But if we take a more comprehensive view, throughout Europe, stooped even in his of the stage, it will be perceived that similar lofty course, and gave the first example, in changes have been gradually going on both his ballot of "The Deserter of Naples." in the ballet of action and the drama, prop- He conceived the just idea, that the natural erly so called. The great Noverre, so high-affections would produce a deeper and ly commended by Arteaga,* and so extolled more home felt interest than the heroes of the Iliad, or even the deities of the classical plays but a subordiate part. Composers, there- mythology. The example spread, and tragfore, having few good voices, and few good edy was brought down to ordinary life.* singers to write for, have been obliged to adapt Upon our own stage instances now multitheir compositions to the abilities of those who were to perform them; and as four, five, or six plied in all the three species, and the discovmoderate performers produce a better effect joint- ery was adopted and established. It was, ly than they could by their single efforts, songs indeed, amongst the effects of the general have disappeared, and interminable quartettos, progression, and belongs to the intellectual quintettos, sestettos, &c., usurp their place. conversion we have so often observed and Every opera is filled with such pieces, which, in fact, are so many finales, such as were never used alluded to. The deeper and more sublime but at the end of the acts of comic operas, to yielded to the lighter and livelier emotions; which alone they are appropriate. These, after it affected not only the construction of the wearying the attention for a longer time than music of the stage, but of music universally. half a dozen old songs, generally conclude by a noisy crash of voices and instruments, in which This little-varying state of things continthe harmony is frequently distracted, each per-ued for an interval of considerable duration sonage engaged in the scene having perhaps to express a different passion, and the whole vocal part almost overpowered by so loud and busy an accompaniment, that the voices themselves are nearly lost. It is really distressing to hear the leading voice strained almost to cracking in order to be audible over a full chorus and full orchestra strengthened, often by trumpets, trombones, kettle-drums, and all the noisiest instruments; I confess that I derive little or no pleasure from these pieces, which, to my ears, are scarcely music, but mere noise. It is evident that, in such compositions, each individual singer has little room for displaying either a fine voice or good singing, and that power of lungs is more essential than either. Very good singers, the refore, are scarcely necessary, and it must be confessed, that though there are now none so good, neither are there many so bad, as I remember in the inferior characters. In these levelling days, equalization has extended itself to the stage and musical profession, and a kind of mediocrity of talent prevails, which, if it did not occasion the invention of these melo-dramatic pieces, is at least very favourable to their execution." "The celebrated Noverre contributed not a little to the confirmation of this opinion, by the dancers. Nor did he content himself with liter- though singers of great merit arrived. Fodor, Camporese,† Ronzi de Begnis, Caradori, and Colbran,t deserve especial regard as artistes of great natural and acquired talents. The operas of Mozart, Cimarosa, and Zingarelli, took their turns with others of less note and inferior genius; but there could be said to be no visible movement either in the arte del canto or in composition till the rise of Rossini and the appearance of Madame Pasta,-two events which have materially altered the taste, not of the English alone, but of the world. The perfection at which this great artiste (and to no singer can the term be with such strict propriety applied) has arrived, is one of the strongest proofs of the force of genius and industry over natural disqualifications that vocal science has ever exhibited. About the year 1815 or 1816, she was in this country, bearing her maiden name of and simplicity of the action, or the expression and truth of the music." *Moore's "Gamester" may be safely pronounced to be the most touching, the most true, and the most morally-effective play in the English language. in manner, but still unable to resist, at all times, This splendid woman, and no less splendid singer, had lost the better portion of her powers when she visited this country as the wife of Rossini, during the season of Benelli's management. It was to this lady that Crescentini is reported to have anticipated her coming eminence “Lorsqu'il la jugea capable de prendre sor essor, il prophétisa la réputation dont elle devoit jouir un' jour en disant, Je ne pense pas qu'il n'y ait en Europe un talent plus beau que le tien.' ll accompagna cet éloge du don de toute sa musique.' Neri, and, without the slightest disparage-, retains it, and, in the darker passions, uses ment, she could not be esteemed above the it with prodigious effect; the middle of her third rank. So little promise, indeed, was scale was also by nature the best, that is, there attached to her performance, that no the most powerful and richly-toned portion. expectation could then be formed of her The same skill and perseverance which diever realising even