The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-28 00:00:00

HER 3IAJESTY'S THEATRE.
The histery o'' Felicien David is a perfect rom
eance.
Born in a French provincia :town, he in veryearly
life exhibited symptoms of musical genius, and be-
came a chorister. Removing to Paris, he made music
hie profession, but cutm!d barely earn a. livelihood by
drudging in the lowest rants of the mtisical world. Of
an enthusiastic temperament, he joined the St. Simon-
ma,ns, became the intimate friend and associate of Pere
It.nfantin, and with him undertook a journey to Egypt
forfthein,
the purpose of endeavouring to convert the Ma-
hommumlan nations or Africa to the care an of
was
St
imimeumi. While he was In Egypt, a car
About to set off fur Mec-a; David joined it, and pers
formed the pilgrimnlge across the desert to the Holy
City. While traversing the vast wilderness, his min
of the
became thoroughly imbued with the spirite
place, and in the desert he composed that sublime
symphony and ode which has secured to him
in vain
his
name and his fame. Returning to Paris, David
endeavoured to get an orchestra to undertake the per-
formance of his symphony. It was the work of an
unknown man, and, therefore, rejected. At length,a
one night in last December, M. Leon Pillet, as
last desperate attempt to retrieve the fortunes of the
Academie Royal de Musique, consented to produce
David's symnphony. It was a novm lty, and if it at-
tracted, it would be sure to pay—if it failed, the ex-
pense of getting it up would not be much.
That morning Felicien David took the
w score of
his symphony to the music publisher, ho
refused himn two hundred francs for the copyright.
It was produced—it succeeded, and the next morning
Felicien David became amous. The musigivecal pub2oo
•
lisher, who the day befofre had refused to
francs for the copyright, offered .50,000 and was
refused. The poor, unknown, friendless musician,
became the patronised, the fled, the great
of man
and Filicien David has become the honour is
of the musical world.
country, the rile
On reading the notices given by the French
critics of this work, we were inclined to make
vast allowances for exaggeration. It was produced
at this th2atre last night, and, we are bound to con-
fess that, in this instance at least, the French have
been guilty of no hyperbolical exaggerations. It is
one of the most sublime compositions that was ever
created by human geni►us. Since the days of Ilandel
there has been nothing like it for sublimity, for crea-
tive power, for descriptive beauty, for depth of thought.
It is the work of a genius, and of a genius of the
highest order—of a genius which has been tutored in
the school of adversity, and has not been permitted
to indulge in vagaries, but be compelled to learn—
and learn thoroughly—the rules of art. Not only
does David possess a creative genius of the very
highest order, bat he is also the most accomplished
musician of his day. His instrumentation throthugough
hout
is perfect, and he plays upon the orchestra as
it were one vast instrument, which he had com-
pletely under his command. But thise
perfec-
tion of musical knowledge is a
mer mi
advantage which he possesses in
common
with scores of other equally accomplished musicians
ve;
but, in point of originality, of genius, of creati
power, Felicien David stands alone. and Halike Byron,
ndel is the
Milton, David is the Byron of music,►
,
it is from the East that he le.s drawn his inspiration.
The ode opens with two strophes, which are de-
claimed with an orchestral accompaniment. This
accompaniment at once arrests the attention for its
originality and its descriptive power. Newer was the
idea of vastness and solitude more magnificentthely con
ode.
-
veyed than it is by this opening passage of
Then follows the grand chorus—the song s
fahem
st
De-
sert, the glorification of Allah i—the
sublime composition that ever was heard. The idea
itself is sublimity. The Desert itself, image of the
eternity-and of the immensity of its Creator,
bursts
lot th into glorification of the Deity. ItHebrew is more
pro -
lik
an inspired composition of one of the e
phets of old, than any efforts of any merely human
creature. This is followed by a description of the
appearance of a caravan in the distance ; and a mag-
nificent Ague introduces the chorus of the caravan, a
b ,autifully
thecaexpressiv composition. Tblast—the calmhen comes the
Desert Tempest— wful simeom's
returns—the caravan resumes its march. The chorus
of the caravan in its march, which concludes the first
part of the symphony, is beautifully expressive. The
sound is an echo to the sense throughout. The second
parts opens with a hymn to th
and then follows
e eveni ing star, w
was beautifully given by D 1 nisei
a magnificent chorus, the Liberty of the Desert.
Then comes "La Reverie du Soir," perhaps
the most exquisite morceau in the symphony.
Calm, smooth, and touching, of an almost voluptuous
character, the music of this exquisite air admirably
expresses the luxary of night in the warm and sunny
climes of the south. It was deliciously sung by
Moriani, and rapturously encored. This concluded
time second part. The third part opens with a de-
scription of sunrise—the appearance of the sun in the
horizon, his gradual increase of splendour, until at
length he bursts forth and awakes the world,
was admirably expressed by a crescendo
creas movement
of very original character, gradually increasing in
inten:ity. This movement was applauded enthusias-
tically, and encored. The caravan resumes its march,
and gradually disappears in the distance. This was
also beautifully expressed, and the symphony closes
with a repetition of the song of the Desert, in praise
of Allah I We have thus given a slight sketch of
this most wonderful coniposition. It is the work of
a genius sublime, magnificent, and tender.
It is impossible to hear it without being
struck , with awe and admiration ; but in order tho-
roughly to appreciate its beauties—in order properly
to understand the vastness of the genius of the mighty
master who has produced it, the Desert should be
heard, not twice, but a dozen times. It was preceded
by a fragment of a symphony in E flat—a Melodic
imitative a Grand Orchestre—a song, Ides Ifirondefies,
beautifully given by Moriani, and encored—a Melodie
Orientale h Grand Orchestre—a very quaint song,
be Chibouque, sung with great effect by Corelli—
fragment from " Les Quatre Saisons," entitled,
Soirée du Printemps. All these are composed by
Felicien David. They are good, but there is nothing
particularly striking about them—nothing but what
a merelelY talented musician might have produced.
But the Desert is original—is a creationthe
earth holds not the man who could have created such
a composition, except Felicien David. The house
was very well attended, and a more attentive audience
we never saw assembled m ithin the walls of her
Maje6ty's Theatre. Every inusicisn ►of eminence in
town was present, and the attendance of the dilettanti
was excessively numerous.

