Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-05-22
MUSIC In NEW YORK.
Arthur Sullivan Complaining o.
the "Pinafore" 0rChestratiOn
in America,
Some New Ideas as to the Charming
tlre.--ItaIlan Opera DellcateIy
Burlesqued.
Correspondence oourier-JournnI.l

Correspondence Courier-Journal.l
New YORK. May l5.-1he yora.
cious photographers say that there is /.
reward of $4,000 to be paid by some
generous newspaper publisher for !
fresh bit ofnews about the Pinafore
Well, the Pinafore has never beer
played in this country. How much it
mas been played at, the heavens alone
may tell, but there Isl great difference
between the operetta as played in
accordance with Mr.. Sullivan, the
composers direction, and the score az
prepared and executed by the average
orchestra leader. The same upside
downness that prevails in the libretto
colors the music. Mr.. Sullivan stud
led to make the music as full of CHAR.
acter as the literary part of the work
and that he succeeded in this is plain
to those who have heard the Pinaforc
in England. A friend landed a few
days ago in the metropolis, and as he
had come back with the air Of
you 'aven't anything WEAKLY first
class in this bloody country OF
yours" | was anxious to show him
what we were doing on board Of" Her
Majesty's Ship Pinatore," and took
him to the Standard to see Whifen.
who in clothing himself with the satin
and good lace OF the mimic Sir Joseph
Porter, k. G. B., clothed himself with
a histrionic fame he had vainly en-
deavored to acquire in other lines OF
stage employment. Whifen well de-
serves the encomium Of that calm
scholar, George William Curtis, who
slips up from his nine -emboweie ed home
on Staten Island at least twice a week
TO hear his melodious NONSENSE. aud
the performance justiies entirely the
remark of the same contemplative
scholar that the tuneful b~urlesque is a
fairy book for the older folks, quite as
innocent and gay as that which tells
the story of Ali Baba, or the Fair One
with the Golden Locks. My friend.
the newly arrived, could not help but
admire the pretty sisters and cousins
and aunts, who we're more charming
than any he had seen on the English
stage, and he could not resist the low
comedy of Dick Deadeye'' and the
Little Buttercup," neither could he
disparage the pleasing pomposity OF
Whiifen, but when he came to the
Orchestration, why it was
Too fast or too slow, or too hat ortoo sharp.
II any one fddlcd or sang
lie WINGED; for be judged Of a sherry or harT
In the very same way-by the twang."
In a private letter from Mr.. Sulli.
van. the composer of the operetta, To
a friend in this city, he passes no re.
greet that out Of all this harvest he has
not even the gleanines, but does saw
like a true artist, +" My only regret i,
that my music is not performed IN
America as wrote it. Orchestra
eoloring plays so large a part in IN,
works that 10 deprive them Of this i,
to take away half the attractions. Tn,
Pinatore arrangement Of the Pinalor,
does not in the least represent th,
orchestral accompaniment. and an
told this morning in a letter | received
from a friend 10 New York who hai
heard the opera here very often. tina
the effect Of the whole is quite differ
ent as performed in American thea
ters. This is a pity, because for ;
very small sum a manager might hav,
a copy Of my score, and my worl
would theA have been given to th,
American public as L wrote it. instead
Of in a garbled form; for, howeycI
cleyerly it may be scored by the loca
arrangers, 1t is not mine. | thinl
here | have a fair cause Of COMPLAINT
haven't ~
Mr.. Sulliyans question will be an
swered generally in the Affirmative
and if managers would but pay I'd tn,
London publishers the comparatiyel,
small sun demanded for the o%rigina
score, they would make a far NOR
advantageous outlay than in hirin
the brass cannon, fancy costumes an
the extra soilors with which they hav
garnished the opera. But as goo
wines are said to be the last of th
feast, SO perhaps we may have Sulli
van sown music before tho song bun
dehed vessel sails from our harbors.
TIE BEAuIEs OF PfNAFORE
are unfolded by degrees, and a studou
of it must see it many times TO appre
ciate all of its rich trayestics. Pel
haps one Of the most adroit of m
/, latter is its delicate %burlesque Of Ii
conventional Italian opera, and hei
musician and author seemed to hay
worked in a harmonious mood of "
aud drollery. Pinafore is a deft tn,
! vesty upon the high.strung compos
tons of Verdi, Donizetti aud Beiliu
and only one who looks upon the boz
! ular bprlesquo fl m this point of vie