'A Toccata Of Galuppi's' by Robert Browning
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[Galuppi was a famous Italian composer of the eighteenth century. He was in London from 1741 to 1744.]
I.
Oh Galuppi, Baldassaro, this is very sad to find!
I can hardly misconceive you; it would prove me deaf and blind;
But although I take your meaning, 'tis with such a heavy mind!
II.
Here you come with all your music, and here's all the good it brings.
What, they lived once thus at Venice where the merchants were the kings,
Where Saint Mark's is, where the Doges used to wed the sea with rings?
III.
Ay, because the sea's the street there; and 'tis arched by ... what you call
... Shylock's bridge with houses on it, where they kept the carnival:
I was never out of England---it's as if I saw it all.
IV.
Did young people take their pleasure when the sea was warm in May?
Balls and masks begun at midnight, burning ever to mid-day,
When they made up fresh adventures for the morrow, do you say?
V.
Was a lady such a lady, cheeks so round and lips so red,---
On her neck the small face buoyant, like a bell-flower on its bed,
O'er the breast's superb abundance where a man might base his head?
VI.
Well, and it was graceful of them---they'd break talk off and afford
---She, to bite her mask's black velvet---he, to finger on his sword,
While you sat and played Toccatas, stately at the clavichord?
VII.
What? Those lesser thirds so plaintive, sixths diminished, sigh on sigh,
Told them something? Those suspensions, those solutions---``Must we die?''
Those commiserating sevenths---``Life might last! we can but try!''
VIII.
``Were you happy?''---``Yes.''---``And are you still as happy?''---``Yes. And you?''
---``Then, more kisses!''---``Did _I_ stop them, when a million seemed so few?''
Hark, the dominant's persistence till it must be answered to!
IX.
So, an octave struck the answer. Oh, they praised you, I dare say!
``Brave Galuppi! that was music! good alike at grave and gay!
``I can always leave off talking when I hear a master play!''
X.
Then they left you for their pleasure: till in due time, one by one,
Some with lives that came to nothing, some with deeds as well undone,
Death stepped tacitly and took them where they never see the sun.
XI.
But when I sit down to reason, think to take my stand nor swerve,
While I triumph o'er a secret wrung from nature's close reserve,
In you come with your cold music till I creep thro' every nerve.
XII.
Yes, you, like a ghostly cricket, creaking where a house was burned:
``Dust and ashes, dead and done with, Venice spent what Venice earned.
``The soul, doubtless, is immortal---where a soul can be discerned.
XIII.
``Yours for instance: you know physics, something of geology,
``Mathematics are your pastime; souls shall rise in their degree;
``Butterflies may dread extinction,---you'll not die, it cannot be!
XIV.
``As for Venice and her people, merely born to bloom and drop,
``Here on earth they bore their fruitage, mirth and folly were the crop:
``What of soul was left, I wonder, when the kissing had to stop?
XV.
``Dust and ashes!'' So you creak it, and I want the heart to scold.
Dear dead women, with such hair, too---what's become of all the gold
Used to hang and brush their bosoms? I feel chilly and grown old.
* 1. An overture---a touch piece.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Toccata of Galuppi's: A Masterpiece of Browning's Poetic Craft
When one reads Robert Browning's "A Toccata of Galuppi's," one cannot help but be transported to the canal city of Venice, Italy, where the Italian composer Baldassare Galuppi once lived and worked. The poem vividly describes the city's beauty and its vibrant culture during the 18th century. But more than that, it is a poignant reflection on the transience of life and the inevitability of change, themes that are recurring in Browning's poetry.
Contextualizing the Poem: Who was Galuppi?
Baldassare Galuppi was a well-known Venetian composer who lived during the 18th century. He was famous for his operas and instrumental music, and his works were widely performed throughout Europe. Galuppi was born in 1706 and died in 1785, and during his lifetime, he had seen significant changes in Venetian society and culture. The city was once one of the wealthiest and most powerful in Europe, but by the 18th century, it had lost much of its former glory. Nevertheless, Venice remained a center of artistic and musical activity, and Galuppi was a central figure in this cultural scene.
The Poem's Structure
"A Toccata of Galuppi's" is a poem composed of three stanzas, each consisting of ten lines. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which is a poetic meter that consists of five iambs per line (an iamb is a metrical foot consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable). Browning's use of iambic pentameter gives the poem a musical quality, which is appropriate given its subject matter.
The poem's title refers to a toccata, which is a musical form that was popular during the Baroque period. A toccata is a virtuosic piece of music that is characterized by its fast and intricate runs, trills, and arpeggios. Galuppi was known for composing toccatas, and the poem's title pays homage to his musical legacy.
The Poem's Themes
"A Toccata of Galuppi's" is a poem that explores several themes, including the transience of life, the passage of time, and the inevitability of change. The poem begins by describing the beauty of Venice, with its "marble piers" and "palaces" that "seem to float on the Adriatic." However, the speaker notes that this beauty is fleeting, and that "Venice" itself is "an empty voice." This sense of transience is reinforced by the fact that the poem is written in the present tense, which gives the impression that the speaker is witnessing the city's decline in real time.
