The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-08-15 00:00:00

SAIJERI, THE COMPOSER.

Antonio Salieri was born at Legnano, in the Venetian
states,in 1730. At the age of eleven years he began to takeles-
sons on the harpsichord, and his passion for music became
so strong, that, at the death of his father, a distinguished
merchant, whose loss he had to deplore when he was only
fifteen years of age, lie devoted himself entirely to this art.
The protection of Mozenigo, a patrician of Venice, induced
him to settle for a time in that city, where lie continued
his studies,-but afterwards completed them at Naples. jai,
first master was Giovanni Pescetti, a professor of high re.
pure, and a pupil of Lotti. Death having deprived him of
this instructor, he placed himself, for a short time, under
the care of Pietro Passini. At this period the famous Leo.
pold Gassmanu arrived at Venice, and the young Saber',
eager to profit by such a circumstance, immediately offred
, himself, and was accepted as his pupil, both in the art of
singing and for the harpsichord. The affection which he
conceived for this masterdetermined him, with his patron',
consent, to accompany Gassman') to Vicnns, in order that
he might there continue his studies with him in counter-
point. lie arrived at the capital of the Austrian empire
in 1766, where he remained the following eight years, and
lost no opportunity of benefiting by his master's advice.
Ilis gratitude and attachment to Gassman') were rewarded
at the decease of the latter, by the appointment of maitre
de chapelle to the Imperial Court, and to the theatre. It
was then he attracted the notice of the renowned Gluck,
who now beginning to feel the infirmities of age, and dis-
cerning the great abilities of Salieri, intrusted him with the
charge of composing " Les Milani's," which the former
had engaged to produce for the Academie Royale dr Mk.
siva., at Paris. He executed this arduous task according
to the plan which this great and experienced musican hail
ske•ched out, and under his immediate superintendence.
The result was so highly satisfactory to Gluck, as to draw
from him a declaration, that no one hail ever before so
thoroughly entered into the peculiarities of his style, which
not even the Germans themselves had been able to imitate.
However, it was believed at Paris, that Salieri was only
really entitled to the merit of having composed the third
act of the opera.
Salieri went to Paris in 1784 with his work, which wu
performed before the Royal family frequently, and each
time with increased effect. Even the Queen herself
deigned to take a part in it. At length it was brought out
at the grand theatre of the French capital. The critics
discovered in some of its parts, principally in the recitatives,
a very peculiar style, and all agreed that it displayed nice
extraordinary talent.
It was not till after the third representation that the
Chevalier Gluck, in an address to the Parisian public, an-
nounced Salieri as the sole composer of " Les Danaides."
The managers of' the opera rewarded him with a present
of tel thousand francs, and afterwaids gave him an additi-
onal three thousand, to defray the expenses of his journey.
The Queen also very liberally rewarded his talents, and ha
sold his score to an engraver for two thousand francs. Be-
fore he quitted Paris, the administration of the theatre
engaged him to compose " Les Horaces et les Curium"
A short time after this he produced, for the theatre at
Vienna, the opera of " Axur Red d'Ormus, (or Terrare),'
for which the Emperor Joseph 11 made him a present of
two hundred ducats, to which lie added a pension of three
hundred ducat,— Shortly after this be married a young
lady with a considerable portion. From that time he con.
tribute(' largely to the various theatres of Europe, partial.
larly to that of his own country, for which he wrote many
operas, chiefly of the comic 'kind. He also produced a
multitude of detached airs, &c., both serious and comic.
Amongst his sacred works there is but one oratorio, " La
Passione." He, however, wrote several small pieces in the
church style. He composed many symphonies and sere-
nades for the orchestra, also some concertos for the piano-
forte and other instruments; but he did not set any great
value on these, as he had no strong motive for exerting his
talent, except in dramatic or vocal music. " Salieri," says
the Count Orloff, " united the melody of Italy with the
harmony of his adopted country, and made a most happy
use of both one and the other; exhibiting to the heirs of
his learning and his style, a wise moderation, which con-
fers honour on that, and imparts to this all its charm."
As the Opera of Tarrare is announced for representation
this evening, at the English Opera-house, and, we under-
stand, is to be brought forward with the whole vocal and
theatrical strength of the Company, and with a splendour
of costume and scenery hardly ever equallellos.abe 1.011-
don stage, our readers, we trust, will be gratified with the
foregoing account of its celebrated composer.

We are sorry to learn that the state of Roesini's health
gives his friends, at Paris, considerable uneasine
hoped, however, that the tranquillity and air of
try will render him convalescent. Ile is residing
the finest houses at Sablonville.

The Archbishop of York has been pleased
the Rev. Anthony Ward, of Methley Park, to
of Estrington in the East-Riding of the County
patron, the King.
The Reverend Charles Tripp, D.D. of Trinii
Cambridge, has been presenttd to the rectory
beare, Devon.

