The Athenaeum; A Journal of Literature, Science, the Fine Arts, Music, and the Drama Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 edition. Excerpt: ...stirring an air to be omitted from any collection that claims to be representative. Another favourite is left out, the plaintive and haunting "Oh, where has the exile his home?" but as this charming song is missing from almost aH the best collections, it has, no doubt, failed to make good its claim to nationality. Besides, space is limited, and as Mr. Graves has included none but good songs, it is not fair to complain because all the good songs are not included, and we thank him for the number of unfamiliar airs and words that he has collected. Most of the old favourites are here, from 'The Wearing of the Green' to 'Protestant Boys, ' from "The girl I left behind me" to 'The Oruiskeen Lawn, ' and with these are a number of new or little-known settings, many very excellent; among them, 'The Lament of the Irish Maiden, ' by Denny Lane; 'Willie Leonard, ' byDr.P.W.Joyce; " Happy 'tis, thou blind, for thee," and "My love, oh, she is my love," by Dr. Douglas Hyde; 'The Song of the Ghost, ' by the editor; and, above all, 'Down by the Sally Gardens, ' by Mr. W. B. Yeats, a song whose words and music are so exquisitely wedded that it is hard to believe that the heart-aching, haunting tune was sung for centuries to words about the Maidens of Moume Shore. Mr. Graves's introduction is unluckily couched in a too unbroken strain of eulogy, but it contains much that is informing, and much that should inspire the musicians of Ireland; for the quite peculiar character of Irish melody and the noble mythology or early history ought between them to give birth to really fine national opera. How scenic and impressive are...