The Rival Composers [pp. 758-765]

The Rival Composers.
the merits of his opponent; but a
light curl of his lips was seen, when
Piccini indulged too freely in his
pretty quaverings and tinklings.
There was great applause when it
was ended. Noverre praised the
performance as displaying the inspi riting rhythmus which alone would
enable the dancer to give true ex pression to his pirouettes and en terchiats.
" I agree with you, Monsieur Noverre," interrupted Louis, "that Sig nor Piccini's music is admirable;
but I hope you will also make yourself acquainted with the music of the
Chevalier Gluck."
Noverre replied timidly, that the
Chevalier Gluck and he were on the
most friendly terms.
After the artists had left the royal
abode, Gluck and Piccini took a
courteous leave of each other. As
Gluck stepped into his carriage, he
said to Noverre: "Do not, chevavalier, forget his majesty's command.
If I made you dance against your
will, it was to introduce you to my
music. I regret I am not a proficient in the art of d&ancing; yet I am,
like yourself, chevalier of the order
de l'Esprit, and in that character I
wish you a good morning."
Piccini laughed at this, but Noverre looked vexed as Gluck drove
away.
The rehearsals and preparations
for the representation of the two
]phigenias were nearly complete, and
the day was appointed when the
masterpiece of Gluck was to receive
the sentence of the Parisians. It
was to be performed first; the preference having been yielded to him
as the oldest of the two composers.
He was at that time sixty-five.
Treatises, learned and superficial,
were published, upon Gluck and Piccini, the differences in their style and
in the two operas; all tinctured with
party spirit, and many showing gross
ignorance of music. The perfor mers' too, fell into dissension. Pic cini had hard work to propitiate,
by attentions and favors, some who
were opposed to him, that his work
might not be spoiled by their perver sity. Gluck resorted to threats, and
made his enemies afraid of him. He
trusted to the excellence of his motto, "Truth makes its way through
all things;" and reflected that the
worst success would not make a good
work a bad one.
On the morning of the final rehearsal, the day before the first representation, young Mehul was announced. Gluck cordially welcomed
him, and asked why he had not seen
him before.
"I feared to disturb you," answered the young man. "But to-day my
anxiety brings me."
"Anxiety?" questioned Gluck.
"You have enemies; your opera
is to be produced to-morrow! Should
the success fall short of its merits-"
" Then be it so," said the master,
smiling.
"You can say that so calmly?"
"Why not? Do you think of devoting yourself to dramatic composition?"
"It is my wish to do so."
"Work, then, with bold heart!
Lay hold on what glowing inspiration
brings you, and mould it with earnest heed! The great thing is, to
stand firm, and go on with spirit and
strength. The world makes this
hard for the artist, and many fall in
the conflict."
"You have won I"
" If I have gone through life neither a fool nor a knave, still I have
my faults. To some the All-Benevolent has granted to know but little,
till what they have attained is wasted,
or in danger of being lost. Happy
he who apprehends the better part,
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