MUSIC.

_Reviews of late publications._

Respecting the overture to the opera of _Il don Giovanni_ lately
published, and the manner in which it was composed, the following
singular anecdote is related. The celebrated _Mozart_ had completed the
whole of the opera, with the exception of the overture, and as the
performance was to take place in a few days, the managers began to be
alarmed, lest in his usual habit of procrastination, he should leave his
task incomplete, and thus disappoint the public.

For of old
Mozart's virtue, we are told
Often with a bumper glow'd
And with social rapture flow'd. --_Francis's Horace._

Messengers were sent to remind him of the shortness of the time, and
urge him to finish the undertaking--but in vain; Mozart was nowhere to
be found. At length he was discovered in a billiard-room, half
intoxicated, earnestly engaged in a critical part of this very
fascinating game. The person who came in search of him, aware of
Mozart's passionate fondness for this amusement, contrived to remove the
queues out of the way, and refused to let the game proceed till the
overture was written. Mozart, therefore, called for music-paper, &c. and
in the state of mind we have described (the agitation of which must have
been considerably increased by the vexation of being interrupted in his
favourite game) actually completed the overture while leaning over the
billiard-table. After this wonderful effort of genius (for such it must
be called) he resumed his game as if nothing had happened--

What cannot wine perform? it brings to light
The secret soul; it bids the coward fight--
Gives being to our hopes; and from our hearts
Drives the dull sorrow, and inspires new arts.
Whom hath not an inspiring bumper taught
A flow of words, and loftiness of thought.

_Where shall the lover rest_, the song of I. Eustane, from Scott's
Marmion, has been set to music by three different composers--but that of
sir John Stephenson is preferred far before the others--the melody being
tasteful and elegant--the words judiciously distributed, and the
passages well adapted to the different voices allotted to perform them.
The accompaniment is ingenious and expressive, and the symphonies
tasteful and much in the style of Moore.

A duet composed by _V. Rauzzini_, and sung at the Bath concerts by Mrs.
Billington and Signora Cimador, has deservedly received the greatest
approbation. It is calle