This is a magnificent tone poem. We first have a picture of the sea, calm, but sinister, and then we see it working up to its full power and fury in a storm. The gradations of tone range from a sombre, mysterious _ppp_ to an _fff_ of furious power. The writing is very full and rich, and there are passages of a stupendous strength and magnificence of effect seldom found outside MacDowell's own music. 7. _Nautilus_ (_Delicately, gracefully_). This is headed:-- _A fairy sail and a fairy boat_ and is the gem of the set. The writing is of exquisite gracefulness and charm. The scenery, as the little voyage proceeds, is of fresh loveliness and constantly changing, while the curious, indecisive rhythm is unmistakably suggestive of an uncanny boat trip in quiet water. The whole piece is one of perpetual charm and delight to the ear. 8. _In Mid-Ocean_ (_With deep feeling_). Here we find the deeper note struck again:-- _Inexorable! Thou straight line of eternal fate...._ The music of this piece is transporting in its majestic nobility and magnificent, sweeping strength. It is one of the most superb of MacDowell's short pieces. From the deep and sonorous opening bars, through passionately mounting fury, to the sombre and mysterious close--in all of it we are confronted with the work of an unmistakably inspired master. With this fitting, unsurpassed picture, not of the outward might of the sea alone, but of the mysterious, relentless and terrible beauty of its significance as Fate, MacDowell concluded his _Sea Pieces_--Tone poems of artistic supremacy, of inimitable strength and loveliness of expression, that will live as long as there are men and women who are stirred by the deep power of music to give expression to God's Creation. OPUS 56. FOUR SONGS, FOR VOICE AND PIANOFORTE. _First Published_, 1898 (P.L. Jung. Later assigned to Arthur P. Schmidt). 1. _Long Ago, Sweetheart Mine._ 2. _The Swan Bent Low to the Lily._ 3. _A Maid Sings Light._ 4. _As the Gloaming Shadows Creep._ This is a very beautiful group of songs, made from the best of the composer's artistic material. They are of pure and uncommonly high quality, expressing happiness, tenderness and irresistible charm. The verses of each are the composer's own, those of the last number being after Frauenlob. 1. _Long Ago_ (_Simply, with pathos_). This song has a sadness and tenderness which, together with its words, give it an irresistible appeal. The scene it suggests is that of an elderly couple, for whom life is drawing to a close, recalling the far-off days when their undying love for each other commenced. The expression of the music is very human and free from any commonplace sentiment. 2. _The Swan Bent Low to the Lily_ (_With much feeling_). This song is an exquisite and charming little lyric.