Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, CompleteVarious
General
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, Complete
Various
English wit and humor -- Periodicals
The sublimity of which query is manifestly insisted on by the author, by
his having it printed in capitals.
When the curtain fell, there arose an uproarious shout for the author;
but instead of the mantle of the Elizabethan poets, which, it has been
said, he commonly wears, the most attractive garment that met the view
was an expansive white waistcoat. This latter exhibition concluded the
entertainments, strictly so called; for though a farce followed, it
turned out a terrible bore.
CONCERTS DETE. If the advance of musical science is to be effected by
indecent tableaux vivansby rattling peas against sieves, and putting
out the lights (appropriately enough) when Beethoven is being
murderedby the most contemptible class of compositions that ever was
put upon score-paper, and noised forth from an ill-disciplined bandif
these be the means towards improving musical taste, Monsieur Jullien is
undoubtedly the harmonic regenerator of this country. He is a great
mangreat in his own estimationgreat to the ends of his moustachios and
the tips of his glovesa great composer, and a great charlatanex. gr.:
The overture to the promenade concerts usually consists of a pantomime
entirely new to an English audience. Monsieur Jullien having made his
appearance in the orchestra, seats himself in a conspicuous situation,
to indulge the ladies with the most favourable view of his elegant
person, and the splendid gold-chainery which is spread all over his
magnificent waistcoat. A servant in livery then appears, and presents
him with a pair of white kid gloves. The illustrious conductor, having
taken some time to thrust them upon a very large and red hand, leisurely
takes up his baton, rises, grins upon the expectant musicians, lifts his
arm, andthe first chord is struck!
Quadrilles are the staple of the eveningthose composed by Monsieur
Jullien always, of course, claiming precedence and preference. These are
usually interspersed with solos on the flageolet, to contrast with
obligati for the ophecleido; the drummersside, long, and doubleare
seldom inactive; the trombones and trumpets have no sinecure, and there
is always a great mortality amongst the fiddle-strings. Eight bars of
impossible variation is sure to be succeeded by sixteen of the deafening
fanfare of trumpets, combined with smashing cymbalism, and dreadful
drumming.
The public have a taste for headaches, and Jullien has imported a
capital recipe for creating them; they applaudhe bows; and musical
taste goesin compliment to the ex-waiters genuine profession of man-
cookto pot.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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