| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Gambara by Honore de Balzac: "Music is subject to physical and mathematical laws. Physical laws are
but little known, mathematics are well understood; and it is since
their relations have been studied, that the harmony has been created
to which we owe the works of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Rossini,
grand geniuses, whose music is undoubtedly nearer to perfection than
that of their precursors, though their genius, too, is unquestionable.
The old masters could sing, but they had not art and science at their
command,--a noble alliance which enables us to merge into one the
finest melody and the power of harmony.
"Now, if a knowledge of mathematical laws gave us these four great
musicians, what may we not attain to if we can discover the physical
Gambara |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Ursula by Honore de Balzac: Bongrand, delighted, followed him there. Desire was playing whist with
the wife of the procureur du roi, the wife of the sub-prefect, and the
colonel of the regiment in garrison.
"I come to bring you some good news," said Bongrand to Desire; "you
love your cousin Ursula, and the marriage can be arranged."
"I love Ursula Mirouet!" cried Desire, laughing. "Where did you get
that idea? I do remember seeing her sometimes at the late Doctor
Minoret's; she certainly is a beauty; but she is dreadfully pious. I
certainly took notice of her charms, but I must say I never troubled
my head seriously for that rather insipid little blonde," he added,
smiling at the sub-prefect's wife (who was a piquante brunette--to use
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Gobseck by Honore de Balzac: de Grandlieu, as she rang the bell.
"Sardanapalus!" cried Derville, flinging out his favorite invocation.
"Mademoiselle Camille will be wide awake in a moment if I say that her
happiness depended not so long ago upon Daddy Gobseck; but as the old
gentleman died at the age of ninety, M. de Restaud will soon be in
possession of a handsome fortune. This requires some explanation. As
for poor Fanny Malvaut, you know her; she is my wife."
"Poor fellow, he would admit that, with his usual frankness, with a
score of people to hear him!" said the Vicomtesse.
"I would proclaim it to the universe," said the attorney.
"Go on, drink your glass, my poor Derville. You will never be anything
Gobseck |
