(Continued)
THE Composer of this Overture spent much of his childhood at sea, and passed his youth among ships and seamen. We are told that the work ' deals with seamen rather than the sea, and is in some measure a tribute to one particular ship's company, of happy memory.' It 'owes something to their courage, good humour and love of sentiment ' ; and at the close there is a memory of their gallant death in the war.
The Overture treats a number of sea songs-the halliards shanty Blow the man down (on the Horns, as the second tune of the piece), the fore-sheet shantv Haul away, Joe (Violins in octaves, soon after this), a traditional sea song The Maid of Amsterdam (Oboe and other Woodwind, very softly), then Admiral Benbow (four Horns), and the well-known Shenandoah ('Cellos). After the development of these ideas, the music take on a note of foreboding and then rises to a menace. The last mood is that of a requiem, and the werk ends with a last hint of Shenandoah.
THE Roumanian Composer, Enesco, is fond of the folk-melodies of his own country, and their piquant flavour is found in much of his music.
Gipsy music influences the Roumanian folk songs as it does those of Hungary. The other chief modifying influence is that of Slav idioms and rhythms.
Six or seven linked airs, in varying times and moods, most of which are not much elaborated. appear in this First Rhapsody (his Op. 11, in A).