of William Tell. But the notes of the French horn are those of mildness and placidity, and authors have reserved them for scenes of stillness and repose, At eventide, When the rays of the parting sun Shoot across the meadow stream, How sweetly sounds the mellow horn Along the sedgy shore! Or listen with delight to those plaintive notes on the opening of Semiramide, where the horns play the following mellifluous strain. Handel, who had fallen into disgrace with his patron, George I., hit upon a scheme of regaining the king's pleasure, by forming a band of wind instruments upon the water, to play some melodious airs, which he had written for the time and occasion of a royal regatta.* The king was so much surprised and pleased by the effect, that he sent for Handel, who was instantly restored to favor. This, probably, was the first band of wind instruments ever heard in England. Upon the water they have a sweet and Called his Water Music. † Wind instruments were used in Charles II.'s time, as appears from a passage in Pepys's Diary, page 201: Went to see the Virgin and Martyr, it is mighty pleasant; not that the play is worth much, but it is finely acted by Beck Marshall. But that which did please me 'beyond any thing in the whole world, was the wind musique where 'the angel comes down; which is so sweet that it ravished me; and, ' indeed, in a word did wrap up my soul, so that it made me really still she turn'd a - way her face, And bid me get me My heart went bump against my breast, A woeful plight for John: I am so bad - at times that I, For ought I know may come to die, If she keeps on this cruelty And bids me get me gone. |