wandering, followed by a
characteristic chorus of voices of earth and air bidding him pass to the
tree under whose leaves it was foretold that truth should come to him for
the saving of the world. A short bass recitative leads to a vigorous
descriptive chorus relating the temptations of Siddartha, in which the
orchestra is used with masterly effect. A brief soprano solo, the
apparition of Yasodhara among the wanton shapes floating about the tree,
imploring him to return, and the tenor response, bidding the shadow
depart, intervene; and then the chorus resumes with increased vigor,
reaching a furious climax as the legions of hell tempt him, but dying
away in the close to phrases of tender beauty:--

"Radiant, rejoicing, strong, Buddha arose,
And far and near there spread an unknown peace.
As that divinest daybreak lightened earth,
The world was glad."

The third part (the Return) opens with a soprano solo of a slow and
mournful character, relating the sorrow of Yasodhara and the visit of her
damsels, who announce the arrival of merchants with tidings of Siddartha.
They are summoned, and tell their story in a short chorus, which is
followed by a brief soprano solo ("Uprose Yasodhara with Joy"), an
exultant chorus ("While the Town rang with Music"), and another brief
phrase for soprano, leading to a fine choral outburst ("'Tis he!
Siddartha, who was lost"). The next number, a bass solo describing the
King's wrath when he learns that Siddartha has returned as a yellow-robed
hermit instead of with "shining spears and tramp of horse and foot," is
very sonorous as well as dramatic, and is followed by a tenor and bass
dialogue developing into a trio of great beauty ("Thus passed the Three
into the Way of Peace"). The final number is a masterpiece of choral work
both in the elaborateness of its construction and the majesty of its
effect, and brings the cantata to a close with the mystic words:--

"The Dew is on the Lotus! Rise, great Sun!
And lift my leaf and mix it with the wave.
The Sunrise comes! the Sunrise comes!
The Dewdrop slips into the shining sea.
Hail, High Deliverer, Hail!"

CORDER.

Frederick Corder, the English composer and conductor, was born at
Hackney, London, Jan. 26, 1852. He was a student at the Royal Academy of
Music in 1874, and in the following year gained the Mendelssohn
scholarship. From 1875 to 1878 he studied at Cologne with Hiller