The altar at 'Westminster Abbey, which has
hand ever since the coronation, was opened ycsterd
We are sorry to announce the failure of the
mercial firm at Malinoe, in Sweden, that of Messrs.
hum and Co., for the heavy sum of 4'21,066 d,
—about 100,000/. sterling ; and what adds to
tune, the chief of the house (L. Kockhum) has,
parted this life. The heirs have declared there
more than 54,000 dollars banco, including bad
liquidate the concerns.
Tut BRADFORD MANLYACTUREIR ANL
Woalat Ex.—Matters in Bradford remain in states
the breach between the principal part of the masters
the men is as wide as ever. Upwards of thirty
ceased to run on Saturday, and they are now
Since our Inst, an offer to mediate the differences
the parties has been made on the part of thr
respectable Leeds Merchants, who were inclin,
upon themselves the office of arbitrators. The proposal
made on Saturday, first to the masters, and afterw
workmen. The men received it with cordialit
pressed their readiness to accept of the proposed
The masters took till Wednesday last to form .
cision, and at their meeting, on that day, they came
following resolution :
Itesolved—" That it is the opinion of this Meeting,
would, at present, be inexpeiient to endeavour to r,c 0 ntn
differences between the masters and servants by arbars...
much as no general prices could be laid down applicable
•CIA s (embed by each particular master; beside, a h th, thy
now given In Bradford and tne immediate neighb,nrhood r
fissed/y as high as to some sorts of work, and higher as
sorts, than the wages given elsewhere."—Lerds Mervin-p.
'IRE HARVEST IN IRELAND.—The reaping
oats, and barley has commenced very rtp-dly,
rally in the neighbouring counties; and, if we are
by the samples produced at our markets, no doui
ever can be any longer entertained of a scarcity
crops in our immediate neighbourhood have proved
dant and sound; and as to the potatoes, the milt
which a failure should be most regretted in thi
the late rains have so improved them, that there
longer a doubt entertained of an abundant suppl'
Ohserrer.

Some more lead mining speculations, in the
hood of Mold, have again turned out very advat
--Chester Chronic(e.
DON NYB ROOK FAIR.—The Authorities, we ut
mean to pro bilk (as last year) the erection of ten'
or stands at Donnybrook Fair on Walking Sun'
called, and to limit the existence of this atm
fun and foil y strictly within Monday morning,
instant, and Saturday night, the 3d of Septetni
inerstown Fair, in like manner, will not be allows
mence before the *id instant., nor last longer
47th instant.— Dublin Evening Post.
Saturday night's Gassetle contains his Maleat
gracious pardon to any person cr persons who'
concerned in the illegal proceedings at Sunderlar
those who have committed or offered actual viols
shall give such full information against others
been also concerned in them as shall lead to thi
hension and conviction; and the reward of 1001.
person convicted.
On Tuesday last, the landlord of the Chequer
Water Lane, Leeds, Wilt fined in the penalty of
costs, for having deleterious drugs in his possessioi
Mayor said, that in order to mark his arum of
mity of the offence, he should enforce the pent
full, extent, both now and on all future occasion

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to of Roesini's health a pro
ale uneasiness. It I: id
and air of the sous- SU7
e
is residing in one
j
INels4
$o
n pleased to institutv sod I
Park, to the vicarage
he County of Yorli; T
Ober
'. of Trinity College, num
he rectory of Kenna. bush
great
which has been in tiabl
tened yesterday. meat
ire of the first tom. cant
hat of Messrs. Kock- whirl
24,066 dollars banes ttl.' mi
: adds to the miator' atten4
lckhum) has just de- in au
Mares! there is not ',mit
tluding bad debts, w With
who J
t Ina;, AND TRES must
rain in states quo, and Th,
t of the masters and the sr
of thirty of the mills for ft
y are now at a stand. stance
e differences between it will
part of three highly their 1
rere inclined to take 1 li,
ra. The proposal war for ti
and afterwards to the and of
h cordiality, and et• bettini
proposed mediation. it will
I to form their de- favour
ay, they came to the lb to a
s to 1
this Meeting, that it li V w
our w r.c 0 nmocistettu cr• I
run by art:mm.l4in, law le to I
down applicable to the 718 to
esidei a h eh, the Ingo The
neighb ivrbood are tVO• &turd
and higher u to othe *on, tl
etch Mercury. snorkel
e reaping of wheel, :- . In o
r ritp'dly, but gene- *on th
d, it' we are to judge amour
kets, no doubt brim, A H
of a scarcity. The sitd up
l have proved *bun-
,„horlaest I
Des, the only crop in ztr. lA,
stted in this counts, Mr. LA,
that there can here Air. Clit
taut supply.—Dable hr. H,
Mansi
marl pi,
s, in the neighbor ,ees. th
very advantageoal. ain ye ,
ities, we unilcrsird, • The
etion of tents, booN A gain'
king Sunday, as as, ai„„' and
r. wit
this annual Kowa Air. cm,
y morning. the evi at,. Barr
of September. y'd's Ti d
it be allowed to eciris'hall nt?
lb* i sett
last longer than thee Nx A
ag,ill Po
his Majesty's to N 4 Yro 7:
rsons who liars 00 And gel
Sunderland (estvfl Oh. ex
mile an
ictual rioltnee), 'di° ?drs Lan)
host others who hoe !ie,„,l sew
lead to t I:, it apptt- '": ~...bi,
rd of 'Loa for to! Ni."i. litior
Three s:4
the Chequer Inn, ''', ntrbee,,,,
penally of 1001: and airey. Ha
his possession. M
hie sense of the era• fAiliEford
ce the penalty tom. ,7tbd
ire ocousions.—Lc at
tthel
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