The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-05

ments of Ebenezer Prout. an English
musician and profound scholar, whose
name Is well known and closely identi-
fled with Handel in the capacity of
editor of the Novello edition. He has,
says correspondent Of the Hartford
Times, made the somewhat startling
discovery-that Handel borrowed" by
the wholesale from at least twenty
nine different composers. He finds the
famous "Dettingen TIE Deum'' taken al
most note for note from Urio con-
siderable portion of Israel in Egypt"
is by Erba. The famous duet, The
Lord Is Man of War" Is a mixture
Uric and Erba; while in other parts Of
the work the compositions of Stradella
and Corelli appear. Graun is also a
sufferer at the hands of the unscrupu-
lous Handel Mr. Prout mentions
Saul" Israel" "Theodora," and
other works, which Handel performed
frequently and received congra tula-
tions for, but which contained some
mos atrccious cribs" A recent num-
Der of the London Musical Herald con-
tains an amusing cartoon by Charles
Lyall representing Ebenezer Prout
dressed as a policeman, in hot chase of
Handel, who is waddling down the
street with the scores of Stradella,
Erba and Graun under his arm. The
familiar chol uses and arias are not
necessarily less beautiful or impressive
because we have to inquire of Mr..
Prout who wrote them; and 1t is no
news to the musician that Handel was
a heavy borrower"
Lovers of comic opera have q treat
in store at the Academy on Monday
and Tuesday evenings when Robin
Hood" and the "Knickerbockers' will
be presented under management of
Barnabee and Mcdonald. In the five
years of it's existence before the public
| Robin Hood" 1t is said, has netted its
authors 100000. In the matter of pop
ularity the opera has been a surprise.
The average successful life of comic
opera, it is said, Is about three years
Notwithstanding robin Hood" was
laughed at by American managers
when it was written, twelve or fifteen
years ago, it has been one of the most
successful operas ever produced, and
it's popularity is not upon the wane by
any means.
70 - Il Il II
o. Elaine" Bemperg's new opera
which Melba has just made acceptable
to New Yorkers, Vance Thompson
writes: "Mr Bamberg's inspiration is
intensely lyric. The melodies are SIM
pie, perspicuous, but largely conceived
and gracefully expressed. In the first
act there Is delicious ballade,
''L'Amour est Pur Comme la Flamme,"
which admirably illustrates this young
composers power of lyric expression.
The melody is direct and naive as a
nursery rhyme; nine people out of ten
have whistled it as they went away.
And this dear, consistent, lucid flow Of
melody is unbroken from the first act
to the last. Now and again a familiar
march movement; there are passages
OF vigorous and daring orchestration-
fitfully emphatic use of the brasses;
and the melody flows on and on. clear
as crystal, serene, graceful. You have
never heard 1t before and yet you
might have heard it--a score of times.
1t makes no Impression Of originality
l think 1t will be,very popular.
| According to an Italian exchange,
Verdi has just made his will. He dedi-
Gates his fortune, valued at something
over 1O,Oo0O0O francs, to the carrying
out of noble scheme. After men,
tioning that he has no child of his own,
and that he sees no reason why he
should enrich distant relatives, he ex-
presses his desire that his wealth shall
benefit those who have helped him to
make It, namely, musicians and lyric
artists. He has decided, accordingly
to build upon his own property and
endow al superb palace. capable of
holding 200 persons OF both sexes, to be
used as home for Italian singers and
musicians who may find themselves
without means at the close Of thei.