THE HARMONICON; a Journal of Music for September, 1831. London. Longman. ANOTHER excellent number of this popular work. The papers introduced in it are a Memoir of Dr. Benjamin Cooke, a continuation of the paper on Vocal Music, commenced in a former number, which is admirably supported throughout, a continuation of the Notices of the Ecclesiastical Choirs of the United Kingdom, a caustic paper on the subject of Paganini's grasping manoeuvres, Reviews of New Music, Concerts, the Drama, &c. &c. The paper on Vocal Music, which is stated to have been extracted from an American paper, originally appeared in that sensible and elegant work (which we cannot too highly recommend) the "Young Lady's Book." In a future number we shall hope to be enabled to transfer it to our pages, for a more cleverly written article, and more to the purpose, could scarcely have been penned. Our present extract is taken from the dramatic notice of the English Opera, and as we have already devoted so much space to a notice of the abilities of the Italian professor, we cannot but feel anxious to do justice to the talents of our own countryman. The "Harmonicon " states "No sooner was it reported that a musical wonder was exhibiting at Sadler's Wells-a place quite foreign, if not exactly a terra incognita, to us at the west end of the town-than he was engaged by Mr. Arnold, and has not only very much assisted in drawing audiences, but proved, to a more widely extended circle, that, as a competitor of the grand signor, he wants nothing but friends among the influential people of the daily press to render him & formidable one. Mr. Collins is called the English Paganini, though, if a priority of appearance as a public performer is to determine the titular addition, it may perhaps be only fair to call PAGANINI the Italian Coltins; for, from the programme, now on our table, of a concert given by the Harmonic Society of Plymouth, so long since as 1817, it appears that our own Orpheus there performed his miracles fourteen years ago, which was, past all doubt, full a dozen years before he ever heard even the name of his rival.* "Mr. Collins, on the nights when we have been present, performed a concerto, standing in front of the stage, and without book, in which he introduced harmonics not only above, but also below, his fingers. The Italian does not do the latter, but he produces double harmonics, which the other never attempts. They, therefore, are so far even. Collins, by loosening the hairs of his bow, and placing his violin between these and the stick, plays slow movements in four real parts, the effect of which is, seriously speaking, as beautiful as surprising, for his harmony is good and his intonation perfect. His pizzicato and his single-string frolics are quite on a par with Paganini's. But when he fixes his bow upright between his knees, and, by a quick motion of the violin on it, performs a rapid variation, he is then unique, and his triumph is complete. Not, however, satisfied with what ought to procure him an ovation at least, he latterly played a melody without ever touching the string with his left hand-by the revolution of a peg only did he work the wonder! And if this be not allowed as a set-off against Paganini's crowing and clucking, justice here is deaf to the appeals of an Englishman, and Mr. Collins must console himself by the reflection, that no man is either a prophet or a prodigy in his own country. But he may go abroad and be idolized. Miss Smithson failed here, and M. Laporte was thought nothing of in Paris; the moment they shifted the scene and became foreigners, that moment they were declared great. "We will only add, and gravely, that Mr. Collins is a very clever person; his tone is He says, with great candour, that he considered the playing on one string, &c. as a kind of joke, as mere pastime, till he recently found that, by cultivating his talents for such exploits, he might make them turn to a profitable account. full and clear, his intonation pure, and, though his own compositions cannot be extolled, yet his taste is good. He plays an adagio with great feeling, and in a su perior manner; and when it is known that only two months have elapsed since he was tempted to recover by practice those arts which it seems are now so much more lucrative than a pursuit of the regular course is likely to prove, it may fairly be inferred, that in a short time he will, in the miraculous line, surpass all his contemporaries." The music consists of an air and variations, composed by A. F. Wustrow, a very spirited affair; a cavatina, "Would, dearest, thou wert near me !" from Spohr's opera, Faust; a song, "Farewell to Northmaven," composed by G. Hogarth, Esq. to words from Sir Walter Scott's "Pirate;" an aria in the last scene of Anna Boleyn, by Donizetti; a sweet ballad, "The Twilight Hour," set to music by Dr. Carnaby, to the following pretty words by Mrs. C. B. Wilson, which we have been tempted to extract; a canon engraved on the monument of Dr. Cooke, in Westminster Abbey; a pleasing waltz, composed for the "Harmonicon by T. Hickson; a chorus from Anna Boleyn, and the Witches' Dance, from Moschelles "Gems a la Paganini;" in all nine pieces. If these be not, in the estimation of the public, alone worth the price of the work, we think it must be indeed fastidious. THE TWILIGHT HOUR. Oh! sweet is twilight's hour! A SEVENTH FANTASIA UPON AIRS FROM THE OPERA OF CINDERELLA. Composed and Performed on the Apollonicon by John Purkis. Purday, Holborn. This fantasia contains some of the most spirited and pleasing melodies from Cinderella, commencing with the allegro from the overture, and concluding with the favourite and beautiful finale. We have been often gratified with Mr. Purkis's performances on that magnificent instrument the Apollonicon, and remember his playing the above elegant arrangement with great eclat. The flute accompaniment is an addition which we always admire by this gentleman, and we think this, by far, the most effective piece he has done. FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE, CHITCHAT, &c. THE Coronation is over-another kingly oath is "registered in heaven." God forbid that we should doubt the result-God forbid we should for a moment suppose that William IV. even without the solemn ratification with which the vaulted roofs of Westminster Abbey on the 8th ult. resounded, should do aught but preserve the long tried institutions of Britain, and the stability of the reformed religion as esta blished by law. The present moment is an awful one-may Heaven direct and preserve our country great and glorious among the nations. Our opinion as to the abolition of certain ceremonies at the coronation has been already given, and remains the same; and with regard to the proceedings of the day, they have been so minutely described in the various journals, that it would be useless to repeat them here. We shall confine ourselves, therefore, to those points merely which have escaped notice. The assemblage of peeresses who assisted upon the occasion, was most brilliant. Their dresses, with one conspicuous exception, were elegant; because, as far as richness of material would allow, they were simple; white and crimson being the dominant colours. The jewels worn upon the occasion were magnificent, and the personal beauty of the peeresses far from inconsiderable; but among them all, we specially noticed one lovely and elegant woman, who had the good taste to wear an exceedingly small coronet, far outshining all who encumbered their brows with a superfluity of golden 192 FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE, CHITCHAT, &c. dignity. But beauty, splendour, and taste were not wholly confined to the aristocratic benches; bright eyes, clear complexions, waving plumes, and glittering gems, were seen in all the galleries, though none could surpass her Majesty for attraction, independently of her exalted station. It is seventy years since a Queen was crowned; but if as many more pass away and we see as many coronations, we shall not forget Queen Adelaide-her mild, graceful, elegant, gentle, and unaffected demeanour. Never did mortal woman look more majestically, and never was fair lady's name breathed with such heartfelt ardour as by the tens of thousands who shouted in honour of their Queen. His Majesty is understood to have been highly pleased with the day's proceedings. The peerage of the United Kingdom has, in consequence of the Coronation, received an addition to its numbers in the following persons, viz., Lord George A. H. Cavendish, who has been created Earl of Burlington; the Marquis of Headfort, who has been made Baron Kenlis; the Earl of Meath, Baron Chaworth; the Earl of Dunmore, Baron Dunmore; the Earl of Ludlow, Baron Ludlow; Lord Belhaven, Baron Hamilton; Lord Howden, created Baron Howden; the Hon. W. Maule, Baron Panmure; the Hon. G. Cadogan, Baron Oak. ley; Sir George W. Bampfylde, Bart., Baron Poltimore; Sir Robert Lawley, Bart, Baron Wenlock; Sir Edward Pryce Lloyd, Bart. Baron Mostyn; Colonel Berkeley, Baron Segrave; Colonel Chichester, Baron Templemore; and Colonel Hughes, Baron Dinorben. Besides these creations, the following peers have been promoted-the Earl of Cassilis to be Marquis of Ailsa; the Earl of Breadalbane to be Earl of Ormellie and Marquis of Breadalbane; Earl Grosvenor to be Marquis of Westminster; Viscount Duncannon to be Earl of Camperdown, and Viscount Northland to be Earl of Rangurly. The brave, the unfortunate, but undaunted Poles have received a severe blow, for though two days of incessant fighting filled the fossés of their city with the bodies of their fallen foes, the army of the Russians is in possession of Warsaw, from which it will be almost impossible for their unassisted forces to dislodge them. Among the forthcoming literary works, is, we hear, one from the pen of Mr. Benjamin Ererf, entitled, "The Adventures of a Dramatist." The melancholy fate of the "Dramatic Annual" is before our eyes, but we nevertheless look forward with hope for better fortune to Mr. Ereri. The proprietors of the Annuals are, we understand, making gigantic efforts. We observe the "Winter's Wreath" promises to entwine the choicest beauties for our acceptance, and we doubt not that albeit a few of last year's charming productions will put forth no more blossoms, the success of the major part will encourage them to deck again our social firesides. We have heard that a powerful opponent will take the field in the shape of a 6s. Annusi, bearing the same attractions as its more expensive rivals. We sincerely hope that this year there may be no unfair advantage taken, but that, as originally agreed on, the proprietors will all "start fair" on the 1st of November. 'Friendship's Offering" and the "Comic Offering are to appear this year in their usual style of external and internal elegance-the former to contain papers by the most popular writers, and highly. finished engravings after paintings by Sir T. Lawrence, Stothard, Ritcher, Wood, Purser, Westall, and other eminent artists; and the latter, edited by Miss Sheridan, to be embellished by upwards of sixty humorous engravings and facetious contribu. tions of the principal male and female wits of the day. We had almost omitted to mention the forthcoming of another new Annual on the 1st of November, illustrated in the first style of the art, from drawings by Prout, under the title of "The Continental Annual," uniform in size with the Landscape Annual of 1830 and 1831, and published, handsomely bound in morocco, at only two-thirds their price. The literary department will be under the superintend ance of Mr. William Kennedy. Usurer's Daughter," by one of the contributors to our friend Blackwood, is, we hear, to make its debut in a few days. THE MIRROR OF FASHION. DINNER DRESS. A ROUND dress composed of plain chuly; the colour is a bright emerald-green. The corsage is cut low, plain behind, and arranged in drapery folds which cross in front. The chemisette is of blond net: it is "The made with a double pelerine, which falls back on each side, so as to display the front of the dress: it is embroidered round the top in a light pattern, and the pelerine trimmed with pointed blond lace, set on almost plain. The hat is of rose-coloured |