Page:A Dictionary of Music and Musicians vol 4.djvu/794

778 RUDORFF, E. To list of works add Symphonic variations and a Scherzo capriccioso for orchestra.

RUE,, also known as Pierchon, Pierson, Pierzon, Pierozon, and Petrus Platensis, born in Picardy about the middle of the 15th century and fellow-pupil of Josquin des Prés in the school of Okeghem. State records prove that he was in the service of the court of Burgundy in the years 1477, 92, 96, 99, 1500 and 1502. In 1501 he was a prebend of Courtrai, and later held a similar benefice at Namur, which he resigned in 1510. Most writers on music accord him a position as a contrapuntal composer scarcely second to that of Josquin, and the magnificent copies of his masses made by order of the Princess Margaret of Austria, and now in the libraries of Vienna and Brussels, testify to the value set upon his works by those he served. Indeed, considering his great reputation, it is somewhat surprising that so little is known of the events of his life, and that so little of his music has been printed. Of the 36 masses now existing Petrucci printed five in the composer's life-time (Misse Petri de la Rue; Venetiis, 1503), and a few more in later collections. Of motets only 25, and of secular pieces no more than 10, are to be found in the publications of the 16th century—a small result compared to the long catalogue of Josquin's printed works. Burney, Forkel and Kiesewetter give short examples from Pierre de la Rue's compositions. [ J. R. S. B. ]

RULE BRITANNIA. Add that Wagner wrote an overture in which it is introduced. See vol. iv. p. 373a.

RUSSELL, HENRY, was born at Sheerness on Dec. 24, 1813; went to Bologna, in 1825, to study music, to New York in 1833, returning to England in 1840, when he commenced travelling as a vocalist and composer. In his particular styles he has had no rival. His songs 'I'm afloat,' 'A life on the ocean wave,' 'Cheer, boys, cheer' (the only air played by the regimental drum and fife band when a regiment goes abroad), 'Woodman, spare that tree,' etc., are still familiar, and some of his dramatic songs, as 'The Dream of the Reveller,' 'The Maniac,' 'The Gambler's Wife,' etc., were immensely popular in their day. It may certainly be said that over 800 songs have either been written or composed by him. Fifty years ago (when Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand were almost unknown), Henry Russell was instrumental, through the Canadian government, in sending over thousands of poor people who are now wealthy. A memoir was published in 1846, and two volumes of copyright songs in 1860; 'L'amico dei cantanti,' a treatise on the art of singing. His last composition is a song 'Our Empress Queen,' written in honour of Her Majesty's Jubilee. [ J. H. D. ]

ACCHINI, A. M. G. P. 208b, add that the opera of 'Oedipe ' was performed at Versailles, Jan. 2, 1786.

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY. P. 210b, l. 4 from bottom, for only read first. Add that the original society was dissolved in 1882, its last concert being a performance of 'Solomon' on April 28 of that year. At the sale of its property its valuable library was acquired for the Royal College of Music. Some members of the committee determined to resuscitate the society, and the new institution was incorporated in 1882. Mr. Charles Halle was appointed conductor, and in 1885 was succeeded by Mr. W. H. Cummings, who had, up to that time, acted as assistant conductor. In the autumn of 1888 the new society ceased to exist.

SAINT-GEORGES, J. H. V.,. Add day of death, Dec. 23.

SAINT-SAËNS,. Add the following to the article in vol. iii.:—Since the article was written, the composer has produced two important dramatic works, 'Henri VIII' (Opéra, March 5, 1883) and 'Proserpine' (Opéra Comique, March 16, 1887), neither of which has kept the stage in spite of their real musical interest. The former, after a successful series of representations, was twice revived without success and almost immediately given up; 'Proserpine' was received with marked disapprobation, and only played ten times. Saint-Saëns is a consummate master of composition, and no one possesses a more profound knowledge than he does of the secrets and resources of the art; but the creative faculty does not keep pace with the technical skill of the workman. His incomparable talent for orchestration enables him to give relief to ideas which would otherwise be crude and mediocre in themselves; and it is this talent which makes him the one French musician most fitted to compete with the classic masters of the Symphony. His weakness consists not only in the inequality of his inspiration, but also in the indecision of his artistic principles; this is shown in all his compositions, and it is this which leads him to place excellent and objectionable passages in juxtaposition. For the same reason his works are on the one hand not frivolous enough to become popular in the widest sense, nor on the other do they take hold of the public by that sincerity and warmth of feeling which is so convincing. Saint-Saëns, who was made a knight of the Légion d'honneur in 1867, and an officer of the same in July 1884, is always the same incomparable pianist. It would even seem that