(From Birmingham)
THE BIRMINGHAM MILITARY BAND
Conducted by W. A. CLARKE
THE name of Reissiger was much better known to chamber music enthusiasts a generation ago than it is now, although one at least of his Trios for Pianoforte, Violin, and Violoncello, does still occasionally appear in programmes. He was intended for the Church, but the success of some early church music of his own, as well as the possession of a fine baritone voice, decided him to take up the career of music. First as singer and afterwards as conductor and composer, he occupied an important place in the music of the first half of last century, and carried out research work, both privately and officially. In 1827 he became Weber's successor as conductor of the Opera at Dresden, and held that post until he died in 1859. He composed the piece which is known as Weber's Last Walt?, one of a series of brilliant dances for the pianoforte, as well as many works in larger forms, including several operas.
Of these the Overture to Felsenmühle (the Mill on the Rock) is almost the only piece which still survives in the concert room. It begins with a rather furious theme, set forth impetuously by the whole orchestra. It is interrupted for a little by a quiet. tune on the strings, but that makes way soon for a return of the strenuous opening. Then there is a broader melody in which all the orchestra shares, and in which there are echoes of the first quiet tune. But the music gathers in strength and speed once more to finish the Overture with a very robust form of that same tune which began so quietly.
NOTHING succeeds like success, but there is such a thing as succeeding not wisely, but too well, and something of this kind was the experience of Humperdinck, who, after the unparalleled triumph of his inimitable Hansel and Gretel, never secured much attention for any of his subsequent works.
For Rheinhardt's magnificent production of The Miracle, given at Olympia in London, 1911, he composed all the incidental music. This Suite made from it contains five movements-a Prelude, Procession and Children's Dance, Banquet Scene and Nun's Dance, March of the Army and Death Motif, and Christmas Scene and Finale to Act I.