New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-03
MUSIC.
THE BRAZILIAN"

Time was, and IT is not long past. when the choice
of outandsh subjects for comic operetas was due 10
the opportunity which such an occasion anorocu 10
the composer to apply what is called local color IN
his score This local color" in music Is conveh-
tona thing easily acquired by musician Wiling 70
look into the popular music Of the different peopios
of the world dozen peculiaTities Of rhythm melody
and Instrumentation sums ii up and when It is in
Seniously used il is exceedingly effective In the
singular progress which this form Of entertainment
has been making of late this purpose mas
practically dropped out Of mind. probably because
there SEEM 10 be few composers OF comic opcrc'As
who know enough about musical literature 10 DE aoic
10 recognize the Characteristic qualities of the various
types Of Folk music. Mr.. Kerkers stage msroh"Ue'
are devoted TO Viennese rhythms no matter WhcFc
tber habitat Now the costumer's department =
the one which is relied 10 furnish the local Color
and In the latest product in this school iiiea'ch
save the mark y" The Brazilian produced al INC
Casino last night-there Is a striking Illustration "i
how far the mind Of authors, managers ana performers
can 60 toward the conviction that the clothes arc N'
opcretta They certainly the best feature IN The
brazilian but the sounGness Of that works title IN the
term might be questioned il would scarcely prove
renumeratve TO inquire into the value Of the new
artistic dictum. II The BRAZILIAN were worth taik
Ing about as an operctta II might also be worth "he
to attempt 10 discover what extent clothes can give
national tingc 10 entertainments Of thl' character
IL Is the whole matter seems % De ds vague a. c
question who the Brazilian Is whose adventures art
supposed TO be the business Of the piece. HAVING
been unable 10 find that our, and also unable {" Dis
cover anything In the play outside OF the clothes
(which We suppose are localized Brazilanl which
might not as well have been French or ltahan'
or Chinese il doesn't worth while 10 chronicle any
thing beyond the fact that it is dull and spriess
play whose purpose only be learned from the
argument printed on the households whose dialogue Is
only a trifc less Encouraging than it. music Tho
ingenious skill which all of Mr.. Aronspn's people
save Mr. Brand and Mr.. Solomon. have Of ooncealine
even the general drift of all that part Of the Play
which is uttered in the words that not 70 music
is simply amazing Perhaps this skill was kind dis
pensation but here too, circumstances compel a
confession Of ignorance.
Costumer and scene painters, however, deserve the
thanks of the public. What there Is in "The Bra
lillian which affords a modicum Of entertainment i
their creation. The Chassdigne who composed the
music only discovered himself the composer %
Falka7 in his attempt to Nmitate the musical
features which pleasing In that Operett-as. Tor
Instance, In the waltz finale Of the first act The
to bo the leading figure in the piece.
foreign travel may have increased her contempt for
the rehnements Of stage art, but 1t certainly
has not improved her voice added 10 her ability
singer. a numerous asscnblage witnessed the
one or two OF the musical pieces and comical duc'
which being sung by a suplosluuOus Engushnnn md
German I'm the wds Of BraLl dealt, Of course with
the sere0yped subjects Of the New York funny man.