Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-02-21
TIE MELODY or TURE.

RUSSELL, the celebrated vocalist, has
recently been assailcd by the critics as a
plagiarist. These attacks have brought
him out in the Boston papers, and from a
late communication in the Atlas we copy
tho following of account his naturalization.
am young mani came from my
native land with bosom glowing with
admiration for the glorious country that
| have chosen for my home, and | have
strlvcn hard to build myself such a repu-
tation that the citizens of the land of my
adoption would not be ashamed to own
me as a brother worthy to share their dcs-
tiny. My efforts have not been unsllc-
ccsstnl. lappcal to the popularity of my
such of pieces as have for three years with
stood all criticism, and tie effects of repe-
ttion so frequent that it would have wea-
ried the ear of every thing that did not
possess sterling merit, My professional
brethren have undertaken to sing my
compositons--hc same that have drawn
thousands nightly to my own concerts
without success. ! m0y be in error, but
it seems to me that 'humbue' could not
50 command the public sympathy and it
also appears 10 me to be mos. conclusive
that if the music of my pieces had been
stolen, the Ori9iaGi sources Of it would
long ere now have been discovered and
made public.
When first came to this country To-
Gated myself in the beautiful city of Ro-
chester, in New ork. My success was
not commensurate with my expectations,
until the occurrence Of fortunate Incl
dent, which determined my fortune, and
gave rise to my peculiar style Of singing
and of composition. ! was one evening
a guest at party which was graccd by
the presence of the great Western states
man and orator, Henry CLAY. The
first tones of his voice attracted my attcn-
ton, and listened to him, whenever |
could, without an appearance of intru-
sivencss,u until the breaking up oftho party.
His discourse was most eloquent music,
and his voice sonorouS, majestic, and full
of melody. went to my home, and rcti-
red to rest. Il was u stormy night, in the
winter time, and the sound of the keen
north wind came to my car mingled with
the recollection of tic rich tones of the
great orator. could not slccp-I could
not rest--and rccollccting that | had in
my possession a beautiful poem descrIp-
tive of such warfare Of the elements as
was then raging, arose and endeavored
to wed it to a mcoC y which should be true
to nature, and admit of that clearncss and
distnctncss, which had been suggested to
me as 50 necessary to successful musical
execution, by the conversation of Mr..
Clay. Before the dawn Of day had
completed the music to 'IHc Wind OF
the Winter NigAt,' which was the basis
of my american reputation. lis style, |
think was then pccular--if it was one of
nature, in the mood in which she then APP
peared to mc--ifitwas suggested by ought
| had heard, it was what have men,
toned above, the eloquent and melodlous
voice of the Scnagor. The great pccu-
larty of my singing, it will be conceded,
is its distmctness, and for this style and
popularity, if ! may so term it, | am
solely indebted to the great Kcntuckian.
have composed many songs since
thcn,which | have sung with distinguished
success in most of the great cities of
America. am not ungratciul for the
favor with whichth they have been received,
and trust it vii! be deemed pardona-
bic vanity, if | attribute their success ra-
thcr to their merits, than to the ignorance
and mcapacity to appreciate, of the Ame-
rican people.