The Harnuatist. IV. 1.
This is the first volume of a work published in periodical numbers, and having for its professed object " the universal diffusion of good muaie at a cheap rate." Though heartily a ishiag success to such a design. we are compelled to soy that this volume does not accomplish it. Whoever regularly' purchases a periodical collection like this, wilt find, cc hate vet. be his taste, that he has paid ha ;tercet deal of music which is useless to hint. He suffers another to be his caterer: and, instead of pureh.:sing those pieces only which ere to his taste, or which he possesses the power to play or sing, he finds at the eo;:elu.ion of a volume, that a largo" sum has bees exFended on what. to him. is bat so much waste rmer. This is not buying " it a cheap rate." Nor can we regard a large' proportion of the volume as good music.- This of course is a torm which will be differeat:y applied by different per- sons : we must be excused front using it to tlesianate a collection of waltzes.. (which outnumber any other sort of eompositions in the volume.) quadrilies. marches, minuets. end a alopedes.
The introductory address appeals to various classes of purchasers. " The classical amateur" is recommendt d to examine anti amity the selection which the volume presents cretin the a ea. s (.1' certain authors who, we presnme. are emphatically intended to be considered as etas- sieai"—although (oddly enough) the name of' oi:I■ one Italim, and not
one English eompvser, appears in the list, The lovers of waltzes and quadrilles are presented with an ample field tOr the indulaeoce of their particular t est ea" This is undeniably " The lover of overtures " is also presented with a list of Halmos, at the head of which stands (who would have pease(' it Cutts nos.% ! and feom which that of Moza HT ill excluded. " The vocalist and amateur o:'1Jees, inches, and madrigals," it is soh!. " will find a vast collection of gems from (antes/ -eery ancient and mod, rim uvvrie■ I di r p." On reference to 'he work, it turns out that two compositions. incorrectly termed madrheals„ by Monas:v and PLAyrouo. a three-part song by MArrucw and a catch by 3onx PAHEY. make up the "vast collection or gems in which "the amateur of glees, caulks, and madrigals" is to revel. Such arc the promises and such the perfmnance of The Harnuntig.
Previous page
