The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1886-03-11
THE CLEFT MOTIF"
Its Proposed Extension from yvasneria
Opera to American Drama.

Opern to American Drama.
It is stated with much imprcssivencs;
that Western dramatist is about tt
construct play in which he will in
troduGc lett motifs after the manner o.
Wagner. The lett motif in music is fi.
miliar TO all lovers ol higli-class concerts
and of Wagnerian opera. The LEADING
motive, we may state for Tie benefit oi
those who have forgotten, is a theme
which recurs whenever certain incl
dents or emotions are referred 10. Thus,
whenever in "Lohcngrin" tho jealousy
of Ortrud is spoken of q certain sue
ccssion Of sounds is emitted by the Or
chestra.
1t will probably be inferred that the
Western dramatist docs not contenl-
plate coniining himself to music. This
would be simply following Wagner
without enlarging upon the great mas
ter's method. The lett motif, it will be
readily seen, may be treated in other
ways in play. Any dramatic means
of expression may be properly used.
Taking it for granted that such is the
idea OF the Western dramatist, we may
reasonably expect to see plays in which
the peculiarities OF Wagrcr's music will
be wholly ouitlone.
For instance. whenever the heroine
makes her appearance on the stage. Or
is referred to in the course OF the diaiog.
the nightingale. c!cverly initiated be-
hind the scenes by Il gentleman armed
with wooden whistle and Il glass OF
wafer. will sing and soft purple light
will illuminate the scene. When the
hero comes forward the full glare of
golden sunlight, suggestive OF his man.
ly bravery and spotless nobility. viii
burst forth, and the ncighing OF distan,
horses, presumably smelling the battle
for virtue afar Oil, will BIZ heard.
When the villain strides into sight o,
is spoken of thunders will roll and
lightnings flash, and Il delicate, sugges-
tive odor of sulphur Will pervude the at
mosphere. The clinking OF gold would
accompany an remarks about the hard
hearted father, and the smashing OF
china behind the scenes would be an
appropriate lett motive for the comic
servant-girl. The willy detective. vino
finally fO.Is the villain and carries him
oK in triumph after his last speech full
OF suppressed emotion, would also re.
euire u lett motif. This could be sup
piled by the lowering from the flies of a
Leyden jar, which would be suggestive
OF Il scientific bottling up OF the villains
The nocturnal instincts OF
the siecpiess farmers boy, whose vigi-
lance furnishes the testimony necessary
to the conviction OF the villain, could be
beautifully illustrated by the suppressed
wailing of Il concealed Cat, given piz-
ZlcatO.
1t is probable that at first the public
would not fully appreciate the excellence
of this kind OF drama, but the author
should not be discouraged On that ac-
count. Wagner's system of leading mo-
tives was incompreaensible to the m;.-
jority OF people until Il race of critics
arose whose keen perceptions enabled
them to discover Il lett motif played on u
viola in the midst CT the fortiSsimo
of coructs, trombones, and B
fiat tIbas, and 10 discern its meaning
with i-curtainiy not cxceiled by a de-
tective's Interpretation of q hopeless
clew. After reading Il few careful and
criticisms on the lett motif
drama, thca.re-gocrs, like music lovers,
would be able to lind their own lett mo-
lifs even when the dranla,ist had neg
lected to introduce any.-AeW lorE
Times.