New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-17
MUSICAL COMMENT.
WAGNER'S DRAMAS IN ENGLISH COMPEL
TIoNS FOR COMPOSERS.


TONS FOR COMPOSERS.
Mr. John p. Jackson has published his translauox
OF the book OF wagLer's De Meistersinger' Sind.
taneOusly in New-York, London and Munich. Tn,
is the tenth Of wagner's dramatic poems which Nr
Jackson has translated, and there scarcely b
Doubt that the task was the most difficult that haa
yet undertaken. A great deal OF the humor 4
wagner's comedy lies in the plays upon words h
which the principal characters indulge, and In ths
majority Of cases these plays are simply untraW
latable. Mr. Jackson has been remarkably successfu
in the lyrical portion Of the book, such as the sono
OF walther the quintet the address OF Pogner and II
monologue OF Hans Sachs but he has committed sont
serious offences against good taste in his handlinx
OF the dialogue through his desire obviously, 10 n
a sub tit1te for the ,colloquialsm In the original.
The use OF such slang words as gum "dun0,'
"bust" "snoozcr," bo0zer," sit upon dn u
sense Of to condemn), II should SMILE" give
rest good as pie" In wretched taste as well
as annchronistc. Nor can the translatOrs enorts
to be archaic be commended: chosen "composen,s
and "tolden intoerabe even for rhymlns
purposes. In few instances it Is evident that the
meaning Of the German words mas been misunderstood
by Mr.. JAG ksOn, but the faults are OF little conss
quence II a single line be excepted. IN the co.,
versation between Walther and Eva while BecknesR
Is stunning upon his lutte preparatory to be
serenade Wagner has the maiden say "De schasr
read "Schlaefe' sleep instead Of temples and
ouently sends his heroine TO sleep at the moment
when she was on the point OF clipping with her lover
go, sleep comes DER me like spell') In the same
scene moreover, he spos dramatic moment By
overlooking the fact that Walther is that the
cobbler whose light has interfered with the elopemst
Is Sachs when he threatens to kill him. The lna
seliconradiotory as they appear In Mr. Jacksons
version. But. the most singular Of Mr.. Jachsons
Of
In the opening chorale he renders the words:
Edlor Tacntcr Christ's Vorlaenfer' noble Baptist,
Chrst's FOrerunner7l with Great lmmerser, ChIiSs
Precursor thus making mmerslonists Of the congo
cation OF st. GATHERINGS Church. Nuremberg, at tine
when baptism by immersion would probably have
created scandal. His placing the time Of the phy
about the middle Of the fifteenth century, obviously
ono Of the typographical errors Of which there are
many in The book.
The serious view which Mr.. Jackson takes Of the
task Of translating Wagncrs dramas Invites careful
scrutiny Of his work. In appendix 10 his version
he says:
The translation Of his (wagDer's) poems should
appoiDiei by English or American Wagner societies
Lven t Is not too late 10 begin at the BEGINNING
printed with adequate TRANSACTIONS. b supersede
those which In America as in Eng!and have been
fastened, as with load Of lead. abont Wagner's
genius. II has always been matter Of regret with
me that there did not exist dnrfng the last twenty
Wagner TRANSACTIONS before perm ting publishers III,
privilege Of copyrlghting them and Of thus placing
Wagner's poems on the level of the olden hbreto
degradat on.'
Mr.. JacksOn's language may not be elegant. but
his meaning is clear and the idea Is a good one.
Thanks t. the skill. zeal and enthusiasm OF Mr..
W Ashton Ellis Of London, editor Of the organ Of
the English Wagner society, the world will soon have
an admirable translation OF the prose writings Of
rpfO There
several translations OF the dramas In the field and
II Is public scandal that the worst OF these are the
versions printed in the piaRoforte scores Inc
genius Of Wagner demands that the outrage on
common sense and taste which he ignorantly
SditIon Of the dramas which shall be correct. gram
nalical and marked by literary tastc. MI JACK
sons translatons might well be taken as the basis
OF snch an edition for IL Is easily the best Of those
that have been made for performances.
The Orphcus Club OF Philadelphia, seems to be
very well satisfied with the results Of It's efforts TO
courage American music. Last year 1t offered a
handsome prize for a short cantaa with orchestral
and organ accompaniment. 1t now announces q
second competition and by the tile chosen l"second
Annual Prize Compeuton-l ndmates that such an
offer is 70 be q yearly affair hereafter. The terms
Of the invitation are as follows: 500 for the best
composition with p.anoforte accompaniment. u.
word, legendary, romantic or heroic IN snai or
the work 10 occupy fifteen inmates IN performance
800 for similar composU on ten minutes long
$50 for the best love- dance dTinhing or folk son :
in light VEIN from three 10 five m nutes long. WIZ
crt accompaniment. the wors OF al must be Ens
ish secular and satisfactory from literary point q
view the compositions mus. not have oeeh puc
lishcd or performed, and must be submitted p,, ~
Edward G. McCollln. No 5i4 Wainn'.s.s r rach
seph,o not later than September Is, ls02 EAcn
manuscript must be sent in with a pen'namee ne. o.
motto rs a Signature and sealed envelop. SIM i!
marked containing the composers address. me
judges will be Theodore Thomas. F. Van der stuc@A
and Michael Cross.
1.-THE ladies' Home Journal OF PAiladelp1ia ss'
announces list OF prizes for the best waltz piano
forte composition ballad. popular song. anthem ana
to- hmm fumes The competition Is open only 70
residents OF the United states and Canada. ana vi"
be closed OIL November /.