g the tragedy, introduces a bright and
joyous wedding chorus ("Let the Lutes play their loudest"), which in its
middle part is divided between male and female choir, returning to
four-part harmony in the close. The next number is an ecstatic love-song
for Valerianus ("The Love too deep for Words to speak"), which leads up
to a scena and duet for Valerianus and Cecilia ("O my Lord, if I must
grieve you"), which is very dramatic in its texture. The conversion
music, including an obligato soprano solo with chorus of angels ("Praise
the Lord"), recitative and air for tenor with choral responses ("Cease
not, I pray you"), and an animated chorus of angels ("From our Home"),
follows, and closes the first part.

The second part opens with the curse of the prefect, a very passionate
aria for bass ("What mean these Zealots vile?"), following which in
marked contrast is a lovely aria for contralto ("Father, whose Blessing
we entreat"). The next number, a quartet with full choral accompaniment
("God is our Hope and Strength"), is one of the most effective in the
work, and is followed by the trial scene, a duet between Valerianus and
the prefect, the latter accompanied by chorus. A short funeral march
intervenes. Valerianus and Cecilia bid each other farewell; the former is
borne away, and Cecilia sings her dying song ("Those whom the Highest One
befriends") amid the triumphant hallelujahs of the angels.

[13] The Ode for St. Cecilia's Day in 1683 was written by Christopher
Fishburn and set to music by Purcell. The most famous odes of the
next hundred years were as follows: "A song for St. Cecilia's Day,
1687," by John Dryden, originally composed by Draghi, afterwards by
Handel; ode by Thomas d'Urfrey, music by Dr. Blow, 1691; "Alexander's
Feast," by Dryden, original music by Jeremiah Clark afterwards
composed by Handel, 1697; ode by Joseph Addison, composed by Purcell,
1699; "Hymn to Harmony," by Congreve, composed by John Eccles, 1701;
ode by Pope in 1708, set to music in 1757 by William Walond; an ode
by Christopher Smart, composed by William Russell, 1800.

BENNETT.

William Sterndale Bennett, one of the most gifted and individual of
English composers, was born at Sheffield, April 13, 1816. His musical
genius displayed itself early, and in his tenth year he was placed in the
Royal Academy of Music, of which in his later years he became principal.