New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-12-23
Ole Buil-Niagara and Solitude Of the
DrafrIe,

M. p,ll :. J-;. ,,,,t and Inc should be liz
tened to. as we would listen to any wrapt enthnsi-
act. Let us enter heartily into his mood, and DC
gladly subject, for the hour, TO the sway Oh MS eio
tons The rule OF jnst criticism IN rria''o' " Any
work OF ar, is the given ny Goethe eo'r'os'
and every mas,er-sp'rlt 10 ssmpoNSe' 10 J'e. '.-
esher Nth the author, 10 become possessed o. NE
idea, 10 hear the very pulse heat sne ihn1," '''7
warm breath OF The child OF bis creation ana men
,Ierward TO j:dge il. To vary the inquire 'ip-
ment, VIC might ask, here, ii we stand ou''iue
nipe coldly, cynically the mere walls oil p1iece'
can we ever know the majestic presence O. th7
King W.,
If any disappointment 5gas experienced on wed
uesday night. !. as owing TO neglect OF this piain
role Of sympathsing before Judging. Many pre-
judged Niagara" they went determined TO near
what the mighty Cataract had said TO them ana
80 they scoaid not hear what il said 10 We bur
and the, lost thereby great pleasure 1 ne genus
Of this master has before been fully manifested
among us. All else that he has done is coHIara-
lively dull beside this work OF wonderful beauty.
II ia Impossible to describe it, but oil should her II
The theme might have been treated either inih
way OF description or reflection: BY presenting ife
remembered images or by suggesting the fhousnts
awakened. Ole Bull has blended the material with
the spiritual, and given at once the picture oil The
scene, and its symbolic meaning. common ahist
might easily have produced brilliant effect by
dwelling on particular beauties and swsenlng his
audience along in crescendo movement 10 deaf
enng uproar Of sound. But Ole Bull only hia's
such oh ysical effects. Not one but countless sus-
gestions and illusions given, now OF glmoses
through woods, now Of echoes and thundrr-bur-ts.
now Of the glitter and braided foam of rapids now
Of the deep emerald curve, OF the plunge, and up
wrearhiug spray -clouds The high note at the vio-
lin COMBINES floats on the orchestral ACCOMPANY
meat as it canoe were whired on the current
with the wall Of its boatmeu; and sometimes with
light swif. touches il plays above the flood of sound
Ms If swallows were skntning the catarecrs edge; ;
and then again it penetrares the whole with moan
ing strain rs is the prisoned water sprltes were
struggling in the dark caves beneath the fall. But
all such effects are subsidiary. An atmosphere oil
most SUNNI summer joy pervades the whole piece.
and the soul seems sfloat on an exhausess view OF
life. Ii is delightful TO SIZE how the serene lowell,
ness of Niagara has in the mind OF this true chlid
of Nature and Of this true Artist, veiied as II WERE
it's awful power. The composition is suhlimeiy
calm. But ali such words seem tana and mex
pressive. Any one who will reverently listen TO
Niagara will pronounce il an astonishing triumph
of musical art and more characteristic OF s eutnor
than any composition he has yet given us. we
hope to receive equal, perhaps even greater, plea
sure from the Solitude Of the Prairie Report
SAYS that it is simpler in its thought and more purely
descriptive than Niagara Let the audience show
tonight that they can appreciate these two offerings
to the Beauty of American Scenery, which the art
list has woven in his summer hours, as chaplets OF
gratitude wherewith TO crown q nation that has
welcomed him.