The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-23
THE OPERA.
some of the Earliest Attempts at Musical
Drama.
[Vox Humane.

[Vox Humana.l
Pope Clement * wrote seven librettos for
operas All was not sung In these; they were
rather tragedies with choruses.
| In 1900 the popes possessed theatre with
decorations and machinery. The painting In
this edlfice were by Balthazar Peruzzl, who
may be said to be the father of scene painting
His scenery Is said to have been very realistic.
Julian de Medcis, brother Of Leon X, on
being proclaimed citizen Of Rome, gave
public plays, and had comedy of Plautus
presented for two days, the music of which
was much admired.
In 1874 Claudio MeruIo, organ5t at st.
Marks, composed music to drama, which
was performed In the presence OF Henry iii
| of France.
| Vincent Calico, father OF the astronomer,
and Giovanni Bardi. invented the recitative
| at about the same time.
Peri and Caccin two OF the best musicians
In Florence, We're engaged by two rich noble
men to write for them a complete opera
"Daine," produced In Florence $3.50, was the
result, and was the first complete opera In
modern form; these composers were, there
fore, the originators OF the opera.
An opera by the same writer's was given at
the wedding Of Henry " and Marie de
Medici Rinucci the author Of the librett OF
both the above was silly enough to imagine
that Marie de Medici loved him, and followed
her into France; the ridicule which he re-
ceived for his conceit SoOn sent him back to
Italy.
Louis XIII OF France cultivated music with
much success; he commenced many airs, and
several mOtetS which he had performed in his
chapel. Music was his ordinary recreation
when he could not go hunting. At the siege
OF La Rochelle, there being no musicians or
singers with the army, he himself wrote out
their vespers for Pentecost, that they might
be ready in time. Three week5 before his
death, and after he had received the extreme
JUNCTION, feeling himself somewhat better, he
begged Nyert, his valet de garderobe, TO sing
paraphrase Of David which he had set to
music, to give thanks to God.
Saint Martin and Campeforte, who were
present, each sang part and thus made a
concerted piece which they sang around the
bed, the king from time to time joining In
with his own voice.
He also wrote "De Profundis," which
was sung over him after his death. The
words still exist which were written by him
for his now well known "Amaryllis;" they
We're written for Mime. de Hauteforte.
Tallement speaks OF concert given once
where one OF his songs was Sung four times,
the king beating the measure. To these gath
erings he would admit none who were not
musical and no women whatever, "for," said
he, they cannot keep silent"
Under Louis XIV the opera beoame well
known in France nor was 1t any longer Dor
himself with Moliere in writing; the latter
furnishing the llbretti which were In them
selves Of the best order In 1872 he built
permanent opera-hOuse academic Royale de
Musique), and thus gave to France what it
had never before possessed national opera.
There were, to be sure, few French operas
before his enterprise; one given at Paris by
Cardinal Mazarin, In 1885, one entitled "Ake-
bar, King OF Mogul," by the Able Mailly, and
La Pastorale en- Musique," by Cambert, but
these do not deprive Luil OF the claim OF be-
ing the founder Of French opera"
La Fontaine tried to write some libretti for
Lulli, which were total failures, and declined
by the musicians.
About this time the idea ef whistling and
kissing to show disapproval was invented.
1t is said that Comedies Baron de Fon-
drieres" has the questionable honor of being
the first play that ever was Kissed.
The hiss spread rapidly, but on some one
having injudiciously Kissed the opera Of Cor
pheus, by the sons OF Lulli, the hiss was in
terdicted by law In 1890.
England'S first opera was performed in
1856. 1t was entitled the "Siege OF Rhodes,
and was composed by five persons In COLA
boration. Musicians and players were at this |
time held In low esteem, and were liable to |
arrest as vagabonds at almost any moment |
England possessed in Henry Purcell 1855 |
1880 musician OF whom any country might |
be proud. This composer soon turned his pen
TO the writing Of operas: the music to THE |
Tempest was excellent, while his king Ar |
Engllshmen everywhere.