FLUTE AND PIANO-FORTE.

  1. First GRAND TRIO Concertante, composed by FRED. KUHLAU (of Copenhagen). Op. 119. (Wessel and Co.)
  2. INTRODUCTION and VARIATIONS, with a POLACCA, on an air in SEMIRAMIDE, composed by T. BUCHER. (Op. 38.) (Gerock.)

MUSIC for the flute is seldom written in a learned and laborious manner. With this fact in view, we may venture to say that Kuhlau’s trio for two flutes and piano-forte is a clever composition; it abounds in air, not of a common kind, and the harmony is rich, particularly in the adagio, a short movement in E

, full of expression. The first and last movements are in G; the former melodious and elegant; the latter, a gay, brilliant rondo. This is not very difficult for the instruments, though it requires practised performers; and will, we cannot doubt, be exceedingly well received in any small party of connoisseurs.

No. 2 is the charming chorus and cavatina, ‘Bel raggio lusinghiere,’ which M. Bucher, according to the practice of too many flutists, has twisted into all kinds of unnatural shapes, by means of variations, in which execution is the only aim of the composer. That much cleverness, in one sense of the word, is evinced in these, we do not deny; but cannot allow that what ought to be the chief object—good and pleasing music, in which the art, not the performer, is most prominent—has been sufficiently, if at all, taken into consideration.

  1. RONDO FAVORIT de MAYSEDER, arrangé par EUGENE WALCKERS. Op. 5. (Wessel and Co.)
  2. SELECT ITALIAN AIRS, arranged by J. SEDLATZEK and A. DIABELLI. No. 1. (Wessel and Co.)
  3. Ditto, No. 2.
  4. Ditto, No. 3.

No. 1 is the eternal air in A—

[ LISTEN]

certainly very pleasantly and well arranged, moderate in length, and calling for only reasonable powers in the flutist. The accompaniment quite easy.

Nos. 2, 3, and 4 form a highly useful work, at least to those who admire modern opera airs. These numbers contain ‘Ah, come rapida!’ from Meyerbeer’s Crociato; ‘Soave e bel contento,’ from Pacini’s Niobe; and ‘Deh! Calma, o ciel!’ from Rossini’s Otello. The flute part is difficult; the accompaniment otherwise. Both are printed together, but the former is also in a detached sheet.