No. 2 makes a very charming duet, requiring two players of the better kind, whose execution is neat rather than brilliant. M. J. Czerny has put an Introduzione to this, and added five variations, all of which, the finale excepted, are in character with the air, and will not disappoint expectation.
In No. 3, M. Kuhlau has proved how difficult it is to avoid the snares of fashion. He here succumbed to the prevailing depravity of taste, and wrote what may be called clever variations to Weber’s Romance, but certainly not appropriate ones. The whole of this demands two expert performers, whose time may be much better employed than in overcoming obstacles that are not worth conquering.
FLUTE.
- THE FLUTIST’s ALBUM, containing Thirty National Melodies, with Variations and Embellishments, composed by A. NICOL. 1 Vol. 4to. (Glasgow, M’Fadyen.)
- The favourite AIRS in MEYERBEER’s Robert le Diable, arranged by C. SAUST. (Chappell.)
No. 1 is a collection of airs, of all nations, that have been most popular during the last few years, each having two or more variations, in which the ease of the performers does not seem to have been a primary consideration. But the task, though somewhat severe for players in general, is not a long one, as one single page is the limit of each piece. This is a good selection, and the additions would be all of a commendable kind were they uniformly in keeping with the respective melodies; but all are brilliant, while many of the airs are quite different in character.
No. 2 is a small neat quarto publication of fourteen pages (upon which, by the by, a price any thing but reasonable is fixed), containing thirteen pieces from the opera, set in a studiously easy manner for the instrument.
VIOLONCELLO AND PIANO-FORTE.
SELECT ITALIAN AIRS from the most popular Operas, arranged by F. W. CROUCH. Nos. 1 and 2. (Chappell.)