ADVERTISEMENT PREFIXED TO THE FIRST AND SECOND NUMBERS. 81 THOUGH the beauties of the National Music of Ireland have been very generally felt and acknowledged, yet it has happened, through the want of appropriate English words, and of the arrangement necessary to adapt them to the voice, that many of the most excellent compositions have hitherto remained in obscurity. It is intended, therefore, to form a Collection of the best Original Irish Melodies, with characteristic Symphonies and Accompaniments; and with Words containing, as frequently as possible, allusions to the manners and history of the country. Sir John Stevenson has very kindly consented to undertake the arrangement of the Airs; and the lovers of Simple National Music may rest secure, that in such tasteful hands, the native charms of the original melody will not be sacrificed to the ostentation of science. In the poetical Part, promises of assistance have be received from several distinguished Literary Characters; particularly from Mr. Moore, whose lyrical talent is so peculiarly suited to such a task, and whose zeal in the undertaking will be best understood from the following Extract of a Letter which he has addressed to Sir John Stevenson on the subject: I feel very anxious that a work of this kind should be undertaken. We have too long neglected the only talent for which our English neighbours ever deigned to allow us any credit. Our National Music has never been properly collected 82; and, while the composers of the Con tinent have enriched their Operas and Sonatas with Melodies borrowed from Ireland, - very often without even the honesty of acknowledgment, -we have left these treasures, in a great degree, unclaimed and fugitive. Thus our Airs, like too many of our countrymen, have, for want of protection at home, passed into the service of foreigners. But we are come, I hope, to a better period of both Politics and Music; and how much they are connected, in Ireland at least, appears too plainly in the tone of sorrow and depression which characterises most of our early Songs. The task which you propose to me, of adapting words to these airs, is by no means easy. The Poet, who would follow the various sentiments which they express, must feel and understand that rapid fluctuation of spirits, that unaccountable mixture of gloom and levity, which composes the character of my countrymen, and has deeply tinged their Music. Even in their liveliest strains we find some melancholy note intrude, - some minor Third or flat Seventh,-which throws its shade as it passes, and makes even mirth interesting. If Burns had been an Irishman, (and I would willingly give up all our claims upon Ossian for him,) his heart would have been proud of such music, and his genius would have made it immortal. Another difficulty (which is, however, purely mechanical) arises from the irregular structure of many of those airs, and the lawless kind of metre which it will in consequence be necessary to adapt to them. In these instances the Poet must write, not to the eye, but to the ear; and must be content to have his verses of that description which Cicero mentions, "Quos si cantu spoliaveris nuda remanebit oratio." That beautiful Air, "The Twisting of the Rope," which has all the romantic character of the Swiss Ranz des Vaches, is one of those wild and sentimental rakes which it will not be very easy to tie down in sober wedlock with Poetry. However, notwithstanding all these difficulties, and the very little alent which I can bring to surmount them, the design appears to me so truly National, that I shall feel much pleasure in giving it all the assistance in my power. Leicestershire, Feb. 1807. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE THIRD NUMBER. IN presenting the Third Number of this work to the Public, the Publisher begs leave to offer his acknowledgments for the very liberal patronage with which it has been honoured; and to express a hope that the unabated zeal of those who have hitherto so admirably conducted it, will enable him to continue it through many future Numbers with equal spirit, variety, and taste. The stock of popular Melodies is far from being exhausted; and there is still in reserve an abundance of beautiful Airs, which call upon Mr. Moore, in the language he so well understands, to save them from the oblivion to which they are hastening. LETTER ON MUSIC, ΤΟ THE MARCHIONESS DOWAGER OF DONEGAL. PREFIXED TO THE THIRD NUMBER. WHILE the Publisher of these Melodies very properly inscribes them to the Nobility and Gentry of Ireland in general, I have much pleasure in selecting one from that That Eden, where th' immortal brave Whose bowers beyond the shining wave, Ah dream too full of sadd'ning truth! Are like the hopes I built in youth,- LAY HIS SWORD BY HIS SIDE. LAY his sword by his side 77,- it hath serv'd him too well To the last moment true, from his hand ere it fell, Yet pause-for, in fancy, a still voice I hear, As if breath'd from his brave heart's remains ;Faint echo of that which, in Slavery's ear, Once sounded the war-word, "Burst your chains!" And it cries, from the grave where the hero lies deep, "Tho' the day of your Chieftain for ever hath set, "Oh leave not his sword thus inglorious to sleep,"It hath victory's life in it yet! "Should some alien, unworthy such weapon to wield, "Dare to touch thee, my own gallant sword, "Then rest in thy sheath, like a talisman seal'd, "Or return to the grave of thy chainless lord. "But, if grasp'd by a hand that hath learn'd the proud use "Of a falchion like thee on the battle-plain, "Then, at Liberty's summons, like lightning let loose, "Leap forth from thy dark sheath again !" OH, COULD WE DO WITH THIS WORLD OF OURS. On, could we do with this world of ours What a heaven on earth we'd make it! Like those gay flies that wing thro' air, Break forth whenever we choose it. While ev'ry joy that glads our sphere Such shadows will all be omitted:- THE WINE-CUP IS CIRCLING. THE wine-cup is circling in Almhin's hall, 78 |