Lyrics for Music. By S. M. BINDS, Esq. This is
a small but singularly elegant collection of lyrical poetry, united to music of a similar character. The author, we understand, is an amateur, who though deeply engaged in the duties and cares of im- portant publie functions, solaces his "hours of ease" with the pursuits of literature and the fine arts. The publication contains six Songs, written to popular melodies of various countries ; of tLich the accent, expression, and rhythmical peculiarities, have been preserved in a man- ner showing that the poet is also a musician. There is a classical air about some of the verses, which speaks of accomplished scholarship; and a delicacy of thought and expression, which reminds us of THOMAS MOORE ; as in the following little song, which is united to a charming French melody- " We part, but soon again to meet—
Right soon, with cheerful hearts and true. Welcome is sweeter, yet is sweet This faithful, fond adieu, adieu! Thy sunny smile, when present, cheers ; But there's a moonlight memory too, The night of absence that endears ;— Adieu, adieu!" "The Landsturm " is a bold and martial strain of poetry and music, breathing the soul of KoRNER. The " Turkoman Song" is full of cha- racter ; and the poet has not been less happy in seizing its wild and free spirit than in accommodating its singular rhythm to a very elegant English metre. "First Forgetting" is one of those little bits of simple pathos which go at once to the heart : it is, we think, the gem of the collection.
The pianoforte accompaniment to the melodies is (what such things ought to be) perfectly easy, simple, and unpretending ; calculated to support the voice, without in the slightest degree interfering with it, or distracting the attention of the listener.
Previous page
