The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-01 00:00:00

MUSIC:w

A GRAND FANTASIA FOR THE PIANO-
FORTE. in which are introduced two new Waltzes,
and a Grand March. By I. Cohan.
Although Beethoven had but one professional pupil,
Ferdinand Rees, we have, in this extraordinary work,
a proof that the great master's principle of composing,
according to his own inspiration, without regard to the
difficulty, or, if it should be, impossibility, which others
might find in the execution of his work, is preserved in
the school, by his favourite Ferdinand's pet pupil, Isaac
Cohan. The spirit of genius pervades this Fantasia,
but its popularity cannot fail to be a long while retarded
by the unparalleled difficulty of the fingering. It is
written in the key of 1). But the third strain of each
V% aim, and some of the variations, are in B flat ; one
strain of the variations in G flat, and another
part in C. The Grand March—in itself a noble
piece—is partly in D, partly in B flat, and partly
in F. The Introduction (Allegretto) in D, con-
taining a variation on the first waltz, is not
so difficult as the waltz itself, in which the rapid changes
of octave in the first strain, render the piece exceedingly
difficult. The enormous practice that 'would be neces-
sary to any person of moderate skill, in order to be per-
fect in the performance of this srraltz, would almost pro-
hibit one from attempting it, Although the first strain
is the most difficult part of the waltz, the remaining part
is of no ordinary intricrcy. The second waltz is more
simple, practicable, and intelligible, and is therefore more
satisfactory, not only to the player, but to the hearer.
This is followed by a startling example of the skill of
the composer ; containing the first waltz in the left, and
the second in the right hand. Widely different as the
waltzes are, the effect produced by the two together
is very pleasing, and they are fitted to one another with
the greatest nicety. It would appear almost incredible,
but it is nevertheless a fact, that this part of the piece
is so arranged as to be less difficult than the first waltz
as arranged separately. It is followed by a series of
brilliant variations, which, however, are almost ha
practicable to any but professional musicians. Me
" Grand March," which concludes the piece, is ver)
brilliant and very lengthy ; it surpasses all the rest of the
fantasia in difficulty, and would require something like
legerdemain from the performer. On the whole, the
work must be regarded as one of the " curiosities of
music," and compels one to desire that, whilst the
author preserves the excellencies of his school, he would
indulge less in contempt of mechanical facility.

PORT GLASGOW.—FATAL ACCIDENT.—Last week an
accident of a very melancholy nature occurred here, by
which Captain Duncan Ritchie, agent for the old Clyde
Shipping Company, was deprived of life. It seems that,
while some workmen were discharging cotton from a vessel
in the harbour, he put his hand to the bales to facilitate their
ascent from the hold, and just at that moment the rope gave
way, and he was precipitated along with the cotton down
the hatchway. When taken up, life was found to be extinct.
He has left a widow and family to lament their premature
bereavement —Glasgow Chronic.'e.
A machine for dressing flax has been invented by
a M. Mertens, of Gheel (Belgium), which does the work of
thirty men at one-tenth the expense of the old method. This
machine is expected to have ranch influence ola the CtiltivS.
IA EU 41311414