Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-02
write letters blatant
On medicines patent,
And use any other you mustn't
And yowsny complexion
Derives its perfection
From somebody's soap-yhich Il doesn'

And use any other you mustn't
and yow "a confession
FROM somebody's soap-which 1t doesn't
at certainly Doesn't" the duke QUANTITY
echoes The ladies who at once advertise
themselves and soap are so familiar and the
business is so obvious and absurd that it is a
wonder satirists have had nothing effective to
say hitherto.
Sir Arthur's music is unfailingly melodious
and the freshness OF it, considering that this
Is ms tenth opera is quite extraordinary Only
very rarely indeed do we catch faint echo of
his own work III previous scores (at times we
do SO, 1t Is true. but we will not quote and per-
haps strain example); still more rarely is there
a suggestion OF the work of any other musician,
except when he purposely imitates-alwavs with
taste and gracefulness-th manner of a school.
One or the most remarkable and delightful
features IN the score is its variety. Sir Arthur
has a marvellous aptitude for fitting his music
to the occasion, and can be gay or tender with
equal ease and appropriateness. while he has
always struck US as the one composer of the
day, at any rate the one English composer who
can extract genuine humor from an orchestra.
The long opening number is full of melody,
and the dukes entry with drum
obhgato is not to be heard
with grave face. The song of
the duke, allegro marziale. is without special
value; but the ballad for LUZ is a little gem
In several respects the Savoy operas are far
H.,
and this ballad furnishes an example Dir.
Gilbert has adopted the style of the severn
teenth century poet-though for some reason
he has chosen to date the opera at a later
period. l750-and Sir Arthur has entered
into the spirit of the words with wonder
full feeling and refinement. Such work is
it may be feared. wasted on many hearers, but
II Will be cordially appreciated by those who
have perception. Tessa's song, when a
Merry Maiden Marries," is again an in
stance of sympathetic expression. 1t is bright
with just a touch of sentiment; while Gianetta' 8
air. kind Sir You Cannot Have the Heart Our
Lives to Part" is equally charming, though in
some respects the reverse of Tessa's song
in observation-disclosures slightly pre-
dominates, but there is a slight undercurrent of
humor. So We come to the quartet. Then
One of Us Will BE a Queen" burst of unmiti-
gated joyousness and fun, and surely the fortu-
nate circumstance that Miss Jessie Bond was
to be the representative of Tessa must have
been in the writers heads when the number
was set down. Once more we find the happy
blending OF sentiment and the gentlest humor
In the verses, with the beautiful refrain of 80
My Darling, o Ny Pet" which the brides sing
to their departing lords.
And we have spoken of the'melody and signif-
canoe of the music without mentioning one of
Its chief sources of fascination-the instru-
mental scoring. full of grace, fancy and sug-
gestiveness. The horns have had deal to do
that Is always curiously effective; the other
brass instruments are very seldom employed,
but the woodwind is constantly called into
requisition; and the writing for flute, clari-
net, oboe and bassoon will remain
a model of what can be accom-
plished when perfect taste is united to a
thorough mastery of the orchestral resource.
Passing on to the second act, we would direct
the special attention of the nearer, if he be a
musician, to the accompaniment of the tenor
song, Take pair of sparkling eyes," a cap
tlyatlQC mOlOly m 81
the rhythm recalling the circumstances
that Marco had been gondolier
and so acquainted with barcarolle
The chords are exceptionally rich and at the
same time singularly delicate, woodwind being
joined with pizzicato violins. As for the
cachuca, the writing of it must have been an
easy task for Sir Arthur; but it makes a great
hit, as, happily, does the quartette, 'In a con-
templative fashion" which doubtless cost the
composer good deal of thought.