The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-18

ehlh ANls Ntldll ~ Allt Hlkiit u ANt WbTlu IN
capabilities and some natural rcpining at his
own unlucky lot mingled from the beginning
some bitterness Of spleen and passion with tho 1
workings Of his inspiration. and II these in tho
end ate deep into the great heart they had long
tormented. who that has not known his expe-
ricnee may venture too strongly to condemn
him2 NJ WI
Great italian aud French Composers.
Ono Of the latest numbers OF Appletons'
Handy Volume Series is an attractive compia-
ton OF criticism and nuecdote relating to tho
Great italian aud French Composers by GEORGE
T. FERRIS. The author OF this pleasant volume
has contryed to cover n broad field by touching
briefly the names OF only secondary interest in
the evolution OF musical art and dwelling moro
atlength on the distinguished masters who have
created. or most happily illustrated. specific
schools. What should particularly commend
the book to the general reader Is the studious
avoidance Of technical terms. and the admix-
turc Of lively anecdote and interesting bio
graphical details with the tcrse and lucid
analysis Of conspicuous compositions. Mr..
Ferris points out that Italy as well as Germany.
owed the germinal principle Of its musical de-
velopment TO the Low Countries. whore the
art Of Interviewing parts and the science OF
counterpoint were placed upon a solid basis.
The proof OF this filial relation is furnished by
the fact that most Of the great Italian churches in
the sixteenth century had Belgian chapel mas
ters. and that Palestrina himself was pupil OF
the Hainaut composer Orlando Di Lasso. 1t Is
we'll known that Palestrina left a great mass OF
compositions only part OF which have even yet
been published. His works are marked by utter
absence Of contrast and color. are destitute OF
dramatic movement. yet they are full OF melody
anal instinct with "A eerfufu al
by the suggestion OF human passion. As in all
great church music the chorus Is the key OF
the compos ition. and tho choir OF the Sistlne
Chapel. by tho inheritance Of long tradition,
is the most perfect exponent Of the
Palestrina music. Goethe and Mendels-
sohn have recorded eloquent tributes to the
impression made on them by these simple
and lofty compositions Tho first eminent
name in the history Of Italian opera is Piccini.
and II is worth noting that one OF his master
pieces. La Buona Figluiola. produced in 1860.
was founded on the story Of Richardson's
Pamela. Piccini's sway over the Italian stage
continued till 1913. when he was induced to
come 10 Paris by Nine. Du Barry. who wished
to set up a rival to Click, patronized by Marie
Antoinettc. Here he composed the opera OF
Roland" Marmontel writing the ibretto. and
translating IL word by word 10 the Italian musi-
chm. VINO understood not a word OF French.
Tho now work had great success and IN war
that hencciorth ragged between Checklists and
Plccinists drowned for u time political and
literary dscord. The Italian maestro had the
candor to acknowledge in private the vast SUI
periorty Of his opponent. and when II was pro-
posed that both should write operas on the same
theme. IphGenia in Tauris objected that II
Clocks work were played FIRST. the public would
be- SO delighted. they would never listen to his
own. In the present day, OF course. Gl0ck has
quite vanquished his rival. whose compositions
are only known 10 tho musical antiquarian.
Yet although Piccni was inferior in the breadth
Of his conceptions and in all the supreme quail
tiles Of his art. his writings abound in melody
Of exquisite grace and beauty; and some COM
petent critics have charged that many Of the
finest arus of Rossni. Donizetti. and Bellini owe
their paternity 10 this composer.
Tho school Of Pccini was carried to tho high
est pitch Of perfection probohly Of which 1t adj
mitted by Cimarosn, one Of the most prolific OF
masters. During period Of four years spent
at the Court OF Catherine H.. whittier by the
way Paisiello hal preceded him. Cimarosa
produced nearly five hundred works. and nc
quired So great Il reputation that he was subse-
auenty made Chapel Master at Vienna. al
though such composers rs Haydn and Young
Mozart were then residing in that city. For his
new patron the young Italian produced I'll
Nntrimonio Seyreto " nerformed twice in n
single evening. the solo recorded instance Of
such compliment except in the case OF tho
Latin dramatist Piautus. whose Eunuchus"
WIS given twice on the same day. In France
and England. and even in his native country,
the memory Of this comnoser il nreservcd onIv
by the charming comic opern lust named but
the finest Of his tracical composition "Gn
Ornzl. based on Cornsille's drama. is still fire.
qucntly performed in Germany.
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