The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-04-06

i Henry Russell, the Vocalist.

| H. ~ Henry Russell, the Vocalist. nod 1s
Mr., Henry Russell was born in Kent, and is about
rs years Of age, His first musical instructor was the
celebrated King, whom he left at an early age for
Il ltaly}tO study under Rossini whose pupil he was
for three years. w hat progress he made under the
grand maestro may be Judged from the simple faGt.
that on his return to London, he was Immediately
appointed chorus master Of the Italian opera, which
post he filled ortwo years, when he again visited
Italy, andto beperect IN all styles, studied under
several masters, particularly General and Mayer,
beer During this visit he contended for the musi-
cal prize fottie best composition given the Con-
servatorio at Naplesin, He won the prize and was
presented with the gold modal b. the present king.
with tlatterlng speech suited TO the occaslon He
then returned "a England, married, and started Tor
Anerica in 1884. intending to settle down as far
| mer ia the back woods. Preyious to this ne had
composed the music for an 9psra called the BRIDES
| Band, which rehearsed and ready tor perform
ance. Phillips enacipg the Principal c6aracfer, when
the author Of II 1quarrsled with Arnold, and IN a
passion withdrew ilt from representations. yNlr n
vewtdid tie HArdhonicoa VIII Unqualified praise
Fromh 1885, MIR. he'd quiet life, till the
ruling passion was again 70 used into Wsop, and
stimulus 70 his genius by the success that tok
| lowed The exeftioh He was enc evening alta pays
ty where Henry CLAW, The orator and aesman, was
! one of the guests. The tones of MIR. Cay's voice
particularly took hisarrepton; they were sonorops,
majestic, and f,ilt ofmefVdy; his c6nvetsaton seem
ed eloQuen music. During tho whoiei evening Mr.
RS attention was misunderstanding 0ratprieal nasir
- H,9N
i rated wltits efftcts He retired 10 rest, but could
not sleep abe might was stormy the wind OF the
| winter night" came to him laden wnhllts own pecu-
liar musics but il sooa, the aemblc OF his magt
nation. was clothed With the melody and expressive
| ness of Harry CfAy's flch tones He rose from his
| bed and endeayored to throw of melody true to
nature, clear and distinct like the voice Of the sora-
tor: Before morning he had composed the song M
"Wnd OF the Winters Night, whence CONTEST
| thon2's That song was, the commencement OF his
American fame, and Of, bipecular styloof slneng,i
Ixsf. lIh .attn fnalt and fhno ffnr
that he composed many other songs, and most Sue
cessut orsoro, called the Skepticn M person that
has one parpGsoi musical taste can deny that, IN
general, the ACCOMPANYING 10 his songs some,
| Of The most Beautiful and sparkling .muslca! NOR
Gears they ever listened TO, for While his lips are
alhins forth tonesfn Of all ilnaghabiei Beauty
times whole line without the change of a single
noe-the fingers are creating and the instrument is
pouring on, flood ot harmony SO wonderfully adap
s as TO Fsss a. w Sefs
fore allow that Mr.. Ruaelfis first rare composer
OF beautiful MUSIC, but they ques on his abilities
singer, because he gives the simple, tq, round
receive iromth pathss and feeling in which it is
clad. Certainly his style ia smple, chas,e, unadul-
ferated by modern iopperes, yet is Il ornamental
! the highest degree by ITS own peculiar attribute Of
| simplicity. His enuncation is as distinct as il he
were only speaking yet he depicts the scene with
the palpable truth OF painter; the dramatic effect
is complete he dellneates The very emotions Of the
Il
| me lsdies entirely his own. Now, the man that has
| done this cannot he OF the ordinary race of NOR
tails the man that displays no strained efforts, mo-
unnatural distortions, no daubngs to cover detects,
and no affectation OF shakes and trs to hide defr
cencies 81 science, niust stand on merits OF supe
/ rior kind. .tiNs' a'"H' ~ 70 Al
lect pieces with tn the exhibition ct scientific
skill, to aslonish rather than to touch the hearc of
the yfsr few but the
slngs'rom the heart his songs species OF dra-
ma that he -pours terth with the distinctness and
clesrness Of first rate orator, anxious to touch the
soul, WHO ngs aside all cumbersome ornament, all
dgression and confines himself entirely to his sub
Jet and the sole end in viewto move the hearts OF
| his audience, What also the sonps in general
that we hear, Italian, English and French The
verlest balderdash that was ever penned; songs that
are unfit 10 be sung, N understood aud toler rated be-
| cause parents and teachers know they not COM
| pretended. How can such songs be sung with
| genuine taste, feeling or pathos3 Nov, MIR. Rus
sell, with the tact OF true genius, has welded his
simple and touching strains TO appropriate hometelt
subjects thus every accessory TO command
he has displayed, and IN America feaped ftwih la
vishness that astonished HIMSELF % ni- '-.'
| There IS another point, also, TO which we would
particularly direct the attention OF those who are
hesIiatng whether they should applaud what their
heart approves, condemn because they have been
taught 10 admire only The wonderful il is this that
when Brahsm, ~ N all his powers, introduced for
the first time, the English stage, he modern tia
liam style, there great difference of OPT
mon among the EoslIsh musical pubic, as there
would seem TO be at present among certain would
be cognoscenti, as to the merit and genius OF Mr.
Russell, We would therefore suggest to them the
propriety Of considering whether has had its
day, and whether II is time that nature should
resume the throne from which she has been so long
an Ell lie. We believe that day ~ come !; we think
also that II Mr. Russell Will ssduousy devote HIM
self 10 his arr esehew that society which will oaly
lead him isto dissipation, and to which he will be
much exposed. Keep the freshness Of his Voice and
his manly powers In full vigor, he will be handed
down To posteriry as the revoutoniser NJ modern
English musical taste, the resorcr of nature, and
the greatest Trend the young ladies' ever had
Can any thing be more deporable than 20 see the
generality Of young ladies SIC down 10 singl They
have spent eight or ten years at schools learning ex
ercses, and screaming from octave tn octave yet
set them down 10 song which tsey have not learnt
wiihh master, and they cannot do justice cou.
pie OF bars they have certainly three or four stock
pieces winch their Kind friends are doomed to hear
at every reunion, and OF course TO spplaud and
there ends the result OF eight years toll and sxa,on
and some hundred pounds thrown away. We are
aware that there exceptions to- this general rule
we regret 10 add they but few Let heal
thy taste Danish the present Italian Kkshaws our
daughters viii then be able 20 sIpg a different song
every night the year and sung u IN such manner
that The parent will rejoice al the money he has
spent, the husband look proudly on the fond heart
that dis her auditors with notes iron the soul and
the child be enabled, from the example Of mama, 20
\ eng pdeaslngly. feehngly, naturally