Judas Maccabeus, an Oratorio, by Handel. Edited by W. Foster.
Acts and Galatea, a Serenata, by Handel. Edited by William Henry Monk.
We notice these publications, not for the superfluous purpose of making critical remarks on two well-known masterpieces of Handel, but of inform- ing our musical readers of the fact that they can obtain the above works, well edited and correctly and elegantly printed, the one for five and the other for three shillings; and moreover, that they form part of a series, en- titled "Musical Classics," published in a similar manner and at similar cheap rates. The exorbitant price of music has been a serious obstacle to the progress of the art in this country. It bears no proportion to the price of literature, nor to the price of music in other parts of Europe; and those English music-sellers who (like Mr. 011ivier of Pall Mall, the publisher of the works before us, and several other houses) are endeavouring to mode- rate its price in spite of the hostility of the general body of "the trade," are entitled to the approbation and favour of the public. We have care- fully examined these editions of Judas Maccabeus and Ads and Galatea, and find that the text is complete and accurate, that the pianoforte accompani- ments are arranged from the score with skill and judgment, that the print- big is clear, and the page large and roomy. We are glad that musical type-printing is coming more and more into use in England. It is equal to plate-printing in clearness and beauty; and when applied to works which, from their classical and established character, admit of large im- pressions, it enables the publisher to produce them at much smaller cost. The general use of type-printing in Germany has greatly conduced to the eomparative cheapness of music in that country.
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