Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-22

The gift of improvisation is rare In England
but when it is met with It smacks of the soil
and has distinctly national form, as different
as possible from what one finds In Italy, which
has from time immemorial been the recognized
home Of the improvisatore The italian crea-
ture is rhapsodst Of serious cast, who pours
forth romantic platitudes in ''unprepeditated
song" and strings together graceful, and some
times impassioned, verses In the irregular me-
tiers to which the most musical of languages 80
readily lends itself. The English improvisatore
has seldom much Of the divine frenzy of the
poet in his compositions; he ia humorist, a wit,
sometimes only a wag, who can reel off comic
'patter in verse with the sole object of
creating laugh. He needs cOnviviality to
inspire him, and exclamation to encourage
hn In neither case, probably, woul, it be ad-
visable to have shorthand writer present to
take down the impromptu lucubrations for
sober perusal on the morrow For improvisa-
tion is only species of intellectual legerde-
main, meant to astonish and dazzle for the mo-
ment by the suddenness of its spontaneity, not
to bear the test of deliberate criticism. Though
we fancy the improvisatiOns of MestastasiO
would bear the test better than those of Theo-
dOre Hook. Of all artists the improvisatOre is
the one whose triumphs are most evanescent.
His virtues, In England. at any rate are writ in
wine. and OF his powers it is possible to form
only the vaguest idea from the impressions of
those who, when they heard him. were them
selves more or less eated by vinOus enthusiasm
But beyond doubt the talent is a most fascinat-
ing one. and secures its possessor social pOpu-
larity and fame which no other species of
lion" however brilliant his gifts, can hope to
attain.
Now, unquestiOnably. the greatest of English
improvisation was Theodore Hook; and indeed,
as far as our knowledge goes, England has
never had any really successful performer in
this way except the author OF Gilbert Quincy"
For men like Charles Snowman and other
professional improyisatori though INCIDENTALLY
clever, lacked the abandon and prolific nge-
nuity of Hook. He first gave evidence of the
possession OF this marvellous faculty in his TWEEN
tieth year. and one of his earliest displays in
improvisation was at the complimentary banquet
given to Sheridan in Drury Lane Tneater. From
That moment he became Lion of society. No
dinner party among those who prided them
selves On such entertainments. was considered
complete without Theodore Hook. And he
must have been extremely attractive and fasci-
mating as young man. His slim graceful fig
ure, his head covered with clustering black
curls. his wonderful play OF feature the COM
pass and music OF his voice. his large brilliant
eyes, capable of every expression, from the
gravest to the most grOtesquely cOmical, the
perfect grace and aptness of every attitude and
gesture combined to make him the idol of every
circle which was fortunate enough to secure
his presence. His fame spread like wildfire
The Prince Regent heard him with delight at
the MarchiOnesS of HertfOrd's in Manchester
square. and declared emphatically afterward
that something must be done for Hook
whence that unfortunate Maurtius appointment
People used to give him subjects the most I'M
promising. Campbell. who calls him "a won
derful creature. who sang extempore songs, not
to my admiration, but to my establishment"
once gave him Pepper and Salt as topic,
and confesses that ''he seasoned the imprOmptu
with both-very Attic salt" His skill in intro
ducin2 the names of the company present was
remarkable. On one occasion there was Dan
lsh gentleman in the room named ROsenhagen,
and bet was made that Hook would have to
omit such an intractabie patrOnymic from his
song; but he amazed and amused them all by
thus cleverly solving the problems:
"Yet more OF my muse Is required,
Alas, fear she is dOne
But no, like fiddler that's tired;
Ill ROSei-agen and go on.
OF course he failed occasionally; either early
In the evening or very late, he did it but indiffer
emily. When the call well-timed and the
company such AS excited his ambition. it is i'm
possible to conceive anything more marvellous
than the felicity he displayed. He accompanied
himself on the pianOforte. and the music was
frequently. though not always. as new as the
verse He usually stuck to the common ballad
measures; but one favOrite sport was mimic
opera, and then he seemed to triumph without
effort over every variety of meter and cOmplica-
ton OF StanZa.-LOndOn SOcietU