" Agne Dei ;" a Canon, four in two. By
J. AVM URDIE, Mus. Bac. Oxon.
With the knowledge that the greatest musicians of all ages and coun- tries have not thought their talents misspent in the construction of canons, we are not among the number of those who affect to undervalue
this species of writing. It is a remark of MORI,Ev'S, that "whosoever will exercise himselfe diligentlie in this kinde, may in a short time be- come an excellent musician, because that bee who in it is perfect, may almost at the first sight see what may be done upon any plaine song." And experience has proved the soundness of the remark. Vocal part music has never reached a higher elevation than with those composers, ancient or modern, who cultivated the " art of canon." Witness BYRDE, GIBBoNS, PURCELL, MouLEY ; subsequently, WEBBE and CALLCOTT; and, in our own time, HORSLEY. Mr. al‘Munnia has proved himself a worthy disciple of this school : his canon is at once strict and free, evincing the " era celare artent." It is appropriately dedicated to Mr. WALMISLEY, whose " Hosanna in excelsis " is one of the happiest efforts in this difficult style of composition.
Previous page
