, 1877-05-20


scenes Of Victor Hugo's -4'o3.
MUSIC. =
ssTuE FAIR MELUsINA.n
The next event of importance in the local music
al world will be the closing concert Of the Beet
hoyeu Society, which occurs next THURSDAY even-
ing ut McCormicks Hail. As It will end the season
of 1676-'77 for the Society Except the supplc-
mentary piano recltale Of Mr.. Wolfeohn), it will
untoubredlv call out large attendance of the
associate members. Tho prominent feature OF this
concert will be the production for the first time in
this city, il not in this country, Of Heinrich Hof-
rnann's beautiful composition for solo voices and
chorus, the ''Fahe OF the Fair Melusiua,'' Of
which Iii. c. E. R. Mueller, the excellent musi-
clan and organst Of this city, kindly furnishes US
With the following careful analysis which will be
Of interest to our musical readers, and Of value
TO those who purpose going to the concert: !
.'The tale Of The Fair Meustna' has been
source OF inspiration to numner OF artists. Mem
tra11on OF It; julius Zelluor, Of Vienna composed
some orchestral tone pictures; and Morltz Won
schwind, the painter. made = great reputation BY
one Ct the most promising composers that Ger
many can boast Of ut present Theodore Thomas
has acquainted NTH two Of his orchestral works.
Frithjof Symphony.' OF his plano-compost-
tions would especially mention some duets which
will be equally welcome to teachera and pupils,
w.: op. j. thTes genre-pictures; op. 23, Land
ler' {.Country dances y; op. 90. i've compost
tions illustrative Of texts taken from Ruckcrt's
Spring Of Love and ("itnout opus number|
identities himself With the school OF Robert Franz
In s Of hs sbs S5s sp
in the work before us the influence OF Wagner
cannot be denied: HOFFMAN,, however, -, is tar
cf4
poser Of the present must consciously or uncon'
scionsy be Influenced by them. Hotmanu mel
flowing, NATURAL and striking, but nowhere forced.
hls rhYthms plqunnt, bis instrumentation rtch and
brilliant yet never .6arocage, as TINT OF SAINT m
terwald's poem is By Prof. Goyle. Excellent in
general II suffers from the defects that, besides
beng somewhas impractical to sing, it frequently
cance Of chords.-defects which show the trans
lator to be more OF scholar than musician.
1.-THE story runs briefly as follows: Aelustnd.
Forest, and Count Raymond have fallen in love
with each other, declare their passion. and in
presence Of her n5mpbs become engaged, -uetuslna
hrst six days OF the week, but, max.
Ing him Promise nfSsF ..s.nts to AK or IT'D ana
the path Of duty IN that day she must rcassums
bate Tth her aphd neiap this.
now the whole train moves joytnllv to TIE castle;
IN the second part Raymoads mother, C'ot.lda, and
nsra her o5ota grgnsa gana AGAINST Masd e.
tais BY the great dearth which since Koymond's
marriage has come over the land. and makes TIE
paI' out. Raya9nd, ] after long resistance, finally
yields to their demands and promises 10 break into
the bathing house which he had erected over
priscd By hawnoad, cail the King 81 the water
spirits to revenge this treason. Death is to be
Hawnoad's punishment. At .Nelusinas request
her. lie once more embraces Aelus ia. The eu,-
brace, without their knowing 1t, is fatal to him.
He dies in the arms OF Aefustna. who returns to
''The hrst introductory measures oF the pro.
logue which describe the beautiful fountain OF
lAesusina are perhaps . KIND of leading motive,
romantic character. The accompaniment is here.
throughout the work, very suggestive and poetl-
cnl. We hear the singing OF the bras, and i, the
have to hear this work with piano accom- 2animcnt.
which must necessarily impair it's beauty. Nc:
introauecs .H<iusina and her water -nymphs. The
abode: For the nood is lte- giving, death comes
with the glow +Aelustna, deeply in love with
Rayraond, would forever stay on the earth. Her
companions warn her, and now she confesscs to
them who is her beloved. In No. uftHslna de-
scr,bcs the bliss she feels in thinking OF Raymond.
The whole nu%oes is lJfe gem now 81 aty does
of Rav7Hoads image before lHelasfsa's eyes! The
horn signals indicate the approach Of Raymond
with his bunting tra ns hunters sng short
So. 4 is d it counterpart to So.:. Raymond gives
longing scccnts cali for bis beloved eiusina, Who
appears. In No. S they exchange VOWS
Of love 1t = an s1csedsg!5 beautiful and passion
separately, which many Of our singers will be glad
to learn. In No. t. the finale OF the hret part they
become engaged in presence Of the nymphs: The
monies and modulat,ons, show careful study of
'Loaengri1i-' Kay1u0nd calls his hunters and
presents to them his bride, whom they hail. While
passionate accents Of their bliss. The concluding
chorus Of nymphs and hunters IL full OF freshness
and S yisor sa.as ,+ ,.o;n. ,,,.h +,o,o. ,t.,.on
from the loveduet, and indicates the happiness OF
the newly married couple, but this happiness
seems to be Of short aura!ion, for 2 new theme in
. FEE st:ntse see ssnef s sss
recognize this characteristic leading. motive
1t IS in the bass, and serpeut-like crceps uu,
accompanied only by the syncopated doubled fifth
OF the chord AL first 1t ls used 10 express Sin
fra"ts peief TINT Aelusind Il ? witch, The peo-
pie now tao. 81 cry: The foui witch bring out;
from her comes our need! This stirring chorus
is full of dramatic life in fact the whole Of the
second Part j. very The pass;afe oms n5
famine comes on with her lnicn pale. and wan, Is
one Of the finest Of the work. In this number
llotmsnn SHOWS that lie ID we'll ~ Aouie II eouM-
terp0int, which he uses to increase the dramatic
interest. In No. trlo with chotus) ctottda tells
her son what wo he hls introduced into bis house
by NeiHsiaa, and with Siatr0zH urges him to ind
ont the secret Of Aeiusino's descent md her mys-
terious doings on the seventh day Of the week.
The people still fariousy cry, and threaten to
storm the castle. Haynoad at last yields and
promises to tear asunder thia web Ut lying
10 TO- inroducIns. ;ne:at.na and her be- nymp.s M y n
hslustna in reply to the warning OF her uymphs.
taa: 'iove Is 1reightcd VITA sorrow anu care
sings: o could 1 with word express tue bliss
feel, bliss without measure This little pane-
gyric OF love. with its lively accompaniment Of
iflplets, is one OF the finest parts Of Tue work.
<ius,ad, in characteristic Fee1tatIve De serlbes
pssys n st to Heaven to send rain. The noise atthe
sate tEo, II, ana1e> interrupts the nymphs' who
crY: Hark, hark, who has care to watch IA bit
Of canon When Raymond appears, they e1.
claim: sAh. treason while both itaynona and
Neustna utter their surprise in characteristic In
teryals, The whole scene is intensely dramatic.
,The Ki ine Of the water-splrits Is called. Before