DOI issue:
May 18, 1889
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17687#0253
244
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [May is, 1889.
OUR SPECIAL MUSICAL CRITIC.
The Great Musical event of the week, has, of course, been the
production at the Footleton Festival of the much-talked-of Cantata
“ Whitsuntide,” by Dr. Jacques Steauss Castle, by whom it was
personally conducted. The hall was crowded
with a highly fashionable, cultivated and
critical audience who were enthusiastic in
the extreme, and bestowed flattering recep-
tions on the local Lawyer, Medical Man,
Town-clerk, and Postmistress, as each entered
the hall. Subsequently, during one of the
most interesting numbers, the Medical Man
was called out; hut we ascertained, on good
authority, that his unexpected summons had
not been previously arranged by him. The
audience rose en masse when the gifted com-
poser appeared, and Dr. Jacques Steauss
Castle looked more than gratified at the
ovation accorded him. Mr. Bancollides’
poem of Whitsuntide is too well-known to
need a detailed description here, hut the
opening stanzas, “ Our feet are on our native
Heath,” was most beautifully set, and effectively rendered by the
choir. The first great success, however, was the trio between the
three swains, “ Thomas, Richard, and HenryT The chief motif is
commenced by Thomas, and is as follows
This is responded to immediately by Richard (tenor), in C
Henry then joins them with this quaint phrase in three-four time:—
This number became instantly popular with the audience, and
there was scarcely a man in the cheap parts of the hall who did not
commence whistling the above phrases. The next number was a
masterpiece of scoring. It was the grand chorus of Gay Muleteers,
and we quote the refrain, in the originality of which the gifted com-
poser has surpassed himself:—
Allegro vivace. PPP
If we had steeds that wouldn’t pro - gress, Do you
think we’d urge them? Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!
We venture to think, however, that the Composer might have
dispensed with the trick of accompanying the final “Yes! Yes!!
Yes!! ! ” with a banging of sticks at the hack of the orchestra.
Tricks of this sort have been introduced before, hut the practice,
except in Pantomimes, is not to he commended. The song by
Harriet (first Soprano), “ Arm in Arm with Henry," received the
honour of a double encore, and nothing could have been more
idyllic than the description of Thomas, Richard, and Henry, deco-
rating their hats with wreaths. The swains and their sweethearts
are supposed to witness a strolling performance of effigies. The
music that accompanied the performance was marvellously orches-
trated. The theme was in C, and the kettledrum tuned purposely
to B flat. The effect was quite characteristic.
Piccolo.
The final chorus was also excellent. The sweethearts and swains
march home in couples, the latter holding a musical instrument in
their hands, with which they accompany their chant, according to
the custom of the people. Dr. Jacques Steauss Castle, in his
orchestration, has quite caught the spirit of this beautiful, homely,
German instrument.
BRICKS AND MORTARDICATION.
Deceive a note from my Yestry telling me that, in accordance
with the recent “ Leaseholds Enfranchisement Act,” I can, if I like,
acquire the freehold of my dwelling by ‘ ‘ serving a notice on my
Landlord.” What larks! Always wanted to pay my Landlord out,
for his rapacity about those fixtures of his when I entered : also for
his refusal to whitewash and paper various rooms, a refusal which
he coupled with a most ungenerous reference to ‘ ‘ the terms of my
lease,” whereby, it appears, all repairs are thrown on me !
Curious how calmly Landlord has taken my notice about pur-
chasing freehold. Suppose he sees there’s no good in protesting.
Price to be settled by Official Arbitrator, on basis of so many years’
rent.
It is settled. Price seems simply enormous. Arbitrator had to go
by rent, and rent absurdly high. Landlord seems to have told Arbi-
trator that “he couldn’t find a better built ’ouse, not if he searched
all Lunnon over,” and Arbitrator—who must be a simpleton—actually
believed him !
Result. I am a freeholder. Proud position—only, in order to
raise money, have robbed myself of all the capital I possessed, and
had to execute a mortgage as well. Try to realise how much better
it is for my self-respect to he owner than merely tenant. Try to
feel that I’ve really and truly a home now, out of which nobody
(Ornery — except mortgagee ?) can turn me. Don’t experience as
much satisfaction out of these reflections as I ought to.
