New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-30
MUSIC.
"Tur. KNICKERBOCKEES'

=, u,r,, no sod with cons eerablc truth that on
the whole the most delightful feature OF me oPere'a
produced by the Bostonans at INV ""'"'" i"'"''o
last night was the invitation eA'ehued oy 'he
title IN venture u fanciful excursion into most
nrro,.,no field for opcretta material or course This
-, IND somewhat churish toward Mcssrs.
60. .na no Koven, who have demonstrated their
onnrccation OF this field by going TO 1t for the sub
Co., ,o,ter OF THE Knlckerbockcrs' but with the
ros, smiable disposition toward them anu the warm
.s, appreciaon not only OF what they have done,
,,, aIso what they trying to do 1t can scarcely
hs said that in the latest OF their works to be
hrourbt TO our notice they have done more than to
Give us a glimpse into the Promised Land at which
we have limited. The plot OF the comedy Is said on
the housebil to have been suggested by Irvings
amusing historical skit: but the suggestion did not
90 very deep. Irving has provided the
names of a brace Of characters (Wilhelmus Kieft
called william the Testy. and Antony Van Corlear)
and the trouble betW'en the old Dutch burghers and
their Yankee rivals In Connecticut but there the draft
on the Knickerbocker history stops. There are 1t Is
true some faint reflections OF the traits with which
Irving invested the irritable Governor and his "Iolly
trumpeter' In the book. but these elements
are not at all developed for the one reason which
must be set down at the chief obstacle In the
way Of the popularity of the new Opcreta This OBJ
sace TO he curt In the matter Is too great desire
on the part OF all concerned 10 sing. Like Robin
Hood and all the other works which have come from
the pens OF these wellmsted cOllaboratos. the new
opereta suffers from the fact that lis action Is lost
In a supcrabundancc OF lyrics. With such COM
pany TO produce an operctta as the Bostonans. 1t
NAV lie conceded that the temptation to write Tor
n,iIc and TO write music great but an opere',a Is
lot a concert OF ballads, but comedy with nciich-
tai songs. Had this fact been fully recognized 10y
Nessrs. smith and De k0ven we are sure That we
would have been able TO record much more slrhing
success than The Knickcbockers achieved last nls'
The opportunities which lay III the subject matter were
prodgal In every respect The stage pictures nee~cd
not 10 he more beautiful than they were, but Their" was
occasion for a most dverling play OF the kind which
would fulfil the truest purposes OF comedy, Tie pay
iu chastisement Of the manners OF the ciizcrs Ct
New. Amsterdam go years ago. and in hi, the COM
poser would have had chances in plenty for graceful
sentimental and martial music. Irving MADE an
opcretta character to order in the trumpeter ana
most divertng comedy character in William ,he Tesy
In the translation which they nave
had To endure; but both still entertaining,
thanks TO the performers of the parts and the de-
hghtful manner In which their musical elements are
published.
The operetta was written before 1.-THE Fencing
Master he fact might have been discovered In the
music, which Is less ingenious in invention and much
more tlmidly Orchesirated than that of the other
operetta. Also 1t has greater number Of reminis-
ceDces OF other works, particularly those OF sullivan
and smaller variety Of rhythms Its prevalent
mood Is that OF the English ballad Though there IS
the Inevitable dip into the Vennese waltz, and the
English character song and dance but there some
Inc spinning song which Camille d'Arvile sang 90
with its pretty Oriental introduction. on the whole.
however the music Of The operet'a must be ranked
Master The performance was admirable, as 1t had
be IN the hands OF such trained coer!e of singers
as u hind demand for sight Of the authors. They
appeared the stage at the end Of the second act
and Mr. Barnabee gave expression TO the usual senti
men,s Of gratitude for the compliment paid to the
work ard Its Interpreters.