Scan 143
The American History and Encyclopedia of music Operas Vol. 1, 1910
4 lines. Read by computer on 10 September 2026. Printed page 115. See the scan on archive.org.
1happily united, while the prayers of the devout and thankful Swiss ascend to heaven.
3The overture is one of the best of its kind, and ranks easily among the most widely popular of any in the entire range of orchestral literature. It is the only dramatic overture written by Rossini, and with its picture first of mountain calm, then its great storm scene, its trumpet call to freedom, its stirring Swiss air, "Ranz des Vaches" ("Calling of the cows"), it is one of the most perfect and beautiful of introductions. The opening part was written for five solo violoncellos accompanied by the other 'cellos and double basses, but frequently we hear wind instruments in place of part of the 'cellos. The deep voices of 'cellos and basses, or of bassoons, speak of the loneliness and serenity of the Alpine heights, the harmony and solitude of nature, and as opera deals with men, we feel that the music is picturing repose and harmony in human life; but as a strong contrast there follows the great storm scene, in which the entire orchestra participates. It is realistic, we see the flashes of lightning, we hear the thunder reverberating among the mountains, and then the descent of the rain. Esther Singleton in reviewing this famous overture says of this part: "While this storm has not the grandeur of Beethoven's in the Pastoral Symphony, nor the awe inspiring quality of that in Gluck's Iphigene en Tauride, nor the realistic effect of the Vorspiel to Die Walküre, it is full of majesty." The storm subsides and there is heard a tale in melody of pastoral life in which occurs the charming ranz des vaches, and we hear the soft tinkle of the bell of the flocks which are grazing near by, and hear the shepherd singing gay snatches of song. Again all is calm and repose, but added to the calm of the first part we feel a freshness and simple gaiety in the scenes depicted, rather than solitude. The closing part of the overture is brilliant, and a great depth of feeling is displayed in the gay melody of the violins.
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