Star.
London, England, 1830-12-23 00:00:00

THE SINGERS OF THE ALP&

We know of no treat offered to the public. which unite, so much of
what gives general delight, and rational interest, than the introduction in
propria persona of foreign minstrels, for the gratification of a London
audience. We have long been of opinion that national music—
or in other words, music which has a marked distinctive cha.
racter and expression —is that music which affords the most
pleasure, to all who are trusting to untaught ears, and intuitive sen-
sations, as the media of musical gratification. In such exhibition,
as that which we are now about to mention, there are two
sources of pleasure united. An audience of literary intelligence...
and eon an audience now be assembled without that quality P—is
intellectually gratified, at seeing before them the representatives of
races of whom they have read with interest, in the pages of the his-
torian and traveller 1 and their ears are gratified, at once by novelty
and beauty.
We have said thus much, reasoning upon our own gratification I
yesterday afternoon, when attending a rehearsal at Willis's Rooms, of
the four very remarkable men, who are about to be intmdueed to the
public. They are denominated " Singers of the Alps ;" but are more
particularly mentioned in the bills, as Messrs. FISCHER, HSCHWEIT-
gra, LAMPER, and DAM:TRITER, from Styria, in the archdukedom of
Johann of Austria. The most prominent of the four, are Meagre.
Scnwerrxxa and FISCHER t and we must confess ourselves asto- I
Dished by their powers, not only of voice, but of musical expression.
They poems the capability of managing, with the most perfect mastery,
an extent of fo'setto, to us inexplicable, as we never heard any thing
parrallel from the human organs. The tones, instead of having the re-
straint and teldeney to harshness, which too much distinguish falsetto
execution, have the dulcet liquidity of the nightingale, with the occa-
sional volume and strength of the bugle. Along, too, with this ex-
tent:in the character of their tones, there is a perfectly miraculous, or
at least inexplicable command of execution. We even go mu far as to
suspect, the physiological student could alone explain the astonish.
ment produced. The other two performers, Maui. Lauren
and Dasvlollll. from not having exhibited their talents
singly cannot be so accurately appreciated • but we believe they
are remarkable in possessing similar powers. Their accompaniments are
native: two play guitars. and two instruments similar in appearance to the
old dulcimer, called a sitter. In addition to the vocal performance
we were amused by Styrian walrus, played on the Jew's
harp by Mr. Danottaxn ; and of musical variations, whistled
by Mr. FI'CHx.. These were of themselves very interesting ; but
the concluding part of the entertainment—" The Echo of the Nowa-
lain"— a species of duets, in which the powers of the voice, in imi.
tating the effect of distance, as in the phenomenon of echo, afforded
pleasure which coon only be expressed by the word enchanting--a word
we almost hesitate to use in sober prose ; but here most appropriate,
to express the effect. We have no doubt, the " Singers of the Alps"
will receive the encouragement they so richly merit.