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Show 242 THE CODE OF TERPSICHORE. the names of the characters. I must, however, observe, that programmes are necessary to explain certain mythological and allegorical subjects; and also where some circumstance or event has preceded the principal action, and on which the progress and catastrophe of the piece depend. Without programmes, which acquaint us with what is about to be represented, and inform us of each principal event, upon which the whole action is hinged, a number of interesting and agreeable circumstances would pass unnoticed and not understood. Without such an expedient, the Ballet-master must necessarily employ himself during the whole performance, in explanation and directions to actors how to execute their parts. Every composer, not being equally endued for such a task, programmes become extremely useful. Those who are thus situated would be infallibly undone, should the custom of distributing programmes at the entrance of the theatre be forbidden, or should the practice of exhibiting certain devices and explanatory bills during the piece be abolished. Programmes are found to be extremely serviceable to those artists who wish to produce the Ballets of another composer, as they mark particular passages, which must otherwise escape the observation of him who did not originally compose the piece. They serve also to direct the attention of spectators to certain scenes and situations, which would have passed off unregarded. The ancients were in the habit of distributing a sort of programme before the performance of their Pantomimes; in these the piece was announced, and whatsoever preceding event had produced the subject of the drama about to be represented was particularly noticed 43. Sophrones and Xenarques always wrote programmes to their compositions. |