The Red Cloud chief., 1882-06-22
A Plea for English Opera.

The following is a copy Of q letter
sent by Silas &. Pratt. the composer. to
q gentleman eminent in musical circles,
regarding Mr.. Pratt's opera ~''Zcnobia,"
which is 10 be produced ut Chicago in
June, with Cary and Litta in leading
roles. supported by a chorus of 100
voices and an orchestra of GO perform
ers. The letter will be of exceptional
interest TO musicians in all parts of the
country:
The great interest you have shown
in the opera 'Zenobia' aud its success
encourages me to speak plainly and
earnestly with regard TO the lyrical
drama in America, and the causes and
hopes that have led to the conception
and completeness of the work. 1t is
known that opera in a strange tongue is
enjoyed TO a very limited degree, only
those parts hat are melodic and beau
tiful without words holding the listen
ers' attention. Dramatic work based
upon the thought solely is lost, for if
one seeks to get the sense (pathos. love,
hate, or whatever sentiment it may be
intended to portray by following the
translation, the action and appropriate
ness Of the music arc unnoticed. And
il one looks at the action. n must
guess ut the word. and in the puzzle the
syllable power. the thrill Of sense, the
beauty and strength of musical treat
ment are unheard. The prejudice against
the English language musically has
passed away, having been based upon
an improper use of 1t, rather than from
any deficiency of euphony inherent in
the speech itself; because, also, the trans
lations Of Italian operas in the main
were absurd. at times eve disgusting.
the fault being rs much with the original
text. however, IS with the translator. 1t
is q fact that Germany to-day possesses
a national opera. and France may also
claim 3 similar distinction; and when il
is known that the vernacular Of both
these countries possesses all the UNI
musical qualities of u own. and many
in addition (as the cultural Oh in ich.
dich. mich, the q in Fart. the II. the sch
as in schon. etc, in the former. and the
nasal pcculiarities 50 well known in the
l~attcrl, the Englsh-speaking nations
Justly hope for n like result in their
mother tongue. Again. the paucity OF
poetical thought, the shallowness of
plot. in Italian opera especially. in
many instances giving situations that
appeal to the baser passions. encour-
aged me to attempt . higher standard
of characters with appropriate ideas.
Thesc reasons. with the desire
to give our country . work that might
claim the respect Of the musical people.
the hope Of contributing something to
the establishment Of American Opera.
and the wish to enter > protest against
the immoral tone of many grand operas,
with the firm belief that the. public in
general viii sustain any sincere effort
at clcvating the standard of the lyric
drama in our country. have been the in
centives holding me to the work Of
completion. the dudgcy Of detail and
the task OF revising and correcting.
May l not hope for . kindly reception
at the hands Of my own countrymen. |
and while desiring no fsyors on account
of nationality. except that in consider.
ing its merits they win put aside the
prejudice SO prevalent against Ameri-
can composers. and treat the subject -
fairly ~ though il were written BY >
citizen Of some foreign land. that Il may
not be said il il . misfortupe, in music
70 b hogp IN AuoGioa"