The Portland daily press., 1877-01-27
Recent Publications.

hCCouG L IuUuCdtAOuSs
THE THEORY OF SOUND IN ITS RELATION TO
MUSIC. By Professor Pietro Blaserma, Of the
Royal University of Rome New York: D. APP
pleton & Co. Portland: Bailey & Noyes
This admirable work is inspired bS true re-
gard for musical progress, and by broad, liberal
and entirely artistic appreciation of its scien-
tifc possibilities. Following the steps of Prof.
Helmholtz in Germany, and Prof. Tyndall in
England, Signor Blaserna has made various
Interesting and beautiful experiments in regard
to the origin, transmission and proportion of
seund-with, in his case, an especial design to
apply the discoveries made to the perfectiDg of
musical art. His tabulated statements of the
proportions Of the notes of the scale are of
great worth and interest and tend to prove that
the temperate scale is, like many another com
promise, an evil in ITSELF He believes that the
pianoforte must either be soon laid aside, or
modified in such manner that the sharps and
flats shall have at least an approximately exact
value, and the octave shall include twenty-four
keys in place of twelve, as at present. This
would of course, nearly double the manual
difficulties of the instrument, but it might by
this very means induce return to simple and
pure forms of composition, wherein significant
melody and harmony should not be obscured by
meaningless traits of dexterty. The chapter
upon the Italian, German and French schools
of composition is comprehensive and exceed
ingly generous toward the rival lands, while
apprecating the inspiration of Italian music.
Signor Blaserna proves himself throughout an
eli had o,,l, o,al
musician, and an ingenious and learned scen-
tist. The weight of bis views is made greater
by their liberality and earnest, yet moderate,
expression.
BREAKFAST, LUNCHEON AND TEA. By Marion
Harland, author of Common Sense in the House.
hold. New York: Scribner, Armstrong & Co.
Portand Loring, Short g. Harmon.
There is distinct, practical quality of wo-
manly wit about Marion Harland's writings
that is full of comfort to inexperienced house.
keepers. She inspires trust in ones own capa-
bilities, and with her sound, pleasant counsel
smoothes the difficult road of roasting and per-
picking paths of pastry for the novice in cook
cry. Not less valuable than the receipts and
directions contained in the volume are her
hints as to domestic economy and good man
agement. There is a happy, genial tone through
out the book, which gives to the domestic work
it prescrbes, sentiment of home comfort, of
more than the mere supplying of daily needs.
The author takes it for granted that every
housekeeper cares to make her home as attrac
tive as possible to each member of her family;
and proceeds to aid with the results OF her ex-
perience, and to suggest many nice points of
housekeeping in friendly way. Many of the
receipts contained in the volume are those
which the author has found desirable and are
marked with star thus "bazing the path
for her followers. The book is to be recon-
mended as reliable, pleasant and valuable for
every household.
SAPPHo. A Tragedy in Five Acts. By Fra ncis
Grlllparzer. Translated by Ellen rockingham.
Boston, Roberts Brothers. Portland: Loring,
Short s. Harmon.
This fine tragedy has for years formed part
of the standard repertoire of the German thea
tiers, and is we'll suited for representation from
its striking situations, highly wrought and
poetic dialogue, and the classic beauty of its
scenes and characters. 1t is, of course, the
story of the fate of the unhappy Sappho, whose
songs and death float her down through the
ages like a swan. The translation by MISS
rockingham evidences a genuine poetic tai
ent ease and appreciation in the treatment of
the drama, and will serve to deepen the very
favorable impression made by her previous
work as translator. Her sketch of the life of
Grillparzer is interesting in tine picture it gives
of life full of sad incompleteness and disap-
pointment. Miss rockingham is exceedingly
fortunate in giving the spirit and force of the
originals which she translates without falling
into the fault of too abrupt or un-English con-
structions. The Hymn to Aphrodite and many
other passages in nearly equal degree, are
models of graceful, adequate and poetic trans
lation.
GERMAN WITHOUT GRAMMAR OR DICTIONARY
By DR.. Eur Brucke, Superintendent of German
Instruction in the Public Schools of Lake and
Hyde Park, District 2. Published by s. G. Grigg,
& Co., Chicago. For sale by Loring, Short 6
| Harmon.
This is a very practical, pleasant and ipgen
| ious method of teaching the German language
| founded upon the natural laws of learning
which are the basis of the PestslozziaI
| system of instruction, and in more gen
eral development, form the Kindergarten
method of Dr. Froebel and his followers-th
object and conversation-lessons, where th,
pupil is enabled to receive ideas at once by va
rious Senses of sight, touch and ear and wher
the memory receives a decided impression b,
the presence of the object of the conversation
In brief, it is the way that children learn thei
own language, by the impetus of need
and wishes, and by constant comparison
and connection of things with words. 1t il
| compact, simple and interesting method o
instruction, and should receive consideration
from teacher and scholars of the German Ian
guage
WAKE-RoBIN. By John Burroughs. New York
Hurd & Houghton. Portland: Loring, Short 8
| Harmon.
| A book between whose leaves turks tn
spring-time ITSELF 1t is minute, poetic an
delicate description of the little feathered fol-
of New England woods and is full of sparrow
chirp, and robins call and the high hymn Q
the hermit-thrush. One feels the damp, swee
breath of wet woods, the red, roun'
berries shine under dark green leaves
the birches seem to lean and tn
skies to tighten and grow dim again wit
Aprils air-as he reads these pages. Wax
Robin recalls Thoreau and Emerson in its fin
detail, its quality of fellowship with nature,b ,bu
is more content to rest in things that are seer
more descriptive in its nature. Yet one wor
ders how Mr. Burroughs has the heart to ad
wise the shooting of bird, to examine il
beauty-so friendly and familiar is he wit