5 NOVEMBER 1831, Page 20

MUSIC.

Songs of the Hamlet. Written by T. H. BAYLY. Composed by C. E. HORN.

It would be difficult for so good a musician and melodist as Mr. Holm to produce any composition decidedly bad ; but we have often wished, as in the present instance, that he had been employed upon words more capable of giving birth to musical expression. The melodies of this volume are pretty enough, but they have all the same character, and are, in truth, not inventions, but reminiscences—passages with which we are perfectly familiar, and which cost the author (or rather compiler) as much time in creating as the copyist in transcribing. We presume his intention was to produce half a dozen songs which any young lady could sing and play : if so, he has succeeded.