The New York herald., 1868-04-05
MUSICAL REVIEW.

Although opera Ehprett or their translati0ns are
not properly speaking subjects of musical review,
yet In the case Of Orenbach, where the sparkling
music and witty dialogue are in such close rapport
1t is necessary to say something Of the bretto, in
addition to what we have said of the music. The
music Is interviewer with the dialogue, characters
and situations In such manner that 1t cannot be
separated from them without destroying its
peculiar attractive quality. Hence there Is scarcely
an air from any of Ofenbach's operas which
can meet with success In the concert room.
The libretto Of Z" La Belle Helene" abounds
In puns and jokes and play upon words which are
utterly untransatabe into English any other Ian
guage than the French, and which may have dozen
different meanings The translatlons OF the fearful
puns In the first act In Mr. Batemans version OF la
Belle Helene" near one Of the meanings at least
OF the original as possible. The best thing Mr.. Bate
man can do is to get up huge volume, entitled
''various Readings of La Belle Helene like the differ
ent versions Of the Pentateuch or Shakespeare, to
satisfy the hair splitting ideas Of some writers who try
to parade their limited knowledge Of French every
possible occasion. At all eveRts, these HbretH
considerably better than the atrociovs transatOns Of
Italian operas and dramas which have been inflicted
on the public.
Mr.. Zienski h as a very pretty little waltz called
s'The Cherubim, =" which Is published by Peters. II
IL an unpretending work, but one which will ever
claim the good will and admiration Of every pianist.
oliver Ditson, Boston, and c. H. Ditson, New York,
publish the following:-
"violette dc Carafa, Herr" Here is one OF the
most beautiful airs in italian opera adorned with
variations which may a model for our fan
tasia composers to copy after. There dis
tinct variations with finale q la n,ftitdire; and
among the myriad varied themes we have played
there are which compare with this one. In
the parlor or concert hall this exquisite piece cannot
fail to be q continual favorite.
We are S % ooR 90
without words which have been republished by this
house in very handsome style.
'Chickering Waltz" Henry Won Gudera. work
OF singular construction and many clever ideas, but
on the whole uninteresng and dreary. ,,
'eThree to One,r bar two, racing song Merton.
This IL one OF those London music hall comic songs
which are all the rage there among the lower class,
but we hope the American public VIII entirely discard
"Bclls on the wind,r song. Boot; words by Mrs.
! Ritter. The words are entirely 100 good ior tue
beyond the present edition OF % the song; ,,,.,.,
'As Pat Came Over the Hill; or, The Whistling
Thef.n very wretched specimen OF Hibernan
melody and poetry. .'Garry 6wenn Is to be whistled
after the nrst verse, q 0rpne0nnisst nds concert:
.sThe Old Worn Out Slave" White. Words by
ont now and we do not see why music publisher
| should attempt to perpetuate 1t now In music and
verse. The air is semiplagarsm Of well known
"Chanson d'Amour." Egghard. A pretty theme,
with one or two taking variations.
"(yently Restv-sumber song. Kucken. A char
acterisc song OF this justly celebrated German COM
poser full Of tenderness expression and true artistic
ia Belle Helene" potpourri, J. 8. Knight.
without any reference to our expressed dlstaste
for opera potpourris, cannot say anything In
mendatOn Of this The themes OF the opera are
| ali transposed into ungrateful keys, and are very
loosely strung together.
Z pond Co. publish the foowing:-
"Dolly Waltz and Lily Galop." Louis See. The
waltz Is Of ordinary merit but the gaop Is very un
interesting.
s,Marie, Polonase., Baumfelder. A charming
polonalse, which IL taking simple and varied. The
leading motive s very pretty and well worked out.
Kirby d Co., Broadway publish a song by Clio
vanni Sconcia called 'Thy Nora IL True" reply TO
| Mora O'Nea" which Ia an exact reversal Of the
last mentioned air. and very clevery put together
| The words are by w. l.. Gardner.
| Dachauer n vilanova publish the following
SAY dimelo, vilanv0a," spanish duet Of unpre-
tending character In "a time the first OF every bar
being trplet IL IL quaint and not without merit.
"Pensez moi Gaop," Tobias, has the true, popu-
lar dancing ring about II, and Will do well for the
ballroom.
we have also received Howard Glover's celebrated
cantata Tam O'Shanter," published by Chappcll, of
London which has been sung at the New Philhar
monte concerts and at the Birmingham festival. II IL
work which shows the practiced musician In every
measure, and IL faithful musical photograph OF
| Burns well known poem