The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-20

July Il, "Siegfried." This is the bit of comedy
which Hghtens the whole work. It is a streak
OF light across the middle Of the most tragic
drama; it is, in the immense four days SYM
phony scherzo between the profound adagio
OF the Walkure and the powerful finale, which
which is called Goetterdaemmerung." The
free and exuberant nature of the hero gives to
the first act an extraordinary life and ANNA
ton. The second act is scene of marvel
Gus poetry, to which the music lends the
most subtle elements of color, and the
most varied. Occasionally the mighty figure
OF Wotan, the traveller, the god, conscious of
his undoing and knowing that the end of
the gods approaches, passes with a SAD and
melancholy grandeur across the scene. But
above all, in the last act, where the human
element re takes its supremacy, the music ac-
ouires an incredible richness and power; MOTH
ing could be more warm, more vibrant, more
passionate than this long duet of love-this
call to the light. 10 the joy of living, where the
most ardent melodies, with an infinite variety
take turn andturn between the voices and the
orchestra. and achieve, in fanfare of triumph
a passion almost savage in its intensity. July
II, "Goetterdaemmerung." On this, the last
day, is resumed the tragic sentiment which
dominates the work, less mythical, however,
since the gods no longer appear as acting per-
sons, and the principal actors of the drama be-
luHE ~ Ill epOCn less distant from our own.
already historical. The music and the dra-
matte form are modified, and the second act
approaches in many ways the usual style of
opera There are choruses. ensembles, process
slons, a IL of which have been entirely absent
On the other days. The privation was not
1elt-ln fact, the second act was far from leav-
ing the best Impressions. But the entire third
act is a sublime chef d'euvre, and attains at
the end TO the highest summit which 1t has
ever been given to q human mind to reach.
First, the ravishing tableau of the daughters
Oh the Rheln, so different from the first day
sunlight, clear, delicate and harmonious, then
Siegfried's recital, afterward his death; then
that sublime scene, the death of Brunhilde,
by which is achieved the fall of Walhalla At
the emo the music resumes, with astonishing
clearness, the whole idea of the work, the three
nouns; OF the gods. of the heroes and finally
OF human love, which henceforth should be
the sovereign ruler.--Le Menestrel.
The great singers, instead of accepting less
pay, have formed ring and are demanding
hlgher salaries than ever. Poor Mr.. Grau finds
MS position anything but bed of roses The
musical courier, however, says that s.sooner or
later he will be relieved from this terrible
strain. 1t will be the usual simple remedy
wnlch the American people have been in the
haplt OF resorting to on many previous occa-
tlring their patience. They Will cease altogether
attending the OPERA" All Americans are os ira
clzed by these foreigners, and it is impossible
for native to get hearing. Grau would be
wiling 10 DO everything in his power, but he
is helpless In the hands of the ring. "The
preJuolce against American artists, says the
Courier, "is so thoroughly deep-seated that its
eradication is impossible. NJ. Plancon, one of
the ring, is OF opinion that there is not one
American who can sing, or who can be taught
10 sing, simply because he is an American, and
mat Is Plancon's one and fundamental reason.
lie believes this on the grounds of birth, eli
mate, temperament and environment. Argu-
ment is useless with such people; facts are not
recognized by Them"
Announcing recently the visit to Antwerp of
LII hung chang, the Matin of Antwerp says
that the garrison bands were detailed to study
the national Chinese hymn. Then it adds:
This Chinese hymn is not without value,
although the principal melody is repeated too
often. our orchestras cannot always play it
as IL is written, for Chinese music allows OF
quarters and eighths of q tone, so that not
only our brass ms truments cannot play it. but
even violinlsts would find it very hard to
render, Tor our ears, insuffciently exercised,
cannot perceive such slight shades of sound"
Brussels paper, remarking on this, says:
"Ihls chinese hymn, for which our poor mill
tary orchestras-evidently inferior to Chinese
muslclans-cannot execute the eighth of q
tone appears to US rather amusing" 1t would
be very amiable of the Matin If it would Kindly
indicate the Chinese instrument which can ex-
ecute the quarters and eighths of the tones in
question.
July 20, NJ. Andre Lebon, the Colonial Min
lister, inaugurated the Exposition of Music and
Drama at the Palais d'Industrie. Paris, The.