The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-02-21
MUSIC REALM
Rossini
(1792-1868)
Italian Composer


Gioachino Antonio Rossini was
bright, happy child, whose parents
were musicians and encouraged his
talent. The lad loved fun, was full
of pranks and had an Astounding i'm
agination.
He had clear, true, boyish voice,
and sang great deal. Italian liter
allure as we'll as music interested him
but he was not as studious and am
bilious as were some other musicians.
However, he learned to accompany,
to conduct, and to compose.
Rossini wrote forty operas. The
best known are "The Barber of Sc
vile" and civilian Tell" The latter
was the composers favorite and is
considered his masterpiece.
The sacred work "Stubat Mater"
(hymn on the crucifxion) was his
last composition, although he lived
many years after it was completed.
He was satisfied with wealth and
fame and had no further ambition.
His music is bright and merry, thus
rejecting his own nature.
William Tell Overture Part L
CAT Dawn"
William Tell Overture Part 2
"The Storm"
William Tell Overture Part 8
"The Calm"
William Tell Overture Part A.
"Finale."
civilian Tell" is story of the
Swiss Revolution of 1907. The Aus
trian governor, Gesseler, caused a
cap to be elevated on pole and or
dered all passers-by to bow to it.
When the Swiss patriot, William Tell,
refused to do this, he was ordered
to shoot an arrow through an apple
on the head of his son. If he failed
he was to be put to death. Tell per-
formed the difficult feat without in
Jury to his son. He then told the
governor that, had he failed, he had
reserved another arrow with which to
kill him. The tyrant became enraged
and sentenced Tell to death. But the
Swiss flew to arms and defeated the
Austrians, and the wicked governor
was killed by Tell himself. Thus
William Tell and his band of patriots
threw of the Austrian yoke and made
Switzerland Independent. That
country is the oldest republic In the
world.
This overture, which is played prob
ably as often as any other single
work at concerts the world over, was
called at Berliozs "a symphony in
four parts"
It is a fitting prelude to noble
work and abounds in beautiful con-
trasts. The listener should bear in
mind that the scene is in the picture
sque Alps.
The opening andante depicts the
serence solitude of Nature at Dawn,
and the music is enchantingly re-
poseful. From the slowly climbing
figure on the cello, the hayward, elu-
sive air resolves after time into a
more definite, rhythmatic time, soon
lansing into dreamy meditation,
which continues to the close of the
movement. Although this first part
is virtually a cello solo, the orchestral
back ground is exceedingly beautiful,
the close being especially effective
with its sustaining shake on the rlch-
est string on the cello, while the or
chestra slips gently away, downwards,
climbing up to serenity against just
at the last.
The tranquil mood of the andante
is rudely interrupted by the beginning
Of the second movements string
passage suggesting the distant mutter-
ings of a storm. This comes nearer
and nearer, until the full fury of the
storm bursts upon the ear. The pic
colo pictures the sharp lightning,
the flute of the scattered raindrops,
and the BASES and brass the heavy
peals of thunder. The wind shrieks
and the swollen torrents rush madly
down the mountain side. The fort
issmo passage continues though the
storm seems to have spent it's force
and the strain dies down into refresh
ing calmness once more.