tolerable excellence. rected her to apply to the most useful ends Her voice was harsh, rough, and unequal; the formation of these notes of her scale, her intonation imperfect beyond endurance, enabled her to cultivate her falsette, or headespecially as it was balanced by no equiva- voice, up to an equally rare perfection. M. lents of expression. Some few years after de Stendhal appears to be unacquainted she re-appeared a star of the first magnitude with the fact, that it is by three registers -a great singer, a greater actress. We that Pasta's voice is formed; he therefore shall refer those of our readers who wish to adopts the common division into two, the enter minutely into the scientific character chest and the head voices. But having exand details of Pasta's singing, to the ex-plained the distinction, we cannot describe tended description in Stendhal's "Vie de in better terms than he has employed the Rossini," and the "Quarterly Musical Mag- manner and the effects produced by the azine and Review." It will be sufficient artiste, whose empire over her hearers is so for our purpose to lay in the grander outlines. certain and so absolute; we shall therefore The extraordinary distinction which has translate two or three passages of his work. raised her to such eminence-making the "It is with astonishing skill," he says, first and most necessary allowance for her "that Madame Pasta unites her head and intellectual superiority, and a sensibility to chest voice; she displays the supremest art musical and passionate effects of extra- in the variety of agreeable and exciting ordinary delicacy-her peculiar distinction, effects which she produces by this combinawe say, sprang from, nay, even now resides, tion. In the twinkling of an eye, she in the very imperfection, as it would have heightens or alters the colouring of a phrase been previously considered, of her voice. of melody, by introducing her falsette, even Hitherto equality and uniformity of vocali- in the middle of her scale, or by using alterzation, the homogeneity of the tone, had nately notes of the falsette and of the chest been deemed to be the supremest_quality voice. She employs this expedient with the which instructoin could bestow. For this same facility of blending in the middle as the young artist toiled through the most in the highest notes of the chest voice.t tedious of all practice; but such equaliza- "The head voice of Madame Pasta has a tion was impossible to Pasta. Her organ character almost entirely opposite to her was naturally a mezzo soprano. She, how- chest voice. It is brilliant, rapid, pure, ever, discovered a means (or, at least, used flexile, and of an admirable lightness. In a it more visibly and more successfully than descending passage, she possesses the powany other singer) of attaining three differ-er of attenuating the tone to such an inconent registers. By this expedient, in addi- ceivable degree, that the existence of any tion to an uncommon extent of compass, she sound becomes almost a matter of doubt. attained a power of diversifying the tone according to the emotion she wished to ex-erful and varied means, are necessary to press. Her lower notes were by nature Pasta, to give expression to the forcible husky. We have known instances where conception that is peculiar to her,-a conthe practice indispensable to obtain sounds ception always just, and which, though so low in the scale has polished away this modified according to the rules of the beau roughness; but Madame Pasta voluntarily ideal, is always full of that fiery energy and extraordinary power which electrifies a "Such refinement of colouring, such pow * It were to be wished that this publication had not been so hastily abandoned. Since our first ar-fatal to the voice, but very likely to be so to life ticle was written," The Harmonicon" has also itself. The exhaustion of the practice is dreadful. been given up, and England has now no literary work to carry forward the progress of musical events or musical philosophy. What a bitter practical sarcasm upon our want of taste as a nation. This imperfection was dignified, by her foreign admirers, by the phrase of "sons voilées," which some of our English critics adopted in the term "veiled sounds." The real truth is, her voice was husky, because these notes were beyond her fair compass. Genius converted this defect into a beauty. * The gentleman's true name is Beyle. When the voice is trained to three registers, many notes of the middle portion are formed by the commixture of the head and chest voice, in a manner so artful, that the singer can at pleasure swell the tone to the full power of the natural, or attenuate it to the softest sounds of the falsetteor thus use either quality: a most liquid and beautiful shake is attained upon parts of the scale, where the use of the falsette is scarcely suspected. It is achieved by strengthening (through exercise) the lowest notes of the falsette; and, on Malibran is an example. Her father (Garcia) the contrary, by weakening the highest of the taught according to this method of three registers, natural voice. The singer becomes able to take and where the chest will bear it (which is per- the same three or four notes in either, and also haps not one out of a thousand) the best results in both mixed. This is what the French term follow. Where the chest is weak, it is not only 'la voix mixte. whole audience. But what art must this Thus, then, she brought us back to a gifted singer have acquired, what study purer expression, if not to that original must it have cost her to attain the power of plainness and strength which belong only producing such sublime effects from means to absolute simplicity. But when it is conso directly opposite !