Rezension: “Polacca brillante” von Carl Maria von Weber

• 1. Hilarité, Polacca Brillante, composée par C. M. von Weber. (Wessel and Stodart, Frith Street.)
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We have never estimated the piano-forte compositions of Weber so highly as his vocal and orchestral works. In the former his genius seems painfully bounded, – it appears to want the means of developement, and flies with unceasing activity to all parts of the instrument, as if endeavouring to escape from so circumscribed a field into one of ampler dimensions. His addiction also to unequal, jirking‡ notes, – to the dotted semiquaver alternately with the demisemiquaver – so apparent in all he has written for the pianoforte, together with his hurried passages of triplets, betray something like impatience; and whatever may have been the feeling that produced such results, they certainly do not excite the most agreeable emotions in the majority of well-judging hearers. This opinion is strengthened by the present Polacca (in e) which exhibits the peculiarities we have mentioned; though the author’s genius always will display itself in some shape or other, and often shines forth in the work before us, particularly in the cantabile, pages 2 and 3*, which is like a tranquil, beautiful episode, in the midst of a hurried, vehement oration.

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The […] compositions are only adapted to superior performers; they are full of difficulties, and […] do not possess attraction enough to urge the less advanced player to any extraordinary exertions.