MUSICAL PUBLICATIONS.
4'Ne plus ultra; " Sonata for the pianoforte, by Joseph Woelfl. Edited by
I. W. Davison.
Pieces for the Pianoforte :—" Boutons de Roses," moment de Salon ; " Souvenir du Rigi," Tyrolienne ; "Les Fleurs animees," Impromptu ; and " Deodora, Caprice a la Mazurka. By A. Schloemer. " _L'Etoile aimee," Romance ; "Un Bale in Maschera," Nocturne. By
J. Ascher.
Woelfi's celebrated Sonata, the "Ne plus ultra," forms the first num- ber of a serial publication just commenced under the title of " Boosey's Pianoforte Studio ; a selection of Twelve Sonatas from the works of the Great Composers, edited by J. W. Davison." Tojudge from this beginning it will be a work of much interest. Joseph Woelfl was one of 'the constellation of great composers and pianists who flourished in. London about the beginning of the present century. He was the con- temporary and rival of Clementi, Dussek, and Stmbelt ; and his works like theirs, though neglected and forgotten for a time, seem likely to gain even more than their pristine popularity, for the English public are now more able than at any former period to understand and enjoy their merits. The above-named Sonata is probably the most remarkable of his works. Why it was so named does not clearly appear; but it may-be reasonably believed that the title, "Ne plus ultra," was a challenge to his competitors to produce and perform anything equal to it in inventive power and executive difficulty. Dussek's Sonata, called the "Plus ultra," is understood to have been an answer to this challenge—a pro- duction surpassing the "Ne plus ultra" of his rival. Both are mag- nificent compositions, unequalled in their own day, and not unworthy of companionship even with the pianoforte music of Beethoven. Woelfi's Sonata opens with a short introduction, of a grave and imposing cha- racter, which leads into the principal movement, a long and highly- wrought " allegro moderato," a model of clear and masterly construction, and so lucid, simple, and melodious in its style, that its immense diffi- culties are not apparent till the attempt is made to surmount them. There is then another brief movement—an "andante" in the manner of a florid Italian air, leading into brilliant variations on Mozart's popular melody "Life let us cherish." The whole Sonata is charming, and by no means beyond the skill of the well-taught and accomplished lady-pianists who now abound in our social circles. The biographical and critical preface from the pen of Mr. J. W. Davison, which en7.4-1.-zz this publication, will be found highly interesting to every lover of music.
M. Schloesser holds a distinguished place among the fashionable piano- forte composers of the day. His morceaux de salon are in request among the best class of amateurs, and they owe their acceptation to sterling qualities. They are light and brilliant, while they arc full of melody, and contain nothing to offend the most cultivated taste ; and, though they demand good playing, they are free from unmeaning diffi- culties. The pieces named above are all of this character ; but-we are especially pleased with the " Boutons de Roses," which in a brief space shows the masterly construction of a regular sonata.—M. Ascher, too, has had much success in this class of composition; but we have heard some of his pieces which we prefer to those now before us. They are founded on opera airs, which are extended and embellished in a very florid manner, and with considerable fancy. But there is too much note- splitting ; such a profusion of flights, scales, and arpeggios, that the melody is quite lest amid the confusion of sounds. The only value of such music is, that it furnishes good practice for the' acquirement of a rapid finger • and with this view these pieces of M. Ascher's may be -studied with advantage.
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