* sidered how far the public taste had been "This art continues daily to improve; vitiated by Catalani, and how far the love the effects it produces are proportionally of volatile execution was still to be sustained surprising, and its power over the auditor by the enchanting facility of Sontag, a star must go on to increase, for the voice of which rose soon after in our horizon,-it Madame Pasta has now for some time past will scarcely be denied that Pasta has at overcome all the physical obstacles that can least stayed, if she may not have prevented be opposed to the attainment of musical a complete revolution in the art. perfection. She now seduces the ear of her enchanted hearers at the same time that she electrifies their souls; in every new opera she awakens fresh emotions or new (To be continued.) BY L. E. L. modifications of the same pleasure. She THE STORY OF HESTER MALPAS. possesses the art of imparting a new musical colouring, not by the accentuation of words, or in her character of a great tragedian, but as a singer, and in characters which are to all appearance insignificant." THERE is a favourite in every family; and, generally speaking, that favourite is the most troublesome member in it. People These were the qualities (both intellectu- evince a strange predilection for whatever al and organic) which enabled Pasta to work plagues them. This, however, was not the the change she undoubtedly wrought in the case with Hester Malpas. The eldest of public taste; and it is one very beneficial. six children, she was her father's favourite, She has arrested the rapidity of the pro- because from her only was he sure of a gression towards the substitution of notes-cheerful word and a bright smile. She was mere notes-for the sensible and expressive her mother's favourite, because every one employment of sounds. Her use of orna- said that she was the very image of that ment is comparatively restrained; but her mother herself at sixteen. She was the graces are, for the most part, the best adap- favourite of all her brothers and sisters, betations of such passages to the illustration of cause she listened patiently to all their the passion. If she introduces a volata, it complaints, and contributed to all their has all the analogies which the philosophy amusements; an infallible method, by the of the mind, as well as of the art, has de- by, of securing popularity on a far more extermined are the vocal media of emotions, tended scale. and which are common to the representa- Mr. Malpas was the second son of a prostion and the thing represented: e. g. rage, perous tradesman in Wapping, a sickly loud and vehement, exhibits its fury by child. rapid successions of intervals; love,-soft, amusement. Hence originated a love of Of course, he shrank from active tender, and pathetic,-by sweet, protracted, reading, which, in his case, as in many othand melting tones, or appogiaturas. Byers, was mistaken for a proof of abilities. such general laws her embellishments are governed, and though it requires a wide acquaintance with the art of gracing to appreciate fully the invention, the delicacy, and the beauty of her choice of ornament, yet the impression, by which the million is governed, is always strong upon all who hear her. Her imagination, in a word, is as chaste as it is brilliant; her conceptions, as pure as they are sublime; and her excellence consists in founding her fame upon the solid parts of the great style, yet adorning them to the exact degree where fine taste limits the application of such embroidery.† *The devoted friendship of the Chevalier Micheroux to Madame Pasta was of the highest advantage to her. This gentleman was a very fine accompanist, and his taste was exquisite. He watched Madame Pasta most attentively during her performance in public, and assisted her with his judgment in private. Were we called upon to illustrate our asser tions by any single instance, we should select her could be more powerfully affecting than her reversion of the entrata in "Tancredi." Nothing citative, "O Patria!"-it had a masculine vigour that was irresistible. The middle movement, Tu che accendi," was no less vivid and beauti fal for its passionate love, its valour, and its lofty indignation. The last portion, "Di tanti palpipossibilities of the most touching tenderness and ti," embraced and reconciled the apparent imthe most brilliant execution. But our description is not exaggerated, as every auditor will acknowledge. Her transmutation of the latter movement, from exultant joy to entranced ecstacy, was at first indeed disputed-for it seemed disputable. But at length judgment confirmed the award of impulse, and the head justified what the heart could not avoid to feel. Pacini's song from "Niobe," "Il soave e bel contento," is a splendid instance of the brilliancy of her powers her use of distant intervals-her harmonic tones in the upper notes and her exquisite softness here shone out. Plain pathos, perhaps, was best exemplified in her "Che farò senza Eurydice," and in Zingarelli's more exquisite " Ombra adorata." In the midst of all