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Music from the South. 91 |
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written for France, not for Italy, and written to a stupid book, setting forth a great transaction. In Pcllini's operas the dim introduction to the Druidical tragedy of 'Norma' may be cited: in Donizetti's little beyond the 'Barcarole' in 'Marino Faliero,' the Savoyard's tune to his hurdy-gurdy in ' Linda,' the Swiss song in ' Betly,' and the convent (or fourth) act of ' La Favorita,' which having been impossible in Italy, under censorship, was written, as was 'Guillaume Tell/ for France. In Signor Verdi's works, I can but call to mind a barcarole in 11 due Foscari,' another in ' Les Vepres Siciliennes,' a sunrise attempted in ' Attila,' and some use of the genuine gipsy drawling closes in the anvil chorus of his 'II Trovatore.' Nothing can be paler and more puerile than the music given by him to the weird sisters in his ' Macbeth.'
It is important that the above characteristics, distinctions and examples should be borne in mind, while dealing with the form and bearing of national music in Italy. Let me now specify a few features which are of special and marking interest.
From the Sicilies the land appears to have derived what may be called its pastoral music; having a peculiar rhythm and humour of its own, which |
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