No. 2 is a very lovely air, and, though Scotch, quite unknown to us, to which are added four variations of the usual kind. An easy prelude in a few arpeggioed chords, in fact, introduces the air; the whole filling six pages only.

HARP AND PIANO-FORTE.

The favourite AIRS in the Ballet-Opera of La Bayadère, arranged by T. LABARRE. Op. 48. (Chappell.)

WE have here the march in F, with the airs, ‘Ainsi pour me sauver la vie,’ and ‘Sois ma Bayadère,’ combined into a Fantaisie. Neither of the parts is difficult, but the greatest responsibility is thrown on that of the piano-forte, which indeed is just, for this instrument possesses far more capability than the other. M. Labarre has made a very pleasant piece out of these airs, and will do well to select a few more for a similar purpose.

VIOLIN.

THEMA, with VARIATIONS, with an accompaniment for the Piano-forte, composed by HENRY G. BLAGROVE, Violinist to HER MAJESTY. (Boosey and Co.)

THIS consists of an introduction and an air in E, with five variations. The air is delicate and pleasing; the variations are of the bravura kind for the violin, the piano-forte part being, as stated, a mere accompaniment. We find no room here for censure, and should not be justified in saying any great deal in the shape of praise.

VIOLONCELLO AND PIANO-FORTE.

  1. CLASSICAL SELECTIONS from eminent Authors, arranged as DUETS, by F. W. CROUCH. No. 1. (Chappell.)
  2. Ditto. No. 2. Ditto.

MR. CROUCH has selected for No. 1 an andante, and a romance with three variations, by Bideau; a romance by Bochsa and Duport; an allegro by Bernard Romberg; and an air, andante, by Weber. No. 2 contains an andante by Romberg; an air, with six variations, by Dotzauer; a rondoletto by Beezwarzowsky, the latter preceded by an adagio; and an allegretto by Weigl. Most of these are compositions of decided merit, those of Romberg especially so. In point of difficulty they preserve a just medium, but require performers possessing taste for both instruments. In the violoncello part the arranger uses only the base and treble clefs, which proves his good sense. He need not fear the anathemas of the sticklers for ancient practices; such folks are daily diminishing in number.