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

252
THE BRITISH MINSTREL; AND
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DONIZETTL
This author's fecundity seems to increase with
his years — he goes on with constantly accelerated
rapidity; and, if greatness is to be measured by bulk,
he bids fair to be the very greatest of composers.
During the last Parisian season, he produced twi)
new pieces at the Italian Theatre, " Linda di
Chamouni," and " Don Pasquale;" and he is now
employed upon a great five act opera for the Aca-
damie Royale de Mu^ique, written for him by Scribe,
the playwright general for the French stage.
Signor Donizetti is wise in his generation ; he is the
fashion ; and, well aware, no doubt, what a ileetiug
thing musical fashion is, especially in his branch
of the art, he is busily making hay while the sun
shines. But such great and general popularity, it
may be assumed, cannot be altogether undeserved.
In order to attract, there must be attractive qualities;
and the people attracted, it must be remembered,
are not a rade and uncultivated rabble, but the
most refined and polished audiences all over Eu-
rope. Still, however, popularity (in music, at all
events) has never been found a test of merit. On
the contrary, the popularity of musical composers
has generally been in the inverse ratio of the great-
ness and originality of their genius. When we
recall the names of illustrious and naw popular
musicians, we must think what they were in their
own day. Mozart and Beethoven lived and died
neglected and poor, while they saw many popular
competitors reap the golden harvests which were
denied to them. Purcell, immeasurably the greatest
musician that England produced, has never had a
tithe of the popularity enjoyed by many ballad-
mongers. And what shall we say to the case of
Handel, the Colossus of music? His whole life,
long as it was, exhibited a heart breaking struggle
with difliculties, failures, and disasters, which at
one time unsettled his reason, and nearly brought
him to the grave. Those who now hear around