'The TRUMPETER OF SÄCKINGEN' is a long, romantic story in verse by von Scheffel, which was immensely popular in the middle of last century. It ran through more than 250 editions, and among its enthusiastic admirers numbered such great people as William the First. Tho Trumpeter, in the service of a noble Lord, is in love with his master's daughter, but his humble station is a bar to any thought of marriage. At the very end it is accidentally discovered that he is him-' self of noble birth, having been stolen in infancy by gypsies and the story ends with wedding bolls.
It was used as the subject of an opera by' Nessler, which is still popular with those who like' their music and drama to be. of the frankly sentimental order. On a very different artistic plane are the songs from it which Henschel composed as long ago as ' the seventies,' setting forth their finely romantic qualities as only a great musician and singer can do. He is to sing four of them this evening.
The first tells of a rock which stands out from the sea-shore with sea-gulls flying over it, and of a ship from which the sound of singing comes. And it wakes in the singer's heart a thought of his homeland on the Rhine where he would so gladly be.
In the second, we are to suppose the singer riding alone through the night. The summer night; each verse begins, has cast a spell on him. and all things about him, the stars overhead, tho nightingale's song, and the sound of the sea, remind him of the beloved from whom he is parted.
The scene of the third song is the green lake of Nemi, on whoso shore a minstrel is singing a sad song. But there is, too, a fair inn, and the singer reflects that under its kindly roof the minstrel might well drown his care.
The fourth song which Sir
George has chosen from the set of eight, is addressed to a Roman maid, asking her why she casts her splendid glances on him, for beyond the Rhine there is a rose-grown grave, where the beloved sleeps.