Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-23

OF different rythms; ford ornamentation around
central metOdy. and emphatic recognition OF the
CGDLA songs OF brightness and elation possess the
strOngly-aecented dance rythm. In fact, all bole-
ros, aanZas, cJBtradanZas ballads, and songs are
purely dance songs or singing dances In eXclu-
sively Instrumental work, as also In vocal sere-
hddes and the canciones CuDanes, or Cuban songs
OF sentiment, and even In the guarachas or popu-
lar ballads, the predOmlnating or more decided
tones are those which accentuate distinct themes
Win minor undertones. These often possess thrill
Ing effects. "Ah," once said a cuban composer 10
me, "the cuban cry for freedom even plants
through and through our most enlivening airs!'
And there IL is as surely as in Cuban poetry. The
marvel Is that these folk possess any music at ALL
But more than one patient soul has scaled the
heights despite Spanish hate OF ali cuban art de-
Vel0pmenL
NATIVE COMPOSERS.
Several OF the creole negro Jlninez family in
Havana and Cenfuegos are well known in all
countries as violinists, pianists, and composers
OF rare talent. Ignacio Cervantes, OF Havana,
laureate pianist or France and spain, is almost
famous as composer or reyeTles, fantasies, ro-
manZas, and Moorish serenades. JOSeitO White,
a MatanZan mulaJtO. who has been he ird In the
United States, Is undoubtedly to-day the greatest
OF American violInists, and is now vlolnisI 10 the
brazilian court All know OF the greatness OF
Brindisi. honored by the late emperor OF Germany
as vlOiiniSJ 10 the imperial household. He Is a
Havana mulatto. His father, a brilliant violon-
celllst, still performs at important church feS-
uvals at Havana But In Cuban musical hope
PROBABLY The greatest store Is set by what is ex-
pected from Gaspar Villate. He is a native OF
santiago de Cuba, and, although now but b years
OF age, Is already famous in Europe as the COM
sacred opera, "Balthasar." He Is now In Paris
COMPLETING his great masterpiece, ''CristObal
: >.OA' christopher ColumbuS).
THE POPULAR AMUSFMENTs
OF Cuba are almost as reputable as our own base
ball, horse-racing and smuggling. Cock-hghting is
universal. i am glad to assert the fact that the
barbarouS sport OF bull-nghting is exclusively
sustained by SpanlardS. IL is not Endorsed or ID
trOniZed Dy IubanS. DominOes and card-pIaying
are INDUCED In by all, and provide the home as
well the club and cafe pastimes. The most
laJeria game with numbered cards played with
equal Zest by rich and poor, and treclllO, a game
played WITH the Spanish deck OF only forty cards.
There Is practically no childlie for children, and
the innumerable games and pastimes enjoyed in
homes and Out-of-dOOrs by American little fox are
unknown here. There are, OF course, the theater
and opera; much good music in the circulOS and
cenJras, which are numDerleSS; singing in the
streets and balconies which any one can enjoy for
all cuba practically lives outdoors; there Is
either guitar, bandoin, or Oandurra, all OF these,
IN every household In the island; and the carnivaS
and festivals provide all manner or grotesQue
pleasures. But that lntenSeSt enjoyment OF all Is
found III the dance. Every man, woman and child
In Cuba dances; and i doubt IL there Is another
country where all dance with such exquisite grace
nOnchalance anu coQuetry. Among the lower
classes the Zapatea, or cuban breakdown and the
iandango are most patronzed; but with all others,
La DANA, similar in movement to the German
waltz, AL Damon" derived from ia Danza," and
sd Habdnera," are the never-ending source OF
pleasure. In la Habanerl" the nrSJ part
seInDles quadriIle and the second the waltz 1t
civilized country. And IL Is OF this CuOans always
say Win wise smile: "Hace peStanar un SantO
de lleso!" ("It Will even make a plaster saint
Wlnk!9 EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.