New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-23
NETWORK. TUESDAY. MARCH %. 1862

yennto Celini1 bad luck befel him. and the "rroans
became for a the laughing stock OF the town. Al
though full Of really striking and Ingenious effects and
displaying varied knowledge OF orchestral ana cnoral
ing possibly eyerbeer possessedt wasfonnd 10 contain
single element OF popular success By eIincs ana
While denied the public Observation-Disclosures which he
crayed Berloz not left wholly without personal
OF the Legion of Honor, and the office OF Il.
brarian of tho Conservation; and in 1889 no
left vaSa y the death Of AdopSe Adam BY bis liter,
airy works he acquired hosts Of friends and admirers IN
have given him footing; and even hostility Of those
who opposed to his aesthetic theories WAS dsarmed
ton, ETC. work the value Of which to students and 70
native musicians as well cannot be too highly rated d
much TO that 1t completely exhausts one o
the broades and most difficult subjects known to modern
art $3.50.
OF the character and rank OF Beroz as composer 1t
not necessary here to speak His works are partially
known various cities OF the United States and ms
judged by the smallest specimens. IL Is suihcient
to say that he had no idCatrous passion Hnoi i9s
cresng that he Professed to represent the varying
shades Of human emotion the most delicate mutations
Of JOY grief rage, anguish or despair the most frivolous
and the hoest sentiments OF nature by mere eccentric
effects OF tone and meditation The orchestra was su-
preme with him; next In his affections stood the chorus
single voices he used but. it might almost DC smd,
OF many OF his orchestral compositions undenia-
ble AS examples OF musical photography they are as
Is entitled to the credit OF having developed the resources
OF Instrumentation beyond any other writer OF his time
tastc enough, and there is little cause TO wonder
at the CONSERVATION which his extrayagant ex-
from his reforming hand lie probably never
wrote single upon the old established plans He
vioins into eight parts In Romeo ct Julette he
introduced full chords Of violin harmonies In la MOTT
into three aud four parts. In the same nonodrane no
caused the clarinet to be wrapped IN leather Pag N
OF his Requiem he presented the extraordinary
effect OF high chord OF flutes sustained only by the low
sf aoff ha
est flute aud the brass Instruments being three oeayes
aud half with link or connection between. IL Is
memorable circumstance that aiming this effect he
encountered the somewhat serious objection rom the
trombone players OF the Grand Opera that the notes he
had written impossible,-an objection which they
sustained by abundant argument and proof until the
composer suggested that they should Try them, when
they found TO their astonshment that series OF low
pedal notes existed, separated by gap OF hall an octave
IRON the ordinary register OF the Instrument His deyel
opments drums IN which he carried out to the
tremest point the hints afforded by earlier coHpOsers-
among them Beethoven. in tho eighth aud ninth sym.
phones-were also characterstically novel and inge
NOUS. Tho "Symphonie Funebre" contains full har-
monies for kettedrums together with array OF brass
aud percussion instruments seldom united-six horns.
four trumpets. two cornets, four trombones four
ophlcledes, cymbals, and "PavillOns Chinois" This,
however is a trivial and infante compared with
that OF the Tuba Mrun" In the Requiem, which IN ad
don 10 the string instruments and voices contains IL
tuned drums, for chords and moduatOns, untuned
drum. three pairs OF oymbas and gong four ues four
claTiOnes two hautbOys eight bassOOns twelve horns
four cOreis four rumpes sixteen trombOnes four oph
cledes, and two bombardons All this, no doubt 10 al
Owable, II composer can gam anything by IT. There
law IN such matters. AS BerOz himself wrote
lit pretty generally agreed to allow that whatever
produces effect Is good that whatever produces
bad one is bad" Whether the effects produced by this
composer the whole good either for art or for
his fame is question upon which We need not now
enter.
Berlloz little 65 years old The last years OF
his life passed In comparative retirement although
no came indirectly before the public ten years ago. when
Alcese" was revived at the Grand Opera. The man
OF that institution fixed upon him the man most
capable Of any In France 10 restore the traditions aud re-
call the exact spirit Of Gluck's noble work "Alceste'
superbly produced under his exclusive direction
He subsequently, devoted himself TO himself aud his
friends. Socially, he one OF the most delightful Of
companions accomplished scholar In almost every de-
parnent OF literature, and keen and spiritual critic
upon every subject Of art excepting his own compost
tiOns-there the bitterness OF his many disappOntnents
revealed ITSELF In thing he PECULIAR he never
contributed TO the musical entertainments OF any
assembage in fact he could play instrument except
guitar, notwithstanding his theoretical knowledge OF
them all. In personal appearance aud manner lac was
remarkably Ike Mr. Seward, exSecretaTy OF State.
GEN. SAMUEL FEsSENDEN.
A dispatch from Portland, Me-, dated March
90 says that Gen. Samuel Fessenden, tho father OF
Senator Fcssenden dicd at taat place, REod eighty
Ave years. He was in younger DAYS eminent as q
lawyer, citizen and politician. and had Deois
ter OF the Masonic Fraternity OF Maine He leaves
large family OF descendants. many OF whom arc disn-
guished In the public service Senator fesenden being
the eldest.