THE GERSHOM PARKINGTON QUINTET
ALTHOUGH an Australian by birth, and an American citizen by choice, Mr. Grainger is generally counted as belonging to the modern English school of music, and many of his subjects are inspired by the Old Country. In this piece he makes use of part of the ' Harmonious Blacksmith' of Handel, but the bustle and mirth of the Strand are more prominent than any Handelian reminiscence.
THE splendid' Hymn to the Sun' occurs in the second Act of the opera Coq d'Or (The Golden Cockerel). The scene is a rocky gorge ; the dead from a battle of the day before, among them King Dodon's two sons. he on the hillside, and in the distance can be heard the approaching army of the King. They appear two by two and after them the King arrives and finds the bodies of his sons. As he mourns over them, day begins to break, and the morning sun shows a bright tent on the mountain side, ornamented with many-coloured brocade. As the soldiers are about to fire on the tent, it is seen to move, and a beautiful maiden comes out with light, yet queenly, step. Four slaves follow her, carrying Eastern musical instruments. She herself wears a white turban with a tall feather, and a long robe of red silk with rich gold embroideries. Oblivious of those about her, she raises her hands, as though praying, and sings this Hymn to the Sun.
In an arrangement such as this, for instruments, the music is hardly less effective than in its original operatic version.