Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-09-27
JOHN PHGNIx A MUSICAL CRITIC.

JOHN PHOENIX A MUSICAL CRITIC.
In the Editors Table of the Pioneer, Caifor-
mia Magazine, for August, this amusing writer
thus criticises Mr.. Jabez Tarbox's new old SYM
phony, The Plains" A very droll quiz on
one Of the critiques upon Felicien David's great
work. /" The Desert" as recently performed in
San Francisco
PLAINS Vine Symphonic par Jane Tar
bor.-Ths glorious composition was produced
at the San Diego Odeon, on the 3lst OF June,
ult, for the first time in this or any other coun-
try, by very full orchestra (the performance
taking place Immediately after supper, and a
chorus composed Of the entire Sauer Kraut
Vereine,' the Wee Gates Association and
choice selections from the 'Gyascututus' and
Pike Harmonic Societies The solos were
rendered by Herr Tuden Links, the recitation
by Herr Won Hyden Schnappes, both perform
ers being assisted by Messrs. John Smith and
Joseph Brown, who held their coats, famed
them, and furnished water during the more over
powering passes.
o. The Plains we consider the greatest mu-
steal achievment that have been presented to an
enraptured public. Like Waterloo among bat
ties; Napoleon among warriors Niagara among
cent composition stands among oratorios, Ope-
ras, musical melodrams and performances of
Ethiopian serenaders, peerless and unrivaled
IL .frappe toute chose parliament troid.
GO 1t does not depend for its success upon
it has very little Of any of them, but upon its
soul subduing, all absorbing, highfauting effect
upon the audience, every member of which it
fn fba oip ularo nd
qusite sensations. Its strains at times remind
US of the old master of the steamer McSim,
who never went to sea without being unpeas-
antly Affected straining after effect he used
to term it. Blair in his lecture on beauty, and
Mills in his treatise on logic (p. 3D, have allu.
ded to the feeling which might be produced in
the human mind by something of this transcen-
dentally sublime description, but it has remain
ed for M. Tarbox, in the production of The
Palms. to call this feeling forth
"The symphony opens upon the wide and
boundless plains, in longitude lis deg. W., lat
itude 35 deg. 2lm. O3 sec N, and about sixty
miles from the west bank of Pitt river. These
data are beautifully and clearly expressed by
long geographically drawn note from an e
flat clarionet. The sandy nature of the soi
sparsey dotted with punches of cactus and ar
the horizon, save by the rising smoke in the ex-
treme verge, denoting the vicinity of Pi Utah
village, are represented by the base drnm. A
few notes on the pcolo calls the attention of
solitary antelope, picking up the mescal beans
in the foreground. The sun having an altitude
of SO deg. 81 IN, blazes down upon the scene
in indescrbable majesty. Gradually the sounds
roll forth in song of rejoicing to the God Of
Day which swels out into Hey Jim along,
Jim along Josey,' then decrescendo, mas omenoS,
POGO poetic, dies away and dries up.
Suddenly, we hear approaching a train from
Pike county, consisting Of seven families, with
forty-six wagons, each drawn by thirteen oxen !;
each family consists Of man in butternut col
ored clothing, driving the oxen, wife in but
ternut colored clothing, riding in the wagon,
holding butternut baby, and seventeen butter
nut children running promiscuously about the
all are barefooted, dusty, and
smell unpleasantly. Cali these circumstances
are expressed by pretty rapid fiddling for some
winding up with puff from the ophe-
clyde, played by an intoxicated Teuton with an
atrocious breath-it is impossible to misunder-
stand the description.) Now rises DER the
plains in melifluous accents, the grand Pike
county chorus.
The train now encamp. The unpacking of
the kettles and mess-pans, the unyoking of OK
en-, the gathering about the various camp fires,
the frizzliDg of the pork, are so clearly express
ed by music that the most untutored savage
could readily comprehend it. Indeed, so vivid
and life-like was the represents tation, that lady
sitting near us involuntary exclaimed aloud at
certain passage, Thar, that pork's burning!
and it was truly interesting to watch the graft
fled expression of her face when, by a few notes
from the guitar; the pan was removed from the
fire, and the blazing pork extinguished.
"This is followed by the beautiful aria,
"'Oh marin, want a pancake!
"Followed by the touching recitative,
Shut up, or I'll spank your
"To which succeeds grand crescendo move
ment, representing the flight of the child with
the pancake, the pursuit of the mother, and the
final arrest and summary punishment of the for
mer, represented by the rapid and successive
strokes of the castanet.
The turning in for the night follows and
the deep, stentorious breathing of the encamp-
ment is well given by the bassoon, while the
sufferings and trials of an unhappy father with
an unpleasant infant, are touchingy set forth by
the cornet-a. piston.
Part Second-The night attack of the Pi
Utahs; the fearful cries of the demoniac In
dians the shrieks of the females and children
the rapid and effective fire of the rifles the
stampede of the oxen their recovery and the
final repulse, the Pi Utahs being routed after a
less of thirty-six killed and wounded while the
Pixies lose but one scalp (from an old fellow
who wore wig, and lost it in the scufile,) are
faithfully given and excite the most intense in