing for an entente cordiale be-
pianist, and as the composer of some studies for his
tween France and Austria as a means of shaking instrument and other pieces of chamber music ;
it off. but his present work appears to evidence an inc e-
' pacity for composition of the highest order. The
compiler of the text (Mr. George Grove), after a
somewhat diffuse recapitulation of the well-known
scripture episode of the story of Ruth, says :
In the selection of the words, the narrative of the Bible
has been followed implicitly, with such omissions as
seemed idlowable to bring the story into a convenient com-
pass, and to fit it for the requirements of musical compo-
sition. The only liberty taken has been the slight change
is tease or person necessary to put the account of Ruth's
visit to the threshing floor into her own mouth, instead of
Mot of the author or the book—a change jusified by the
leered story itself 114—and the occasional introduction
of a verse from other portions of the Bible to point the
illusions of the narrative, or strengthen the action. In one
ingrain only have words been drawn from any other source;
namely, the Chorale which forms part of the scene between
Boas sod the reapers, which is a verse from the old German
ity "0 dais lob tansend Emmen hatte." In the pas-
has the Psalms, the Prayer-book
sad Bible versions have been used indiscriminately.
The Chorale is set to its own proper tune. The prominent
I melody in the later numbers is an ancient Jewish tune as
given in the Ancient Melodies of the Liturgy of the
Spanish and Portuguese Jews, by the Rev. Mr. De Sole
and Mr. Aguilar.
The text thus thrown together in the form of
choruses, solos, duets, and other concerted pieces
offers several opportunities for good musical effects,
although overburthened with narrative recitative,
which, however ably it might be treated by the
composer, could scarcely fail to become tedious.
The characters introduced are Ruth (Madame Lind-
Goldachmidt), Naomi (Madame Patey-Whytock),
Boaz (Mr. Bentley), with a tenor part for Mr.
Montem Smith, to which are assigned various con-
necting recitatives, and an air. Ruth, according
to a convenient custom with recent composers, has
no overture offering a well-developed instrumental
prelude, preparing the mind of the hearer tor the
work which is to follow. A few notes of the oboe,
followed by some agitatopassagesfortheviolins, lead
to a long and dreary narration in recitative form,
which, well as it was sung by Mr. Montem Smith,
was oppressive from its monotony, unrelieved by
any contrast of orchestral accompaniment. A few
detached chords introduce the first chorus, " Sing
unto the Lord," which, after a rather bold com-
mencement, runs into a reflection of the style of
the cathedral anthem of the most ordinary calibre,
with a few snatches of phrases borrowed from
Mendelssohn, some points of imitation towards the
close standing in agreeable relief to the interme-
diate prolonged vagueness and dulness. The duet
which follows, for Ruth and Naomi, is rather a
series of indefinite recitative passages than a regu-
larly constructed movement such as is implied by its
title. The air for Mr. Montem Smith, " Many
daughters," has no single phrase of salient me-
lody. In the following chorus, " The eyes of the
Lord," occurs a movement intended for a fugue on
the words "Unto the godly," the subject of which is as
commonplace as could well be ; and it is treated
in a like style, ending with a confused attempt at
a grand climax. The next scene "At Bethlehem,"
commences with a recitative, leading to a chorus
and solo for Naomi, in which is an effort at dra-
matic contrast very imperfectly realised. The
recitative for Ruth and Naomi, "Let me now go,"
produced no effect, notwithstanding its excellent
delivery by Mesdames Lind-Goldachmidt and
Patey-Whytock, and the contrast produced by the
few accompanying passages for violin solo, charm-
ingly played by Mr. Henry Blagrove. The trio
" The Lord is thy keeper," well sung by the solo
soprano, contralto, and tenor sounded agreeably
from the contrast of its smooth, but mild, melody
with the gloom of the previous pieces. The next
scene, "In the Harvest-field,' begins with a
symphony of somewhat flippant character, in six-
eight time, standing in violent contrast with
the opening vocal phrase for Boaz, on a monotone.
The chorus of reapers aims at a picturesqueness of
effect by the plentiful use of the drums, and is
wrought up to a close in which Mendelasohn's final
cadences are made free use of. The chorale, " 0
all things " (a Lutheran tune), referred to in the
introductory note, has an impressive effect, as such
plain and religious choral harmony always has,
even when occurring in such great works as the
motets of Binh or the oratorios of Mendelssohn.
The duet, " The Lord recompense thy work," for
Ruth and Boaz, contains some smooth cantabile
phrases for the two voices, and being exquisitely
sung by Madame Lind-Goldachmidt and Mr.
Santley, it stood in agreeable contrast to
the previous recitative passages for the
same characters. This movement ended the
first part, the chorus which should have
closed it, " How excellent is thy loving kindness"
having been omitted in accordance with a printed ,
notice to that effect ; which, however, assigned no
reason for the omission. The second part, "In
the house of Naomi" is again overburthened with
dreary recitative, in many cases coupled with some
very crude accompanying orchestral writing. The I
duet for Ruth and Naomi, "They that sow in
mars," is chiefly remarkable for the vulgarity of
its motive. The chorus, " Thou shalt eat, occur-

