NEW MUSIC.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 8, 11 December 1891, Page 31

NEW MUSIC.

" OciDA. " Musical Folio, Xmaa 1891. Messrs Charles Begg and Co, Dunedin.— This is an annual of a very choice and well selected kind, doing credit to the firm by which it is published. The publication opens with an instrumental piece called "The Dancing Sappho s Ballet," arranged by R. W. Jones, chiefly tempo di mamurka] and *which is very tuneful and pretty, an additional advantage being that 'while full and showy it is quite within the powers of a fairly capable 'performer. The rest of the book is allotted to songs, some established favourites and some new. The place of honour is necessarily given to Mendelssohn's "O, Rest in the Lord." This perhaps is a graceful though tacit homage paid to Madame Patey, who, on her late visit to Danedin, gave this exquisite song a principal place on her programme. The restful, persuasive, and consoling manner in which the great contralto sang it mast remain in the memory of all who heard her. The song gives us Mendelssohn at hit best, and more than that it is impossible to say. Among other well-known songs are Blockley'a pretty dnet "List to the Convent Bells"; "The Old Folks at Home," a production of the earlier •' Christie's Minstrels,' 1 whose merit is proved by its survival ; " Scenes that are Brightest," from the Opera of •' Maritana " ; and Linley's pathetic " Kate O'Shane." Among the soogs that are new, or comparatively new, is Mr Thomas Bracken's " The Tramp of the Fire Brigade," set to a spirited and appropriate air by Mr Marcus Hume. This is a fine manly song, and should especially suit a baritone voice. A capital song of a humorous kind is " Dear me is that possible," arranged by L. D. Cox, and which has been made popular in Dunedin by Mr James Jago. The singer finda scope in this for broad Scotch as well as humorous expression, and as the music is very good, a great deal can be made of the song. Songs of this kind, besides, are very desirable to lighten the programme of amateur entertainments, as well as to promote the success of social gatherings. A song of quite another tone is called " The Dying Nun." There are, however, now-a-days nans of various sorts, and this nun, we must premise, is not of the sort that is found in Catholic convents. Possibly she is an Anglican sister. At least the song is headed a "descriptive ballad," and therefore, it is reasonable to suppose that " Nathalie," the writer of the lines, describes what she knows something about. Dreadfully sentimental her experience has been. Even in Anglican communities, or Russo-Greek — for there are also Busso-Greek nuns — perhaps this •• dying nun " was a Busso-Greek, and, by the way, are there Buddhist nuns as well as Buddhist monks? May be it was in a Buddhist convent " Nathalie " acquired the dismal thongh touching experience that enabled her to write this "descriptive ballad." Even in Anglican or Ruß9o-Greek, nay, even in Buddhist can vents, if such there be, we would fain hope nuns depart this life leßs like the traditional dying swan, or, let us say in this particular case, the dying goose. There ia certainly a good deal of the goose about the matter, whether it rests with the " dying nun " or the living poetess, if poetess we must call her. Where there is so much that is good, however, it is hardly fair to cavil at a chance exception. All the songs we have otherwise named are good, and one at least very much more than that. There are, as well, several others also deserving of admiration, The music, both for voice and accompaniment, is clear and excellently printed, and the publication, as a whole, well and handsomely brought out. The price, we may add, is only one shilling.