| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Gambara by Honore de Balzac: forth to the tournament, in which the /motifs/ of the second act
reappear to make it clear that the third act has all taken place in a
supernatural sphere. This is real life again. This chorus dies away at
the approach of the hellish enchantment brought by Robert with the
talisman. The deviltry of the third act is to be carried on. Here we
have the duet with the viol; the rhythm is highly expressive of the
brutal desires of a man who is omnipotent, and the Princess, by
plaintive phrases, tries to win her lover back to moderation. The
musician has here placed himself in a situation of great difficulty,
and has surmounted it in the loveliest number of the whole opera. How
charming is the melody of the /cavatina 'Grace pour toi!'/ All the
Gambara |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Reign of King Edward the Third by William Shakespeare: KING EDWARD.
These are the vulgar tenders of false men,
That never pay the duty of their words.
Thou wilt not stick to swear what thou hast said;
But, when thou knowest my grief's condition,
This rash disgorged vomit of thy word
Thou wilt eat up again, and leave me helpless.
WARWICK.
By heaven, I will not, though your majesty
Did bid me run upon your sword and die.
KING EDWARD.
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain: he would like to try, too. So Huck made pipes and
filled them. These novices had never smoked anything
before but cigars made of grape-vine, and they "bit"
the tongue, and were not considered manly anyway.
Now they stretched themselves out on their elbows
and began to puff, charily, and with slender confi-
dence. The smoke had an unpleasant taste, and
they gagged a little, but Tom said:
"Why, it's just as easy! If I'd a knowed this was
all, I'd a learnt long ago."
"So would I," said Joe. "It's just nothing."
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from The Firm of Nucingen by Honore de Balzac: cross purposes. Now for happiness as a mental condition.
"In January 1823, after Godefroid de Beaudenord had set foot in the
various social circles which it pleased him to enter, and knew his way
about in them, and felt himself secure amid these joys, he saw the
necessity of a sunshade--the advantage of having a great lady to
complain of, instead of chewing the stems of roses bought for
fivepence apiece of Mme. Prevost, after the manner of the callow
youngsters that chirp and cackle in the lobbies of the Opera, like
chickens in a coop. In short, he resolved to centre his ideas, his
sentiments, his affections upon a woman, ONE WOMAN?--LA PHAMME!
Ah! . . . .
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