Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-28
MUSIC.


The rendering in this city of "The Man
DARN" by Smith & DeKoven was the occa-
sion of much interest and filled the Creigh-
ton theater for three performances. The
company was fairly good and may be cred
tied with having given a reliable and reason
| ably complete Interpretation of the work
| and wishes of the author and composer.
| consideration of the performance therefore
resolves itself down to the opera ITSELF The
music is the children of many fathers Sui
| livan and his 'Mikado'' are to blame for
| the most striking parts of it, especially
| where efforts are made to Introduce barbar-
| GUS realism and substitute oriental noise
/ for harmony exercises and meodc accu-
| mutations. Mr.. DeKoven has certainly tried
| to come down to the people and most of the
| time succeeded But it is rumored that at
| first the people were not there-that is,
| when the opera was produced in New York.
| 1t is not strange for as music The Man
| DARN" is often bad or borrowed; not that
| any composer would purposely take
| theme that had already been written and
| invite harsh criticism by using 1t as his
| own, for no man of common sense would do
| that. But where the spring of musical com
| position and invention does not bubble up
| with an eternal outward flow of its own the
dews, rains and fogs of musical season
will soak \ and run down until the well
| of insoratl is nlled, at least full enough
| so that the pump may be started. OF course
| it brings out what went in, and many OF
| the animalcua may be recognized floating
| about as of yore. One thing should be re-
| membered and unkind criticism tempered
| thereby: the animalcula are the life of the
| water-and of the music also-and even
| though old, should be respected for what
| they may have been. 1t is not an easy thing
| to find, by searching, musical phrase
| which has been written but once, and the
| best things are oftenest done. Only good
| tune ever gets old; so only a good
| succession Of harmony ever becomes
| such common property that every com
! poser may rightfully use it. But
there are such and wonderful is the power
| infused into some of them by genius. Mr..
DeKoven is possessed of the genius which
keeps him at work, He is very prolific and
once in while produces nice song-one in
which no one asks or is asked to sit In any
body's eyes. There are several fine songs
1 in 1.-THE Mandarin and one for soprano
which should make a success in concert AS
whole, though, the music of THE Man
DARN" is an attempt at local coloring, at
tone picture of oriental ways of thinking
and feeling and it does not do its COM
poser justice. His "Robin Hood" Rob
Roy" or 1.-THE Fencing Master" contain the
fruits of true talent and keen appreciation
of the real spirit of the motives OF the
drama. ''The Mandarin" Is tuneful; the
concerted pieces are developed with skill.
1t is the work of one experienced in the
craft OF opera construction 1t Will be re-
placed by other works of more merit and
in the meantime will amuse those who go
to listen and enjoy.
Mrs. Minnie Rath Vim, who wrote for
The Bee about year ago some very mucn
discussed articles upon church choirs and
their management, is at present In san
Francisco. She Is engaged there as Goa
tralto in church choi; and when John
Philip Sousa was in San Francisco she sang
for him. He expressed the opinion that she
had an unusually fine yoiLe and should go
to New York to bring 1t out. The San
Francisco paper that reported the matter does
not seem to have looked upon this advice as
a compliment to the city by the Golden Gate.
1t is easy to advise one to go to New York,
but the singer or player who is not already
established great artist will do better
almost anywhere else. New York Is almost
a European city. 1t admires singers OF
European origin and will 70 to hear them.
London is far better place for an Ameri-
can. In New York singers are congregated
from all parts of the world, many are In
need even Of food, and prices are generally
low in proportion to cne's needs full
pocket and a great reputation can win in
New York
In a recent interview Jean de Reszke
said; There are many good voices in the
United States. We constantly meet the
most aumlraDle voices IN TINS country, pul
the people are in quite too much hurry.
The road to artistic excellence is long one,
and it requires great patience, persistent
study and good teacher 10 make a fine
voice available"
There are voices In this city that are
naturally fit for the higher orders of music,
and could be developed until able to sing
even grand opera The question before their
pOssessors Is whether or not to do the re-
quired labor. The voice alone is not suf-
fieient. An artist must be able to sing, and
In these days must be somewhat of mu
siclan. Those who are dallying along. put
ting on till tomorrow what should have been
done last year, Will never reach artistic