Sir Arthur Sullivan; Life Story, Letters, and Reminiscences - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ... sullivan as A composer by B. W. findon to anticipate posterity is a hazardous undertaking, and a most invidious task is it even to endeavour rightly to place a man in artistic rank among his contemporaries, for, however impartial the critic, the sympathetic leaning of his nature, due to association, personal predisposition, or zealous appreciation of what he considers pleasing and beautiful must inevitably sway his judgment. If, therefore, there appears in this short critical review of Sir Arthur Sullivan's life-work an admiration which others less sympathetically inclined may deem excessive, the writer makes no apology, begs no pardon, and is content to take his stand on opinions that have been carefully formed, that are the outcome of an intimate acquaintance with the works under notice, and that are put forward with an honesty of intention born of sincere conviction. Since the days of Purcell, England has, happily, produced many estimable musicians, but not one who is more closely allied in spirit to that first and foremost of all native composers than Sir Arthur Sullivan. During the present century we have known the facile, fecund genius of Michael William Balfe, and the finished style of William Sterndale Bennett; but in each of these there was a quality lacking, and this minimised the value of their compositions as a whole, and forbade them that unique place in the Temple of Art which otherwise might have been theirs. But in Arthur Sullivan the chief characteristics of these two men are united with the happiest results; with the one he shares that marvellous flow of spontaneous melody, and with the other that mastery of refined and carefully chosen expression which gives such charm to his various compositions. True it is that...