this, Hester grew up; but there are some natures nothing can spoil. The temper was as sweet as if it had not breathed the air of eternal quarreling; the spirits as gay as if they had not been tried by the wearing disappointment of being almost always exerted in vain. She had ever something to do-something to suggest; and when the present was beyond any actual remedy, she could at least look forward; and this she did with a gaiety and an energy altogether contagious. Every Visions of his being a future lord chancellor,, such interest, these meals were looked forarchbishop of Canterbury, or at least an al-ward to with positive fear. There was derman, soon began to stimulate the am- never quite enough for all; and the very bition of the little back-parlour where his regret of the parents took, as is a common parents nightly discussed the profits of the case, the form of scolding. When Hayley day, and the prospects of their family. The tried Serena's temper, he forgot the worst, end of these hopes was a very common one; the real trial-want; and want, too, felt -at forty, Richard Malpas was a poor cu- more for others than for yourself. The morate in Wiltshire, with a wife and six chil- ther's vanity, too,-and what mother is dren, and no chance of bettering his condi- without vanity for her children?-was a tion. He had married for love, under the constant grievance. It was hard that hers frequent delusion of supposing that love should be the prettiest and worst-dressed in will last under every circumstance most cal- the village. In her, the distress of their culated to destroy it; and, secondly, that circumstances took the form of perpetual it can supply the place of everything else. irritability,-that constant peevishness which Many a traveller paused to admire the frets over everything; while in Mr. Malpas beauty of the curate's cottage, with the it wore the provoking shape of sullen inpear-tree, whose trained branches covered difference. the front; and the garden where, if there were few flowers, there was much fruit; and which was bounded on one side by a green field, and on the other by the yet greener church-yard. Behind stood the church, whose square tower was covered with ivy of a hundred years growth. Two old yews over-shadowed the little gate; and rarely did the sunset glitter on the small panes of the Gothic windows without assembling half the children in the hamlet, whose gay voices and ringing laughter were in perfect unison with a scene whose body has some particular point on which chief characteristic was cheerfulness. But they pique themselves; generally someas whoso could have lifted up the ivy would thing which ill deserves the pride bestowed have seen that the wall was mouldering be- upon it. Richard Malpas particularly prided neath; and whoso could have looked from himself on never having stooped to concilthe long, flower-filled grass, and the glad iate the relations, who had both felt, and and childish occupants of the rising mounds, very openly expressed, the anger of disapto the dust and ashes that lay perishing be- pointed hope on his marriage. His brother low; so who could have looked into the in- had lived and died in his father's shop: perterior of that pretty cottage would have seen haps, as his discarded relative formed no regret, want, and despondency. Other sor- part of his accounts, he had forgotton his rows soften the heart,-poverty hardens it. very existence. On his death, shop and Nothing like poverty for chilling the affec- property were left to his sister Hester; or, tions and repressing the spirits. Its annoy-as she was now called, Mrs. Hester Malpas. ances are all of the small and mean order; After a few years, during which she deits regrets all of a selfish kind; its presence clared that she was cheated by everybody, is perpetual; and the scant meal, and the though it must be confessed that the year's grudged fire, are repeated day by day, yet balance told a different story every Christwho can become accustomed to them? Mr. mas,-she sold her interest in the shop, and, and Mrs. Malpas had long since forgotten retiring to a small house in the same street, their youth; and if ever they referred to resolved on making her old age comfortatheir marriage, on his part it was to feel, ble. It is very hard to give up a favourite too late, what a drawback it had been to weak point; but to this sister Mr. Malpas his prospects, and to turn in his mind all at length resolved on applying for assistthe college comforts and quiet of which his ance; he had at least the satisfaction of ill-fated union had deprived him. Nor was keeping the step a secret from his wife. his wife without her regrets. A woman al-Hester was his confidant,-Hester the sole ways exaggerates her beauty and its influ- admirer of "his beautiful letter." Hester ence when they are past; and it was a per- put it in the post-office; and Hester kept petual grief to think what her pretty face up his hopes by her own; and Hester went might have done for her. As the children every day, even before it was possible an grew up, discomfort increased; breakfast, answer could arrive, to ask, "Any letter dinner, supper was never attempted,-in- for my father?" for Mr. Malpas, fearing, in stead of assembling an affectionate group, spite of his sanguine confidant, the probabilieach ready with some slight tale of daily ty of a refusal, had resolved that the latter occurrence, to