Page 190

1The Artists' Fund Society.
that will mellow with time; but it has
not the innate strength, the heavy force
of the Irish, nor tuhe similar self-asser-
tion of the Spanish; without the mourned
past of the Italian and Scotch, it has
with its hope of the future no definite
wish, no determination; touching the
surface lightly, and with little self-con-
trol; hoping, but not intending, some
undefined blessing; more inclined to
play with the present than to go on to
the future, it speaks a race-life culmi-
inating, but without glory, and without
sorrow; its plaintive tones are the sor-
row of to-day, mingled with to-day's
pleasures; its hope is the reaction of a
light heart, between the moments of
discontent and enniti.
The French music swells, and fades
easily; its characteristic is, grace of
motion, combined with sweetness of
sound, full, with little or no reserve,
though some self-control. When plain-
tive it yearns for the existing, though
absent or unattainable; its past is for-
gotten, its future unheeded rising and
falling with equal grace, but little iEolian
swell of the Irish, little Scotch longing
regret, but perhaps more of the latter
than the former, especially in the airs
of Normandy; the airs of Provence
should be even lighter, more elastic,
more like the Italian ; the whole is the
voice of a race-life, self-absorbed, Pas-
sant; rich in fancy and feeling, but of
less energy than hi-Aght have been ex-
pected.
The Scandinavian, from the huge
anthems of " Tordenshiol " and " Nils
Juel " to the " Ung Soeman " and
"IKjarlighed med et frit mod,? shows
much strength, swelling grandly, and
falling with a fulness of satisfaction that
leaves no room  for hope or regret.
There seems in this respect to be an
element wanting in Scandinavian music
that is not lacking in their poetry; but
in place of it, perhaps, may be put the
falling to a low note, gradually to rise
with retarding motion, on the last
sound. This, if not a Norwegian pecu-
liarity, is certainly a characteristic.
The whole of the Scandinavian music
strikes its notes full, without reserve of
self-control, and with a long swinging
motion. The words Gamle Norge' seem
to represent the whole scope of music
to a Norwegian. In speaking of this
Scandinavian music, the Jodle should
be excepted; it is the connecting link
between Sweden and Switzerland (see
F. Bremer's book on "Switzerland"),
aand belonging to the mountains, is less
heard among the travelling part of the
nation than the more purely national
airs. There is, probably, in Sweden
still another music to be found when
souglht for, laving a relationship to that
of Central Asia. It should be wilder
than the Scandinavian, with more self-
control and delicate perception than
anything from Mont Blanc to the Mael-
strom, though perhaps shoyring affinity
with the Cossack.   Also, in Finland
good music should be found, graceful in
motion, and with some affinity to the
Irish. But data on that, and all coun-
tries east of those mentioned are wanting.
THE SIXTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF THE ARTISTS' FUND
SOCIETY.
IF any one should mistake this exhi- galleries.  Different artists have sent
bition for an exhibition of American art hither such different reports about
them-
" of the period," he would be led to se- selves, that no comparative
estimate of
riously misjudge that particular mani- individuals is possible, and no conclusions
festation of humanity. American art, as can be formed respecting them as
a body,
it now exists, is not to be studied in these  or their work as a whole. One
painter has
190
[Dec.,