The Musical Scrap - Book. Edited by FINLAY DUN.
This is a periodical of a larger size and more varied character than the former. It professes to contain original and selected Songs, Duets, &c., with short pieces for the pianoforte. The former are (in the pre- sent number) light Italian and German airs, the latter, Polonaises, Waltzes, and such like trifles, arranged for the pianoforte. There is variety of pieces in abundance—indeed too much ; the work consisting of thirty-six pages and containing twenty-three pieces. We should have been better pleased if the editor had introduced some few of more value ; another or two as good as the Andante from MOZART'S second. Quartet. Let us recommend him, too, in future adaptations from the German, to pay some attention to the motive ; and it would be well to have a regard to the sentiment also of the original poetry. In MARSCHER'S Song, (p. 8.) •• Scheweigend in des Abends Stine."
there is no resemblance either of the one kind or the other between the German and the English. We expected from a composer of Mr. DUNN'S excellence and repute, at least one original vocal composition. Great as are the names attached to some of the airs, his own would not. • suffer by comparison with any of those which the present Number contains.