which daily intercourse gives should not be directed to his own house. Any domestic triumph, that the advice of Hester's going to town with an eagerness writing, so often urged, had been taken too which inflicted on poor Hester the severest late, was by this means averted. pang she had ever known. "And is my The day of the actual return of post pass-mother so ready to part with me?" was a ed, and brought no answer; but the next very bitter thought. Still, if she could have day saw Hester flying with breathless speed read that mother's heart, she would have towards the little fir-tree copse, where her been comforted. It was the excess of affather awaited her coming. She held a letter fection that made the sacrifice easy. All in her hand. Mr. Malpas snatched it from the belief in the sovereign power of a pretty her. He at once perceived that it was dou-face,-all the imagination which Mrs. Malble, and post-paid. This gave him courage pas had long ceased to exercise for herself, to open it, and the first thing he saw was the half of a bank-note for twenty pounds. To Hester this seemed inexhaustible riches; and even to her father it was a prodigious sum. For the first time she saw the tears stand in his eyes. -were exerted for her daughter. Like all people who have lived their whole life in the country, she had the most unreal, the most magnificent ideas of London. Once there, and Hester's future fortune was certain. Besides, she had another reason, which, however, from the want of confidence which ran through the whole family, she kept to her "Read it, child," said he, in a broken voice. Hester kissed him, and was silent for a moment, and then proceeded with her self. There was a certain handsome youth, task. The hand-writing was stiff, ugly, and legible; though the letters rather resembled the multiplication-table than the alphabet. The epistle ran as follows: the son of a neighbouring farmer, between whom and Hester she thought the more distance the better. She had suffered too much from a love-match herself to entertain the least kindness towards such a step. The faults we ourselves commit are always those to which we are most unforgiving. Hester herself had never thought about what the feeling was which made her blush whenever she met Frank Horton. No girl ever does. It was shyness, not deception, that made her avoid even the mention of his name. The word love had never passed between them. Still the image of her early playmate was very frequent amid the regrets with which she regarded leaving her native place. The next day brought the second letter from Mrs. Hester Malpas. It con "Dear Brother,-Received yours on the 16th instant, and reply on the 18th; the delay of one post being caused by getting a Bank of England note. I send one half for safety, and the other will be sent to-morrow. They can then be pasted neatly together. I sha'n't go pack to old grievances, as your folly has been its own punishment. If people will be silly enough to marry, they must take the consequences. You say that your eldest daugher is named after me. Send her up to town and I will provide for her. It will be one mouth less to feed. You may count on the same sum (twenty pounds) yearly. I shall send directions about Hes-tained the other half of the bank-note; and ter's coming up, in my next letter. "Your affectionate sister, HESTER MALPAS." Poor Hester gasped for breath when she came to her own name. Even her glad temper sank at the bare idea of a separation from her parents. "Me, father!" exclaimed she; "oh! what will my mother say?" No; as she always does to anything I propose," said her father. as it never seemed to have crossed the good lady's mind that there could be an objection to her proposed adoption, she had made every arrangement for her journey the following week. She had taken her place in the coach, stated her intention of meeting her at the inn, and hoped that she worked well at her needle. There was little preparation to be made. Her aunt had said, "that she could come with only the clothes on her back," and she was taken very nearly at her word. To this Hester made no reply. She had long felt silence was the only answer to such exclamations. For once, like her The evening before her departure, she father, Hester dreaded to return home. "Is went for a solitary walk, lingering amid all it possible," thought she, "we can be taking her old favourite haunts. Her spirits were so much money home so slowly?" and she worn out and dejected. It jarred cruelly upon loitered even more than her father. Hes- her affectionate temper to find that her abter had yet to learn that no earthly advan-sence was matter of rejoicing to her whole tage comes without its drawback. At length family. The children, naturally enough, the silence was broken, and Hester listened with conviction, and a good fit of crying, to the many advantages her whole family were to derive from her adoption by her aunt. Still, "What will my mother say?" was the only answer she could give. When we expect the worst, it never happens. Mrs. Malpas caught at the idea of connected Hester's departure with the new indulgencies, the result of their aunt's gift; and childhood is as selfish from thoughtlessness as age is from calculation. Her parents merged in the future that present which weighed so heavily upon poor Hester. She was stooping, with tearful eyes, to gather some wild flowers in the hedge, when |