nd
as she is unable to leave her element he follows her to her abode. She
seeks the Sea-King to obtain his consent to their union, but returns to
her lover with the sad message that she is doomed to death for loving a
mortal. He in turn is driven from the Sea-King's realm, and is cast back
by the tempest to the shores of the upper world; and the work closes with
the laments of the sea-spirits for the maiden, and of the serfs for their
master.

After an expressive orchestral introduction the cantata opens with a
chorus of the serfs (tenors and basses) ("Ere the Wine-cup is dry"),
followed by a very romantic chorus of sea-maidens, the two at times
interwoven and responsive,--the one describing Lord Dunkerron's nightly
vigils on the seashore, and the other the melody of the maidens which
tempts him. A charming orchestral intermezzo, full of the feeling of the
sea, ensues, and is followed by recitative and aria ("The full Moon is
beaming") for Dunkerron, which is very simple in style but effective as a
song, even apart from its setting. It leads up to another chorus of the
sea-maidens ("Let us sing, the moonlit Shores along") and a long love
dialogue between Dunkerron and the Maiden. The next number is a very
spirited and picturesque chorus ("Down through the Deep") describing the
passage of the lovers to the Maiden's home, which is followed by a
sturdy, sonorous recitative and aria for bass voice ("Oh, the Earth is
fair in Plain and Glade") sung by the Sea-King. Two very attractive
choruses follow, the first ("O Storm King, hear us") with a solo for the
Sea-King, and the second ("Hail to thee, Child of the Earth") by the
sea-maidens. Another graceful melody, "Our Home shall be on this bright
Isle," is assigned to the Maiden, leading to a duet with Dunkerron, in
which she announces her departure to obtain the Sea-King's consent to
their union. A chorus of the storm-spirits ("Roar, Wind of the Tempest,
roar") indicates her doom and leads up to the finale. A powerful trio for
the Maiden, Dunkerron, and Sea-King, followed by the angry commands of
the latter ("Hurl him back!"), tells of the death of the lovers, and the
work closes as it opened, with the intermingled choruses of serfs and
sea-maidens, this time, however, full of lamentation over the sad
tragedy.

King Rene's Daughter.

"King Rene's Daughter," a cantata for female voices only, the poem by
Frederick Enoch, was written in 1871. The st