Glen Collection of printed music > Printed music > British minstrel, and musical and literary miscellany

THE BRITISH MINSTREL; AND
guitar, with a long neck, and only two strings, the
lowest of which is the bass, and upon the superior
one the melody is played. The dance, executed by
two persons, a youth and a maiden, is often full of
grace. The latter moves in short sliding steps,
while the lad follows quicker or slower, as the sen-
timent which the music expresses may require.
The pining desire of the lover, the diffidence of the
beloved, their meeting, his intreating her to hear
him, her cold repulse, the increasing passion of the
youth, the coquetry of the maiden, the pretended
flight of the swain, her regret, and gradual yielding,
in which she with much expression exhibits in-
creasing tenderness in her glances, until at length
they hold each other in embrace— in short, the en-
lire dance is a little romance, represented with
natural truth.
Young men and maidens also, upon certain oc-
casions, dance the centre dance, which they ac-
company with their voices, without any instrument.
Solo dances are frequent among the Cossacks of
the Don, in which they develope great corporeal
elasticity. Lastly, the ziganka is a wild, tiery
measure, bordering upon a sensual riot, which is
danced by the gypsies, who are found in Russia in
great multitudes, and from whom bands of dancers
come into the cities, where they exhibit their art at
the evening parties of the nobility. In these bands
damsels are seen of the most attractive beauty, which
is still further increased by their fantastic costume.
The musical accompaniments to their dance are
wild and striking. The dancers also frequently
accompany themselves with a small tambourine,
and with the so-called " loshki" which consists of
two wooden spoons, the handles of which are fur-
nished with small bells, and are forcibly struck to-
gether. In St Petersburgh, these national dances
are frequently introduced as an interlude at the
theatre, and are admirably executed by the mem-
bers of the corps de baUet. — St. Petersburgh, Sfc, a»
\8a3-4,by M. vim Tiett
SONNET TO SLEEP.
Sleep, silence' child, sweet father of soft rest,
Prince whose approach peace to all mortals
brings,
Indifferent host to shepherds and to kings ;
Sole comforter of minds which are oppress'd;
Loe, by thy charming rod, all breathing things
Lie slumbering, with forgetfulness possest,
And yet o'er me to spread thy drowsie wings
Thou spar'st (alas), who cannot be thy guest.
Since I am thine, O come, but with that face
To inward light which thou art wont to show,
With feigned solace ease a true felt woe ;
Or if, deafe god, thou do deny that grace,
Come as thou wilt, and what thou wilt
queath,
I long to kiss the image of my death.
Willimti Drummond, bom at Hantkomden, \3th
Dec, 1585. Died ith Dec, 1649.
be-
MUSICAL JOKE.
Jonathan Battishill, an eminent musician of the
last century, hearing that Dr. Nares, then master of
the children of the King's Abbey, was somewhat
unwell, asked what was his complaint? Informed
that it chiefly consisted of a singing in the Doctor's
head, answered, " that's a favourable symptom, for,
if there be singing in his head now, who knows but
that some time or other there may be music there."
AMIDST THE MYRTLES AS I WALK.
GLEE FOB FIVE VOICES.
Moderate.
J. Battishill.
SOPKANO.
ALTO.
TENOR.
TENOR.
BASS.
A - midst the
myr - ties
walk, Love and mj