Day after sale, Landlord calls. Ostensible object, to “see how
I’m getting on.” Real one is to tell me—as he does, chuekling—
what a splendid bargain he has made. Says ‘ ‘ he always did want
to get this ’ere ’ouse off his hands,” and now “Parliament’s done it
for him.” Points out to me with fiendish glee all the defects of the
building of which I am now the happy possessor. Warns me not to
press too heavily against wall of study, or “it may come down with
a run.” Adds, that whole house is a “ shocking bad ’un.”
I am surprised at Landlord’s cool admission. Ask him if he doesn’t
feel ashamed at having built such a place. “ He didn’t build it,” he
replies. Then isn’t he ashamed at having got me to buy it ? “ Not
a bit,” he says, cheerfully; I seemed very anxious to get freehold,
and as he was anxious to part with it, why should he disappoint me ?
Why, indeed ?
Find, after a month or two, that house is really showing signs of
giving way. Patch it up (at considerable expense), and then try to
let it. Find myself describing it (just as my old Landlord used to. do)
as “this desirable and commodious residence.” Feel that this is a
fib, and that my self-respect is distinctly lowered by it.
Result of Leaseholds Act, as far as I am concerned, simply is that
I am turned from the swindlee into the swindler. (Query—Isn’t all
morality a matter of the circumstances one happens to be in F) Land-
lord seems to be flourishing—probably with money I was fool enough
to pay him for this house. When I meet him in the street, he remarks,
jocularly, that “my taking that lease off his hands was a happy re-
lease to him ! ” Find myself weakly asking him for his advice as to
best mode of letting the house. To think that I should ever have
come to this ! Feel that, if mortgagee were to foreclose to-morrow,
and turn me out of my freehold, I should be really grateful to him.
Two Geeat Spoeting Questions.—Whether Donovan will win
the Derby, and whether Derby will with Spoeeoeth. Derby desires
to play the “Demon” this year, hoping that he will “play the
demon” with its opponents.
NOTICE.—Rejected Communications or Contributions, whether MS., Printed Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, will
in no case be returned, not even when accompanied by a Stamped and Addressed Envelope, Cover, or Wrapper. To this rule
there will be no exception.
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [May is, 1889.
OUR SPECIAL MUSICAL CRITIC.
The Great Musical event of the week, has, of course, been the
production at the Footleton Festival of the much-talked-of Cantata
“ Whitsuntide,” by Dr. Jacques Steauss Castle, by whom it was
personally conducted. The hall was crowded
with a highly fashionable, cultivated and
critical audience who were enthusiastic in
the extreme, and bestowed flattering recep-
tions on the local Lawyer, Medical Man,
Town-clerk, and Postmistress, as each entered
the hall. Subsequently, during one of the
most interesting numbers, the Medical Man
was called out; hut we ascertained, on good
authority, that his unexpected summons had
not been previously arranged by him. The
audience rose en masse when the gifted com-
poser appeared, and Dr. Jacques Steauss
Castle looked more than gratified at the
ovation accorded him. Mr. Bancollides’
poem of Whitsuntide is too well-known to
need a detailed description here, hut the
opening stanzas, “ Our feet are on our native
Heath,” was most beautifully set, and effectively rendered by the
choir. The first great success, however, was the trio between the
three swains, “ Thomas, Richard, and HenryT The chief motif is
commenced by Thomas, and is as follows
This is responded to immediately by Richard (tenor), in C
Henry then joins them with this quaint phrase in three-four time:—
This number became instantly popular with the audience, and
there was scarcely a man in the cheap parts of the hall who did not
commence whistling the above phrases. The next number was a
masterpiece of scoring. It was the grand chorus of Gay Muleteers,
and we quote the refrain, in the originality of which the gifted com-
poser has surpassed himself:—
Allegro vivace. PPP
If we had steeds that wouldn’t pro - gress, Do you
think we’d urge them? Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!
We venture to think, however, that the Composer might have
dispensed with the trick of accompanying the final “Yes! Yes!!
Yes!! ! ” with a banging of sticks at the hack of the orchestra.
