' '

ALLEGEI ALLEMANDE 69

the Holy Week.' Leopold I., a great lover of A ' Veni Sancte Spiritus ' by him for four
music, sent his ambassador to the Pope with voices is included in the 'Musica Divina' of
a formal request for a copy of it, which was Proske (Liber Motettorum, No. Ix. ). E. H. p.
granted to him. The emperor had the work ALLEGRO (Ital.) The literal meaning of
performed xvith much ceremony by a highly this word is 'cheerful,' and it is in this sense
qualified choir at Vienna. The effect, however, that employed as the title of Milton's well-
it is
was so disappointing that he conceived himself known poem. In music, however, it has the
the victim of a trick upon the part of the signification of lively merely in the sense
'
'

copyist, and complained to the Pope that some of quick, and is often combined with other
inferior composition had been palmed off upon words which would make nonsense with it in
him. The fact was that the value of this cxirious its original meaning o.g. 'allegro agitato e —
and very delicate work depends almost entirely con disperazione (Clementi, Didone abban-
'
'

upon its execution, and upon certain traditional donato '). When unaccompanied by any quali-
ornaments, called 'abbellimenti,' which give a fying word allegro indicates a rate of speed
'
'

peculiarly pathetic quality to many passages. nearly intermediate between andante and '
'

"Without them it is simple almost to the point ' presto. There is however no other time in-
'

of apparent insipidity, and it only assumes its dication which is so frequently modified by the
true character when sung by the one choir addition of other words. To quote only some
which received and has retained as traditions of the more common, 'allegro molto,' 'allegro
the original directions of its author. In the assai,' allegro con brio (or con fuoco '), and
' ' '

Sistine Chapel it has ever commanded the '

allegro vivace,' will all indicate a quicker time
enthusiasm of musicians for a certain indescrib- than a simple allegro an allegro assai, for ;
'
'

able profundity of sadness, and a rhythmical instance, is often almost equivalent to a presto. '

adaptation to the words about which it is On the other hand, 'allegro ma non troppo,'
woven but which, in spite of its apparent sim- 'allegro moderate,' or 'allegro maestoso,' will
plicity, are so difficult to produce that no fraud all be somewhat slower. The exact pace of any
was necessary to account for the imperial failure particular allegro is frequently indicated by the
at Vienna. The effects of AUegri's ' Miserere metronome, but even this is by no means an
are like the aroma of certain delicate vintages infallible guide, as the same movement if played
which always perishes in transit although in : in a large hall and with a great number of per-
Borne, to turn to a metaphor of Baini's, they formers would require to be taken somewhat
have never shown a wrinkle of old age.^ See slower than in a smaller room or with a smaller
Musical Times, 1885, p. 455. band. In this, as with all other time-indica-
As the man's music so was the man. Adami tions, much must be left to the discretion of the
of Bolsena says that he was of a singular gentle- performer or conductor. If he have true musical
ness and sweetness of soul and habit. His feeling he cannot go far wrong if he have not, ;

doors were constantly thronged by the poor, the most minute directions will hardly keep
who sought him as much for the more impalp- him right. The word allegi-o is also used as '
'

able sustenance of his kindness as for the more
material fruits of his bounty
hours were commonly spent the prisons
and pest-houses of Rome. He died at a ripe
old age, on Feb. 18, 1652, and was laid in S.
Maria in Vallicella, in the burial-place belong-
ing to the Papal Choir.
His published works consist chiefly of two
the name of a piece of music, either a separate
; and his leisure piece (e.g. Chopin's 'Allegro de Concert,' op.
among 46), or as the first movement of a large instru-
mental composition. In these cases it is
generally constructed in certain definite forms,
for which see Symphony and Sonata. Beet-
hoven also exceptionally uses the word 'allegro'
instead of scherzo.' Four instances of this are
'

volumes of 'Concertini' (1618 and 1619) and to be found in his works, viz., in the symphony
two of 'Motetti' (1621), all printed by Soldi in C minor, the quartets in E minor, op. 59,
of Rome. Some stray Motetti of his were, No. 2, and F minor, op. 95, and the Sonata
however, inserted by Fabio Constantini in a quasi Fantasia, op. 27, No. 1. B. P.

collection entitled, 'Scelta di Motetti di diversi ALLEMANDE. 1. One of the movements

eccellentissimi autori, a due, tre, quattro, e of the Suite, and, as its name implies, of
cinque voci.' But the Archives of S. Maria German origin. It is, with the exception of
in Vallicella are rich in his manuscripts, as are the Prelude and the Am, the only movement
also the Library of the CoUegio Romano and of the Suite which has not originated in a
Kircher dance form. The allemande is a piece of
the Collection of the Papal Choir.
too in his ' Musurgia has transcribed an extract
'

from his instrumental works and the library ;

of the Abb^ Santini contained the scores of

various pieces by him, including 'Magnificats,'
'
Improperia,' 'Lamentazioni,' and 'Motetti.'
3. S. Bach, Suites
Anglaises,
1 It wUl be found in WiUiam Ayrton's Bacred Mimtrelgy (Porker). No. 3.
2 'Senza aver contratto ruga di vecchiezza.'