The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-21 00:00:00

M USIC.

Handers Oratorio " .Teptha." Handel's Oratorio
" Deborah." Novello's editions.
The indefatigable Mr. Novello has added two
more oratorios to his series. By these editions, in
vocal, score, with a separate accompaniment for the ,
organ or pianoforte, simply arranged, the greatest
works of the greatest masters are placed within the
means and the abilities of the lovers of music, to
whom otherwise they might be unattainable.
Cherubini's "Treatise on Counterpoint and Fugue"
has appeared in Novello's " Library for the diffu-
sion of Musical Knowledge." It has-been trans-
lated from the original French by Mrs. Cowden
Clarke—the musical portion having been super-
vised by Mr. Pittman, the organist of Lincoln's-
inn. A memoir of the author is prefixed. A
" Treatise on Choir and Chorus Singing," by
F. J. Fetis, the Chapelmaster to the King of the
Belgians, has been translated by the Rev. T.
Hein-lore, and affords much valuable information
on the arrancrements and formation of choruses,
the classification of voices, &c. The fifteenth of
the series of Novello's edition of " Mozart's
Masses" presents us with the celebrated Requiem,
always doubly interesting from the romance at-
tending its composition. It is arranged on the
same plan as the Oratorios. Novello's " Analysis
of Vocal Rudiments" is a little work in the favourite
form of question and answer. It has the following
appropriate quotation from Shakspere for a motto
" I must begin with rudiments of art
To teach you gamut in a briefer sort,
More pleasant, pithy, and effectual,
Than hath been taught by any of my trade :
And there it is in writing fairly drawn."
It seems a pity, however, to have published this
useful and instructive little catechism in the style
of the perplexing old-fashioned S. All lovers
of music (and let us hope they are many) have
cause to be grateful to Mr. Novello for his efforts
to increase the circulation of the works of the
first masters of the divine art, as well as for
the means he affords of obtaining works of musical
instruction at a low price. Should his endeavours
meet with the encouragement they deserve, they
will do much to elevate and improve the taste of
the student, and to remove from us the undeserved
stigma of not being "a musical people."

Songs from a Work, entitled "An Evening with
Byron." Composed by George Linley. Camp-
bell and Ransford.
These songs offer peculiar attractions. The words
of Byron have always been favourite subjects, and
in the present instance they are very happily com-
bined with graceful and pathetic melodies. Among
those of a plaintive and melancholy character,
we may mention—" When we two parted,"
" Though the Day of my Destiny's over," and
" Farewell, if ever fondest Prayer." The words of
these are all well-known, and the music is very
well adapted to them, being expressively simple in
its character. "To Horse! to Horse !" is an effec-
tive and striking song, chiefly suited for a gentle-
man. Lady vocalists who are not desirous of quite
so much sentiment as the others we have cited,
cannot fail to be charmed with a song entitled
" Away, ye gay Landscapes," which consists of the
first and last verses of the spirited address to "Dark
Loch-na-gar." They are all within moderate com-
pass, and not sufficiently elaborate to deter any
from their study.