Tricks of this sort have been introduced before, hut the practice,
except in Pantomimes, is not to he commended. The song by
Harriet (first Soprano), “ Arm in Arm with Henry," received the
honour of a double encore, and nothing could have been more
idyllic than the description of Thomas, Richard, and Henry, deco-
rating their hats with wreaths. The swains and their sweethearts
are supposed to witness a strolling performance of effigies. The
music that accompanied the performance was marvellously orches-
trated. The theme was in C, and the kettledrum tuned purposely
to B flat. The effect was quite characteristic.
Piccolo.
The final chorus was also excellent. The sweethearts and swains
march home in couples, the latter holding a musical instrument in
their hands, with which they accompany their chant, according to
the custom of the people. Dr. Jacques Steauss Castle, in his
orchestration, has quite caught the spirit of this beautiful, homely,
German instrument.
BRICKS AND MORTARDICATION.
Deceive a note from my Yestry telling me that, in accordance
with the recent “ Leaseholds Enfranchisement Act,” I can, if I like,
acquire the freehold of my dwelling by ‘ ‘ serving a notice on my
Landlord.” What larks! Always wanted to pay my Landlord out,
for his rapacity about those fixtures of his when I entered : also for
his refusal to whitewash and paper various rooms, a refusal which
he coupled with a most ungenerous reference to ‘ ‘ the terms of my
lease,” whereby, it appears, all repairs are thrown on me !
Curious how calmly Landlord has taken my notice about pur-
chasing freehold. Suppose he sees there’s no good in protesting.
Price to be settled by Official Arbitrator, on basis of so many years’
rent.
It is settled. Price seems simply enormous. Arbitrator had to go
by rent, and rent absurdly high. Landlord seems to have told Arbi-
trator that “he couldn’t find a better built ’ouse, not if he searched
all Lunnon over,” and Arbitrator—who must be a simpleton—actually
believed him !
Result. I am a freeholder. Proud position—only, in order to
raise money, have robbed myself of all the capital I possessed, and
had to execute a mortgage as well. Try to realise how much better
it is for my self-respect to he owner than merely tenant. Try to
feel that I’ve really and truly a home now, out of which nobody
(Ornery — except mortgagee ?) can turn me. Don’t experience as
much satisfaction out of these reflections as I ought to.
Day after sale, Landlord calls. Ostensible object, to “see how
I’m getting on.” Real one is to tell me—as he does, chuekling—
what a splendid bargain he has made. Says ‘ ‘ he always did want
to get this ’ere ’ouse off his hands,” and now “Parliament’s done it
for him.” Points out to me with fiendish glee all the defects of the
building of which I am now the happy possessor. Warns me not to
press too heavily against wall of study, or “it may come down with
a run.” Adds, that whole house is a “ shocking bad ’un.”
I am surprised at Landlord’s cool admission. Ask him if he doesn’t
feel ashamed at having built such a place. “ He didn’t build it,” he
replies. Then isn’t he ashamed at having got me to buy it ? “ Not
a bit,” he says, cheerfully; I seemed very anxious to get freehold,
and as he was anxious to part with it, why should he disappoint me ?
Why, indeed ?
Find, after a month or two, that house is really showing signs of
giving way. Patch it up (at considerable expense), and then try to
let it. Find myself describing it (just as my old Landlord used to. do)
as “this desirable and commodious residence.” Feel that this is a
fib, and that my self-respect is distinctly lowered by it.
Result of Leaseholds Act, as far as I am concerned, simply is that
I am turned from the swindlee into the swindler. (Query—Isn’t all
morality a matter of the circumstances one happens to be in F) Land-
lord seems to be flourishing—probably with money I was fool enough
to pay him for this house. When I meet him in the street, he remarks,
jocularly, that “my taking that lease off his hands was a happy re-
lease to him ! ” Find myself weakly asking him for his advice as to
best mode of letting the house. To think that I should ever have
come to this ! Feel that, if mortgagee were to foreclose to-morrow,
and turn me out of my freehold, I should be really grateful to him.
Two Geeat Spoeting Questions.—Whether Donovan will win
the Derby, and whether Derby will with Spoeeoeth. Derby desires
to play the “Demon” this year, hoping that he will “play the
demon” with its opponents.
NOTICE.—Rejected Communications or Contributions, whether MS., Printed Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, will
in no case be returned, not even when accompanied by a Stamped and Addressed Envelope, Cover, or Wrapper. To this rule
there will be no exception.