Ancient myths and miracles have always been favourite subjects for operas, and the lover of music does not need to be told that several of our dramatic composers have admirably succeeded in producing music of the fairies and of other aÎrial conceptions of the fancy. It is, however, not only in their great operatic works, but even in ballads with the accompaniment of the pianoforte, that we meet with exquisitely enchanting strains of fairy music. Take, for instance, Franz Schubert's 'Erl-King,' or Carl Loewe's 'Herr Oluf.' Nor have some composers been less happy in music of this description entirely instrumental. Mendelssohn's overture to 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' his first orchestral work of importance, and perhaps his best, seems to depict the fairies dancing in a ring on a moonlight night. But, probably no composer has written instrumental pieces which might be classed with the fairy music, so beautifully as has Beethoven. The _Largo assai_ in his pianoforte Trio in D major, Op. 70, is a remarkable instance. Beethoven does not head this movement with words intimating that he intends to tell a fairy-tale in tones. Very possibly he did not even think of the fairies when he composed that wonderful music. Be this as it may, its tremulous chords with their tenderly-vibrating passages, descending the scale _pianissimo_, occasionally swelling to loudness and then subduing again into their former soft ∆olian murmur--and, above all, its mysterious and unhomely modulations--convey an impression more analogous to the effect produced by some of our best fairy-tales than is the case with many musical compositions which avowedly were suggested by such stories. [Illustration] [64] Kiwi, or Apteryx; also called Wingless Emu. This bird is caught by torch-light. [65] 'Polynesian Mythology, by Sir George Grey; London, 1855.' P. 292. [66] Almost literally from 'The Popular Superstitions and Festive Amusements of the Highlanders of Scotland, by W. Grant Stewart; London, 1851.' [67] 'Sagen, M‰rchen, Schw‰nke und Gebra¸che aus Stadt und Stift Hildesheim, gesammelt von Seifart; Gˆttingen, 1854.' P. 30. [68] 'Sagen, M‰rchen und Lieder der Herzogth¸mer Schleswig, Holstein und Lauenburg, herausgegeben von Karl M¸llenhoff; Kiel, 1845.' Pp. 189, 300, 310. [69] 'The White Wife, with other Stories;' collected by Cuthbert Bede; London, 1865; p. 220. 'A Collection of Ancient Piobaireachd,' by Angus Mackay; Edinburgh, 1838. [70] 'Kinder und Hausm‰rchen, gesammelt durch die Br¸der Grimm;' Gˆttingen, 1856. Vol. III. P. 192. [71] 'Isl‰ndische Volkssagen der Gegenwart, gesammelt von Konrad Maurer;' Leipzig, 1860, P. 277. [72] Deutsche Mythologie, von Jacob Grimm;' Gˆttingen, 1854. Vol. I. P. 461. [73] 'Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland. By T. Crofton Croker.' London, 1862; P. 215. [74] 'Niederl‰ndische Sagen, herausgegeben von J. W. Wolf;' Leipzig, 1843, P. 611. [75] 'Niederl‰ndische Sagen, herausgegeben von J. W. Wolf;' Leipzig, 1843, P. 617.