M. Narcissi) Michelet, uncle of the celebrated
author of " L'Oiseau" and `• L'lnsecte," died lately
at Vcecceil (Seine Inferieure), at the age of 90.
Ho was a working printer, and the senior of the
fraternity in France. In obedience to his express
desire his funeral took place without catholic rites,
The mayor of his commune superintended the
" civil" interment.
The Fontainebleau murderess, Madame Frigard,
has confessed her crime. Sho declined to appeal'
to the Court of Caseation, and when the time for
appealing was out she said she had a conununica-
ties to make to the Melnik procureur-imperial.
This functionary went to see her in prison. She
then told him that the jury who supposed that she
had strangled Madame Mertens had been misled
by the medical men. She had exercised no Ares-
' sure whatever either on her neck or chest. The
prisoner's face then assumed a sardonic expression
which was frequently observed during the trial,
and she said, " What you do not know, and what
the doctors could not find out, is that I poisoned
Madame Mertens with prussic acid." It is
by no means certain that this statement is
true. The annals of crime show that mur-
derers frequently confess the main fact, and
tell lies, the motive of which is difficult
to discover, as to details. But a fact, men-
tioned by the Droit, and which was forgotten, is
that a small empty phial was found in the forest
near the corpse. A chemist at Fontainebleau
examined it and said it had not contained poison,
and therefore no mention was made of it at the
trial. The smell of prussic acid would have gone
off at the time when Madame Mertens' body was
discovered, but the science of the Fontainebleau
doctors must be greatly at fault if they mistook
the symptoms of death by this poison for those of
strangulation.
At the Bourse very little business was done ;
quotations have scarcely varied. Rente fell bc.
for cash and rose bc. for account.

THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON AT AVORBURG.—The
Gazette of Augsburg contains the following account of the
visit of the Emperor Napoleon to the gymnasium of Sainte
Anne in that town :—" The Emperor was received at the
entrance by the director of the establishment, W. Metayer,
with whom he cordially shook hands, informing him at the
same time, in the German language, that he had long
wished to revisit, with the Empress, the scene of his early
scholastic studies. A tablet of honour was then presented,
with a Latin inscription commemorating the fact that it
was at this establishment his Majesty was educated, and
the tablet was dedicated to him by the College of SL
Anne. On inspecting the building he pointed out the
rooms in which he had carried on his studies, and the seats
he had occupied when a pupil in the school. He also,
with evident amusement, drew the attention of those
around to the name of 'Louis Napoleon,' which he had
himself carved on a window sill, and which is still very ,
legible. The Empress took much pleasure in showing this
inscription to her suite. The imperial party felt much
emotion on taking their leave of an establishment so dtez
to their recollection."

TEE MELTING AT SALZBITRO.—The Vienna
Debate says :—" A journal of this city pretends that the
interview at Salzburg is the first step towards a quintuple
alliance between Austria, France, England, Italy, and
Turkey, intended to oppose that of Present and Russia.
Such an idea could only occur to thine who will not take
the trouble to consider the importance and the scope of
the meeting of the two monarchs. To consider that it
must end inevitably in an Austro-French alliance is to
much misconceive the character of the interview. The in-
tentions of the two sovereigns who at this moment are
shaking hands at Salzburg cannot tend to such an alliance,
for it is not at all justified by the situation. At this in-
stant Europe is not agitated by any question which re-
quires measures or dispositions of importance, and in
such circumstances the conclusion of an alliance
could only provoke, on the part of him against
whom it might seem to be directed, distrust of a na-
ture to compromise the peace which nothing menaces. The
Russo-Prussian alliance is always put forward. Does it
really exist, or even is it a fact the conclusion of which
may be imminent ? Conjectures alone and the ingenious
combination of certain journals have !succeeded in making
that alliance the subject of discussion without at all
troubling themselves on the question of authenticity; they
forget strangely that a statesman like Count de Bismarck
could not decide lightly or without powerful reasons on
concluding an alliance the consequences of which would
be incalculable. Count de Bismarck, who certainly forms
no illusion as to the still very feeble organisation of the
Confederation of North Germany, will take good care not
to risk • political step which would resemble • provoca-
tion, and which would endanger something more than
the reputation of the Prime Minister of Prussia. This
is, in fact, what seems to be felt; and lately the
semi-official Prussian Journals are striving to efface the
idea of a Russo-Prolamin alliance,"

CANADIAN MILITARY REP7.4.-Sir John Michel
ham resigned the command of the army in Caned►, and it
is said in military circles that the position has been offered
to General Sir Fenwick Williams.—Canadian News, An.,
gnat 22.