The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-30
DE KOVEN'S ROB ROY"
HIS NEWEST OPERA TEENS WITH
HIGHLAND music AND SONGS.
The Author VIII Give Critics Some
thing to study Over-BiIIs mt the
Local Houses This Week.

In spite of the numerous and generally
well-accredited charges that Reginald De
Koven has unblushingly borrowed right and
left from ancient authors for mis- musical
genius. that monocled son-in-law of ex-
Senator Farwell has pushed forward in his
career as a light opera composer until this
year, it is announced. he will show the
American public that he has a production
which will defy the scalpel of the most
discerning musical critics. While young De
Koven. who never worked hard enough in
his life to disarrange the English part in
his soft. tan-colored hair, has produced a
number OF apparently original songs. he un-
doubtedly was guilty of s~tringing together
any quantity of lyrics that suggested to
the merest novice at times something heard
before. In De Koven's first operatic ven
ture. THE Begun" brought out i'm the Chi
cago Opera House. in 1889, one could pick
out great stretches of melody seemingly
lifted bodily from old songs that had been
popular whistling airs during the previous
decade. After two or three struggles a lit
tie less glaringly copied, came Robin
Hood" one fine day, and almost instantly
the mouth of the fault finder was closed.
A little search through the musty works of
Bach. Beethoven and Gounod, however. re-
suited in another a~ssailing storm which
threatened to dethrone the young musician.
While his critics were tearing up Robin
Hood" 1.-The Fencing Master gave them a
harder nut to- crack, and out of sheer
WEAKNESS the tongue of criticism grew
still. Mr.. De Koven is now about to launch
another opera, Rob Roy" and several mu-
sicians who have been favored with
snatcheS of the same have gone on record
as commencing ii as the work of a genius.
The hall of the swell Vaudeville Club in
New York is being utilized for the rehear-
sails and tho Micro will oman NJ tho nofroi
Opera House this week. Harry b. Smith.
who has written the librettos of all save
one of the De koven operas, is also author
of this
The story of the opera is interesting. with
the comedy and the romantic interest al
most equally divided. At the opening of the
piece a party of Highlander. led by Lochiei,
made a raid upon the house of the Mayor
of Perth and appropriated a sum of money
intrusted TO that worthy for English troops.
The Mayor has a fair daughter. Janet. who
is secretly married 10 Rob Roy. Owing to
the Mayors desire to keep on good terms
with both the English and the Scotch he
compelsf Janet TO declare herself the wife
OF. first an old Scotchman, and, afterward,
a young English officer. As a mere decla-
finds herself the wife Of three husbands be-
longing to opposing factions. The old
Scotch husband is a town crier and his first
song runs thus:
Sandy-Item the frst-Ding, dong. Ding,
I'm vera much pleased TO tell We
That Dame McLecky, the good
aud soul,
Has lost her favorite speckled COO.
All HoOt, ava, mon, Dina we know.
Ye told US that full a week ago?
Sandy-Item the second-The Widow Nc
Has found on her doorstep a pair O.
twins.
She offers the same free o. charge
TOT dQODIlO0.
Either or baItn, at the party's OPP
ton.
ALL Ding-ding-dongi Ding-ding-dongl
A beautiful pair o twins for a
song.
Sandy-Item the third-Ding. dongi Ding,
One Jamie MacBride from gaol
And ali guide citizens moo are called
To arrest said Jamie. alive or
ALI Hoot ava. mon, Dinna We know,
He was caught and hanged full a
week ago?
Sandy-Item the fourth-OId Davy Mac
GrOat,
Has found and narbored a nanny
She has eaten a goodly part of his
Will the owner call with cash for
payment?
ALL Ding-ding-dongl Ding-ding-dong!
A highly desirable goat for a song.
The other supposed husband of Janet is
SoG Gnger ofieer s0F ca6 Of a Sheridan gerSfEdn, a whoa Sas thns
introduces his comrades and himself:
Capt. SYSTEMATICALLY to charge when the
Ready to kiss every dam
sci pretty.
Ready to laugh when the
canteen'S passed,
Whether the jest be dull
or witty.
Willing to tackle 'em one
to ten,
Stranger alike to care and
fear,
I'm a dashing. plucky,
Roliicking grenadier.
Never a girl in Scotia
dwellS,
Never a damsel lives in
Britain.
Who, when a noble warrior
Tidings of love, will give
the mitten.
Eager to rush on a craven
When such an article is
I'm a ranting. tearing,
Devil-may-caring,
Rollicking grenadier.
AL One, two, left. right,
Primly the goose ster
marking;
The busle shrill
Each heart must thrill
As his Majesty's defenders
one. two. left. right,
Fighting the foes or lark
No one life enjoys
As the soldier boys.
Who follow at the tap Of
drum.
Throughout the first act the romantic
interest is maintained by Prince Charles and
his sweetheart. Flora Macdonald, whose
adventures have historical foundation. y
the end Of the act Janet deserts the TIVE
husbands provided by her father and
escapes to the Highlands with Rob Roy.
The scene OF the second act is laid in tn,
Highlands, where the Scotch are in hidin:
after the battle OF Cuiloden. Janet, as
Highland shepherd, is waiting the return
of Rob Roy. who is fighting at Culloden
A bright solo for Janet. early in the act
is The Margery Song" a verse of which
runs thus:
J~anet-There was a jolly miller OF til
Lowlands. I've been told;
Shorus-A very jolly miller as you say
Janet-Nho never cared a rap for love, bu
mickle cared for gold.
Chorus-For the happy. careless miller, lads
sing heyi
Janet-The millers POW was gray,
And old was he, they say:
Yet he must go a coortin' OF
shining summer day.
The earle was drunk, no doubt,
For who should he pick out
But Margery. the tavern maid, 5
frGlicsome and gay!
Chorus What Margery?
Janet Ay, Margery,