Henry Smart : his Life and Works. By W. Spark.
(William. Reeves.)—In his preface, Dr. Spark regrets that so few biographies. of distinguished English composers are published, and contrasts the apathy of the musical world in this respect with its readiness to receive lives of German composers. There is little doubt as to the correctness of this opinion, and less as to its cause. Biographies of foreign composers are read, because, as a rule, they deal with the best composers ; then, as musical people are not readers (their leisure being engaged by music itself), it is not profitable to publish for so small a connection as would be willing to read biographies of other composers. Notwithstanding all this, we, having read Dr. Spark's life of Henry Smart, are inclined to recant, and decide (without- prejudice to farther change) that the unpopularity of musicians' lives is due to the subject not having attractions equal to those of Henry Smart, or biographers as sympathetic and skilful as Dr. Spark. In a moderate-sized volume, we have an adequate account of Smart's early days, his hereditary facility in music and engineering, the usual attempt to fix an artist in an unartistio profession, its failure, and Smart's adoption of music as a livelihood. The rest records his study, labour, achievements, and success. A wonderful record this,. of strenuous, loving, and varied work, and told in a manner and spirit most appropriate. The severity of music is tempered by an emusiag story of a dinner in the "swell-box" of the Leeds grand organ, and also by a local critic's notice of a "grand, miscellaneous, sacred con- cert, at the schoolroom, Troubridge," from which we must quote :— " Chorus from Vernon, He reigns, for ever reigns.' Very cleverly ran through. Song from same composer, But, oh ! we cannot faintly show,' by Fletcher. Well done, Fletcher ! Sweet and plaintive is his strain, and his appogiatnras are beautifully ran ! "
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