MUSIC.
The Christmas FA te.
This work, which in its form, as well as in the time of its appear- ance, seems rather to deserve a place among the Annuals, is designed to suit the taste and challenge the attention of the privileged classes. Though the real personages whose names appear in the volume are to us unknown, they are, doubtless, familiar to many of those among whom it is intended to circulate. The text, both prose and verse, is by "the author of Clarenswold ;" the music is by Mr. KIRBY ; and the work is dedicated to " CHARLES DOYNE SII.LERY, Knight of the So- vereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Rhodes, and Malta, author of Vallery and the Royal Mariner." This announcement is sufficient to enable those who are read in the works of the unknown author of Clarenswold, or his magnificently-titled fellow labourer, to estimate the probable value of the Christmas Fite: but to others it may be neces- sary to impart, that it describes the preparation for and performance of such an entertainment by Lady Louisa Belmont, the Master of Dugs. dale, and other titled and interesting personages. The descriptive part of the work is given in such choice and well-adorned phrases as these—.
" But, beautifully though Edmund had sung of the smile and laugh of Alice Lee, and sweetly Laura of the delights of love, and the balm-breathing sympa- thies of evening,—ay, brightly as our own dream-suggested smile dawned upon each hearer's heart, and overpoweringly-pathetic as was the strain of Loursa's woes and sweet content,—still the song of Arthur Bridgton may be fairly said to have divided the laurels with the beet.", This quotation will relieve us from the task of entering on any dis- cussion of the musical merits of the volume, as the respective beauties of the songs are herein set forth in more attractive and appropriate language than we could command. It is enough to say, that the songs thus described are not ideal effusions of fancy, but are to be found in real crotchets and quavers ; and that the purchasers of the Christmas File may delight themselves in turn with the airs, as well as some others, thus eloquently described.
We need only add, that the interesting and courtly group is presented to the eye in a lithographed title; that the volume is handsomely bound, embossed, and gilt ; and that it seems every way worthy the patronage of the class for whose use and benefit it is especially designed.
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