----r-----
TIII3 WILL OF SIR THOMAS
FOWELL BUXTON, BART.
Probate of the will of Sir Thomas Fowell :Buxton,
late of Northrepre in the county of Norfolk, Bart., and
of the firm of Truman, Ilanbury, Buxton, and Co.,
brewers, 13rickelane, Spitaltields, in the county of Mid-
dlesex, was granted on the 25th d
ins Thomas tant to Sir Euwedii
-
ward North Buxton, Bart.,
an
Buxton, Esq , the sons, two of the executors,
a power
in
being reserved to Dae Hannah Buxton,
son-i widown-1 , the re-
the
lict, and Andrew Johnston, Esq., the aw,
other
under'execurs, to prove hereafter. The personal estate
sworn '250,0001 The nil' is of great length, ard
dated 17th of October, 1814; witnessed by John Gurney
Hoare, of Lomberd street, and Esther Neave Lincoln,
of Northrei ps hall. Sir Thomas died on the 19th Fe
bruary last. Ile leaves his manuscripts and papers to
his son Edward and daughter Priscilla, either to publish
or destroy, or to be kept by his survivor, in compliance
with tho wishes of his deceased sister Sarah Buxton,
from whom he has recently derited an addition
to his property. Leaves to his sou Edwanl his
guns and sporting implements, and the selectioorsnes, and
of two
horses. Bequeaths to his wife the carriages, h
the whole of ton'oritr, and directs 1,000/. to be paid
to her within month, and 3,0001 at the end of twelve
months. The establishments to be kept up for six
months after his decease. Bequeaths to his daughter
Priscilla Johnson a legacy of 2,0001, and a further sum
of 5,000/ from his share in the brewery ; and to his
daughter, Itiehentla Buxton, the sum of 9,000/4 leaves
one-third of his share in the brewery to his wife for her
life ; appoints his son Charles to susceed to one-
third of his share in the brewery, and leaves certain
other portions to his family; the remainder of his share
and interest in the brewery he leaves to his son and
partner, Edward ; leaves the whole of his plate to his
wife for her life, and, at her decease, to be distributed as
follows:—the plate presented to him by his late consti-
tuents at Weymouth, and by his brothers, sisters,nephews,
ieces, and all other relations, ives to his son Edward;
the plate presented to himns,
by the young people at Wey-
mouth, he gives to his soo in-law, Andrew Johnston ;
the piste presented to him from the Directors and
members of tho Alliance Assurance Company, he
gives to iris sons, Thomas Fowell, and Charles.
Other specific articles of plate he leaves to his daughters.
Ile gives his college prize books to his son Dixard and
his children. Devises his freehold and leasehold estates
at Bunton and Fellbrigg, in the county of Norfolk, to
Lis son Edward North Buxton. Devises his` reehold,
cop) hohi, and leasehold estates in Trimitigo, Side-
strand, Fouthrepps, Girningliam, and in all otr towns,
parishes, or places, in or near the county of Norfolk,
to hisrs,
sons 'T the Food! Buxton, and Charles Bux-
ton. Diverts the Belltield estate to be sold, awl with
the share in the prirtnership of the brewery art
the re-
sidue of his personal estate, to be held ill trust, to pay
thereout 3,000/. a year to his wife for her life. Appoints
his son, now Sir Edward North I3uxton, his residuary
---.....•••••••••••

legatee.
NEW PIER, GnAvEsEND.—This work is now
finished; and was on Monday mottling throw n open to
the public. The engineer is Mr. Redman.
On Tuesday night, be:ween eleven and twelve
o'clock, some alarm was occasioned at liingstom-bottow
by horse and gig coming down to the Rubin Hood gate
without any
tel The horse was secured, and some
ram immediately proceeded up the road towards London
in search of tho party or parties who were in the vehicle.
About half a mile }'dim the gate two gentlemen were
found lying iu the road in an insensible state, and very
much cut and bruised. '1 hey were immediattly con
veyed to the Rubin
in public-Iwufe and a medical
gentleman was called in, who in a short tine restored
the gentlemen to a state of consciousness. One of them
wctis recognised as a medical practitioner of Clapham.