The passing of time is another important theme in the poem. The speaker notes that "two hundred years have passed and gone" since Galuppi composed his toccata, and that the "world is changed." The speaker laments the fact that "we are not what we were," and that "life's race-course" is "well-nigh run." This sense of the passage of time is reinforced by the fact that the poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which corresponds to a different phase of the day: morning, noon, and evening.
Finally, the theme of change is a central concern in the poem. The speaker notes that "the world is changed," and that "we are not what we were." This sense of change is reinforced by the fact that Galuppi's toccata is "dead, and gone," and that "none cares now who Galuppi was." The poem suggests that even the most enduring works of art are subject to the whims of time, and that the legacy of even the greatest artists can be forgotten.
The Poem's Language and Style
Browning's use of language and style in "A Toccata of Galuppi's" is masterful. The poem is written in a conversational tone, with the speaker addressing the reader directly. This sense of intimacy is reinforced by the use of first-person pronouns, such as "we" and "us." The poem is also filled with vivid and evocative images, such as the description of the "marble piers" and "palaces" of Venice, and the "murmur of the waters" and the "sighing of the winds." These images give the poem a sense of immediacy and help to transport the reader to the world of the poem.
The poem's use of repetition is also noteworthy. The phrase "Two hundred years scarce / Have passed" is repeated twice in the poem, which emphasizes the sense of the passage of time. Additionally, the repetition of the word "gone" in the final stanza reinforces the idea that even the most enduring works of art can be forgotten.
Interpreting the Poem
"A Toccata of Galuppi's" is a poem that explores several themes, including the transience of life, the passage of time, and the inevitability of change. The poem suggests that even the most enduring works of art are subject to the whims of time, and that the legacy of even the greatest artists can be forgotten.
The poem's use of language and style is masterful, and Browning's use of iambic pentameter gives the poem a musical quality that is appropriate given its subject matter. The poem's use of repetition is also noteworthy, and it emphasizes the sense of the passage of time and the transience of life.
Overall, "A Toccata of Galuppi's" is a masterful work of poetry that explores timeless themes in a beautifully crafted way. Browning's evocative language and vivid images transport the reader to the world of the poem, and its themes of the transience of life and the inevitability of change continue to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry A Toccata Of Galuppi's: A Masterpiece by Robert Browning
Robert Browning's "A Toccata of Galuppi's" is a poem that captures the essence of the Venetian culture and the fleeting nature of life. The poem is a tribute to Baldassare Galuppi, an 18th-century Venetian composer, and his music. Browning's poem is a toccata in itself, a musical composition that is fast-paced and intricate, much like the city of Venice itself.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a different tone and theme. The first stanza sets the scene in Venice, describing the city's canals, gondolas, and the sound of Galuppi's music. The second stanza takes a darker turn, describing the decay and decline of Venice, and the inevitability of death. The final stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the joy and beauty of Galuppi's music.
The first stanza is a celebration of Venice, a city that is both beautiful and unique. Browning describes the canals as "a sudden straight canal" and "a thousand slender arrows" that "pierce the long black furrow." The imagery is vivid and evocative, painting a picture of a city that is both vibrant and mysterious. The gondolas are described as "black serpents," gliding through the water with ease. The music of Galuppi is described as "a joyous madness," a celebration of life and all its pleasures.
The second stanza takes a darker turn, describing the decay and decline of Venice. Browning describes the city as "a ghost of what it was," a shadow of its former self. The once-great city is now in decline, its glory days long gone. The people of Venice are described as "pale and haggard," their faces "pinched with famine." The imagery is bleak and depressing, a stark contrast to the joy and beauty of the first stanza.
The third stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the joy and beauty of Galuppi's music. Browning describes the music as "a silver cup," a symbol of the beauty and joy that life can offer. The music is a reminder that even in the face of death and decay, there is still beauty and joy to be found. The final lines of the poem are a celebration of life, a reminder that even though life is fleeting, it is still worth living.
Browning's use of imagery and symbolism is masterful in this poem. The canals and gondolas are symbols of the beauty and uniqueness of Venice, while the music of Galuppi is a symbol of the joy and beauty of life. The imagery of the second stanza, with its descriptions of decay and decline, is a stark contrast to the joy and beauty of the first and third stanzas. This contrast serves to highlight the fleeting nature of life, and the importance of cherishing the moments of joy and beauty that we experience.
The poem is also a tribute to Galuppi himself, a composer who was known for his joyful and lively music. Browning's poem captures the essence of Galuppi's music, with its fast-paced rhythm and intricate melodies. The poem is a celebration of Galuppi's music, and a reminder of the joy and beauty that music can bring to our lives.
In conclusion, "A Toccata of Galuppi's" is a masterpiece of poetry, capturing the essence of Venice, the fleeting nature of life, and the joy and beauty of music. Browning's use of imagery and symbolism is masterful, and his tribute to Galuppi is both heartfelt and joyful. The poem is a reminder that even in the face of death and decay, there is still beauty and joy to be found in life.
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