The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-29
A DIALECT SINGER.
REQUISITES FOR RENDERING AN
IRISH SONG ARE A FAIR VOICE,

ter Impersonsting Where Such
Would-5s Artists Usually Fail
Maggie Cline Analyses Her Methods
Of Siuging-aer Conception of "Mc-
Cluskey."
CCopvri0ht. 1897
NEW YORK, Jan 2S.-A dialect singer Is
born-not made. That is my honest opin-
ion.
do not believe that by any amount Of
study a woman who has only good voice
and pretty manners to begin with can ever
win her place in public approval as a dia-
lsct singer unless there are other qualities in
her make up.
II she is going to be an opera singer OF
pure English she has only 10 cultivate her
voice and learn stage manners. II she in
tends to sing only in concert all she needs
is lot Of good clothes, a capable manager
and fine voice, of course. But dialect
singer must have a natural gift for the Ian
guage whose songs she is 10 sing. and she
must, | honestly believe, be thoroughly &C
quainted with its people and be in sympa-
thy with them, or she will never score a
success in reaching and touching the hearts
of her hearers. The dialect song is a mat
ter OF the heart as we'll as Of the voice.
And il the former is not in sympathy with
the words that are sung no amount OF fine
execution will supply the lack Of feeling.
A very pointed instance Of this comes 20
my mind at this moment. / was tray
cling through western town a few
months ago when my eye was attracted by
large playful bearing my name. Upon
looking at it a second time l saw that IL
bore also the name Of a young woman Tho
was advertising herself as the "only imi-
tator Of Maggie Cline.n The song she was
TO sing was ''McCluskey," and the playful
went on to state that the young woman
could not only fully initiate Maggie Cline,
but that In many respects she was far su-
perior.
LISTENING TO HER IMITAToR.
Having little spare time on my hands, 1
determined to go and see the young woman
who, though thousands OF miles from home,
could initiate me so perfectly. And / also
thought that l might possibly learn some-
thing from the young woman, for | do not
profess that l have arrived at a stage when
~ know it all, as the saying is.
When the curtain rose upon the little
western theater that night / might have
been seen seated far back in the dress cir
Gle" with a veil drawn over my face 50 that
no one should recognize me, for wanted
of McCluskey."
When the young woman who was to ''imi-
tate Maggie Cline" came on the stage | was
struck at once by her flippant manner. She
seemed about to make fun OF somebody or
something aud as il she regardedsthe whole
idea as joke. When she began to sing her
voice, though fine aud clear, was thin and
there was not a particle Of earnestness or
feeling III it. The audience applauded. but
/ opnlH that fhau diA do hao
and the delighted yells of the gallery gods
we're lacking. The girl scored a success
after fashion. but If she had been gifted
with an Irish heart and the knack of true
Irish dialect she would have become a star.
Without these she was merely "among the
other attractions"
HOW TO SING "M'cLUsKEY.n
Now, my conception of "McCIuskey" is
that it should be sung earnestly. Ii is the
Irish woman with hot blood coursing
through her veins and fire in her eyes who
Tells OF fight in which one of her country
men comes out crowned with blood and
glory. The scenes of the battle are all pres
emit in Der eyes as she sings and the audiences
catch her spirit and grow enthusiastic as
Pete" McCraoken loses an ear or an eve.
In no place should there be the alightest
levIty. And in singing the song I must
confess that | am often SO overcome by il
and SO aroused by the banging and booming
behind the scenes that when have finished
the song and while the plaudIts OF the audi
ence are ringing In my ears, think / could
go out single handed and tackle "McClus-
key myself.
Thus must the dialect singer and char
acter lmpersouator feel or she cannot carry
her audience with her. The requisites for
a good Irish singer are fair voice, hearty.
healthy appearance, quick sympatnies and q
natural brogue.
1t is not necessary that a dialect singer
should have been foreign born. 1t is only
necessary that her tongue should have a
knacE for the language which she is going
to sing. In my own case | may say that
the Irish brogue is merely knack. was
born in this country and have been SO much
with people who speak pure English that |
could readily have gotten rid Of theeast
trace OF Irish brogue II had been so in
clined, But / love Ireland. And l love
Irish people. And when began to cult
waite a brogue for my songs l found that /
took to it as naturally as q duck takes to
water. Nearly all of the best Irish singers
have had Irish hearts. But do claim that
men and women artists who have not a
drop of Irish blood ooursing in their veins
can do just as we'll, provided they are born
with good voices and supple, nimble
tongue.
WHAT CONSTITUTES THE MAKEUP.
The makeup for dialect songs, and espe-
cially Irish ones. is peculiar. There must
not be the slightest suggestion for doing
anything for effect. The Irish impersop-
ator must be healthy in appearance, as |
have said, and the makeup should only
make her look healthier. Her cheeks must
be very red, her eyes very bright and she
must be piump-no matter how 1t is accom-.
pllshed. A wan, pale, delicate, interest
ing" woman would never take with an Irish
audience, nor with any other II she sang
Irish songs.
When L first began to sing one OF my
supporters said would be success because
look strong and because am, as the Irish
say, "a foine woman an the full of the
door comm in" That is the Irish EXPIRES.
sion for good physique.
Unless a dialect singer is going to dance
along with her singing she must be big and
broad. The public will tolerate slimness
senderness and a delicate physique only for
those who have talent in their limbs as well
as their voices. The Irish impersonator
must look as il she could do big DAYS wash
and be none the worse for her efforts. In
fact, one of my stock hits, when tired OF
repeated encores, is to come out on the stage
and say:
''Id rather do hard days wash than
sing to yeZ any more" And the whole
house laughs heartily at the saucy health
and strength implied.
Another point in brogue or dialect sing
ing is the emphasis with which gestures are
made. Delsarte isn't in it at all for dialect
singing. The gestures must tell the story
and tell it emphatically. Often the sons
has TO be sacrificed 10 the Oes2ure