MUSIC.
ME. DISTIN AND IDS FOUR SONS.
A CONSIDERABLE time has elapsed since we have heard any thing of this remarkable family of performers on brass instruments : they have, however, at length reappeared in London, after a long and very suc- cessful peregrination on the Continent, bringing with them a new and very interesting medium for the metallic harmony in which they excel, namely, the so-called Sax-horns. They have given two performances at the St. James's Theatre, with high applause, if we may judge of the first by the result of the one we attended, on Monday. The new horn on which they play is, we believe, the invention of a cele- brated Belgian instrument-maker, naruJI SAX; and it has been improved and perfected through the practical experience of these skilful performers. In shape, the Sax-horn is more like the trombone or trumpet than the French horn : its tone, however, has much of the softness, roundness, and beauty of the last-named, together with a prodigious force whenever that is called for; it seems also to command every chromatic interval of the scale, and to possess an aptitude for any modulation or transition of harmony, without inequalities or any necessity for those stopped notes which are so obvious an imperfection in the common horn of our orchestras. In rendering the scale of brass instruments of the horn-species more adaptable to the general purposes of harmony, the great difficulty to be overcome was to do so without deteriorating the chief quality and peculiarity of instruments whose intonations are made almost wholly by the lips,-namely, a certain fine metallic tone, which whether in its piano or forte is always recognized as one of the most powerful agents of the modern orchestra. In proportion as valves, or slides, or keys, and one mechanical improvement or another, made their appearance, facilitating execution or extending the command of notes, it generally appeared that something was sacrificed in the metallic quality of the tone, and that an approach to the howling character of the keyed bugle had been gained. The manufacturer of the Sax-horn seems to have anticipated every difficulty, and to have reconciled matters hitherto intractable by others. The instruments he has invented have in their various kinds the decided metallic peculiarities of tone of the brass family ; they are homogeneous, and form in themselves a complete system of harmony, embracing an immense compass of notes, with an adaptation to the finest nuances of concerted performance, and a facility in the handling, as it appeared through the treatment of the instrument by these able artists, which may be rivalled only by the most celebrated German trombonists .=•QUEISSER of Leipsic, or BELCHE of Berlin.
Of the performances of the Disuse family we heard two, which were strikingly beautiful, and addressed to the most cultivated taste. One was a Quintet arranged from MEHUL'I Joseph, in which Dims senior played the soprano on a short Sax-horn; singing his part, as he always does, with exquisite taste and verve. The style which he has formed by careful observation of the best vocal models, he has imparted to his family of pupils, who play with an uncommon similarity of feeling and talent ; swelling and diminishing their tones, and beauti- fying each other's solos by their nice inethod.of accompanying, in a manner that is truly delightful. The taste in harmony which the family display is as remarkable as the peculiar direetion of their native talent. The arduous efforts of the elder Dux= are now relieved in a very effective manner by his sons; whose performance of a composition of DIENDELSSOBN'S reflected on them the highest meat, and was war.nly
encored. In this Quartet the combinations (except in some remarkably high flute-like and beautiful harmonic notes) lay almost wholly in the region of the tenor and bass; and grander chords more charmingly modified were perhaps never listened to. The second piece per- haps more effectually distinguished the Sax-horn as an instru- ment of harmony than anything-its combinations are so beauti- ful, and its effects so surprising, particularly the soft flute-like tones, on which the audience hung. We should have heard more; but, unfortunately, the general performance of "the celebrated Scotch vo- calists," the Misses Srarrn, which composed the main part of the mu- sical operations, was wholly unprofitable as it respected the art. These ladies certainly sing with agreeable voices, a very fine intonation, a nice articulation of words, and a very finished execution, a great deal of modern, indifferent, or bad drawingroom music. It is remarkable, that though the style to which they have devoted themselves is of the most popular kind, their manner is quite free from vulgarity. Musk appreciable by the ordinary ears of the drawingroom is often rendered by them in a style which would satisfy more learned connoisseurs and embellish a higher species of art.
But to return to the Humus. The father of this family was originally first trumpet in the celebrated band of GEORGE the Fourth, conducted by the late KRAMER. On the sudden breaking up of that establishment with- out any provision for its members, he underwent, in common with others, many struggles. He played the alto trombone at a theatre, and for dis- tinction's sake (for his talent had as yet hardly been recognized by any but royal ears) the voice part of "The Soldier tired," on the trumpet,- an arduous feat of which he is yet master. By degrees he became second trumpet at the Italian Opera ; then for a time he was domesti- cated with a nobleman in Scotland, where his boys grew competent per- formers ; and we shortly found him and them in London at the head of a brass band exhibiting at the Argyll Rooms, and playing even at that time most beautifully. We believe that he is the arranger of the pieces performed by himself and sons ; and in these he displays a singular har- monious tact. After the performance at the Argyll Rooms, we missed him for a long time; and we are sorry for it,-it being most gratifying to trace every incident in the progress of a man who after such a ship- wreck, works his way to prosperity, and achieves his true position by the fair and legitimate exercise of his talent and energy. At last we heard of him : he had been in Russia, in Germany, in Belgium, and France; he had played before Louts PHILIPPE-had received medals from the Conservatoire and Society of the Fine Arta in Paris; he had completed his harmonic studies of the new Sax-horns ; and fi- nally, he reaches England, to play "by command" in the same Royal Castle in which he had played years and years before. If this be not an extraordinary tissue of adventures, we hardly know any in artist life: and the best of the good fortune is, that it is well bestowed, and falls to the share of a deserving amiable man. Might we whisper the moral of the tale to Court ears, It would be, that Queen VICTORIA should contrive some easier access to royal pa- tronage for her best artists, and not send them on pilgrimages to Ger- many or France for credentials.
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