The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-13


season of Wagnerian opera:
These are the elemental days of music
In the new world, and Wagner in rea-
sonable quantities Is an excellent stim-
ulant at any time for those who are in
their salad days and find 1t difficult to es-
cape the fascination of Strauss and Doni-
zetti. The heather may rage and the peo-
pie imagine vain things, but the vigor, in
tensity, poetic insight and overwhelming
dramatic power of Richard Wagner can
not fail to stir the Imagination and act as
grateful tonic upon those enfeebled by
an excessive consumption of musical con-
fectionery. The mission of the Sage of
Bayreuth was not to twang the guitar of
cheap sentiment or turn songs for my
lady to applaud, although, in the language
Of Chaucer:
He coude songs make and wei endite.
What could fall more delightfully."- upon the
ear than Walters prize song in the "Meis-
terslnger,' or that matchess tribute TO
the evening star in "Tannhauser?"
Where Is there more expressive poetry in
song than may be found in Lohengrn's
melting farewell, "Mein Lieber Schwan?"
But 1t was not the destiny of Richard
Wagner to turn sweet phrases or match
the beauty of many favored flowers with
the rainbow radiance of sentimental song.
1t was not the beribboned courter re-
splendent in orders gay who went out
from Leipsic with the rhythms of tune
ful troubadour In his heart, but a stern
cavalier puritan in determination, a cru
sader in new field. Rugged, inspired, :e-
sistless he hewed his way despite all dis
couragements toward that Mecca in
which he should find the realization of his
dreams in perfect musical expression of
dramatic thought. And this Is the glory
I y,f Dtal n,,I
which he stands alone and unequaled.
| Turning aside from commonplace topics
and time-worn methods to delve among
the impressive Sagas of the Northland
with their mystic significance and wierdly
inspiring psychologist thought, and calling
to his aid the pous fantasies of the
Holy Grail and the ancient folk lore of
Germany, he created first of all new dra-
matte poems and then with matchless in
| spiration gave them expression in the Ian
guage of music. Thus under his deft
| genius a new musicdrama was con-
tributed to the world. in which solemn
| themes and expressive motives are given
out in sonorous chords that swell and rise
to the limits of high Olympus. Under his
transforming hand and musical genius
the story of Siegfried and the rude tales
from which We obtain Lohengrin and
Parsifal, Isolde and Elizabeth, became
enic noap,o ooya,ad ,,,i,h H. -
Of mnsicaI forms s,,a,, os tha ,7.orIs ST.
had never known before II is small
wonder that this music. overseeing
all the old familiar forms, should
have been called "the music of the
future py its derlsive enemies, but in no
,,o'e th man d uo|eli years since tne death OF
h,, haoo,,,n, ooaou,s"eu plophecy
| Not that II is mr. ever vii, ha ~ -.
music. A catholic and cultivated taste
will find enjoymnet in the best compost
tions from all the schools, and only mar
row prejudice will maintain that the music
VI "asner Is aiohe worthy OF contempla-
,' u,oi ana piaise' III the universal IAN
tban ono go of ,,,,-ie, 80 ioo"i ioi more
thought will bestow mon each IFS M own ,I anI a.
proprlate benediction.
80.
AT the reouest of uenry En;o.
secretary and treasurer of tba Nar,
York Fvsnpa1ist and tba ,a,aro, ,,,o
ager of the Forthcoming ..Cburcb Musio
Tourn Tal,ia Norgan bos oonsartaa ~
lool, after the matter in tb;, ,ort 90 -, =,
ara u,or,a -l,ro,,,,, o,a A., - .9' .l,s'
tbis WOO will, 10 o.at,,. e. M
marty 10 ,i,,i+ad 10 ona t,,,,,5na1 80
leave on the steamer Rer,in an 1mna
26 and return from Antwern on JuIy
27. The tour will inc,uda Salisbury,
Manchester. Leeds. York Lincoln Per.
other cities in England, and the lead.
ing cities of France, Belgium and Hol.
land. The party will be entertained
by some of the leading musicians of the
old world, and they Will have the pleas.
ure of hearing the leading composers
of the age playing their own compost.
tions. The visits to the old cathedrals
and other historic points will make the
trip a most pleasing and valuable one
to all musicians. The total expense
will be only $500, and Mr.. Morgan will
be glad to send all information to any
that are interested. George b. Carte,
has already been booked as one of the
party by the New York office. 1t is tc
be hoped that this section will be wei
represented.
The rehearsal of the,Sacred Music So
ciety will take place next Wednesday
evening instead of Tuesday evening.
s.s
The Young Mems Christian Associa.
ton Glee club, numbering about twent,
voices, will give a concert at Hallsteat
next Tuesday evening.
o.,, e u , a.,
o'! !" ie" . Ses',S "so 'ie special oo'
set Na'ie. y, ,,ui,'''s was eoii'
iine' e,.'e,s ~ ."e er.noiie anu anu fp's,
oopa' o,ui on.s' ~ ''om .i'e iotes'a IL
nass and tho n,nsic o,d sarn,ans 90 e.,
oonfor,,,it, WITH tho da,, ana NO
e.,,,,,,,a -, ,,,,,sio hos boo,, ,o,,I,,od
~ Mt. I,,o,,,,..e.,,o,, p'