Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-14
MUSIC.

Richard wagner's aim in life was not
simply TO write music or to compose operas:
he had a much deeper anu much aobier
ambition. It was 70 bring INTO being A form
OF musical art which should be essentially
German and which should represent and
appeal to the German nature. While he was
yet i young man. he had considerable ex-
perience as an opera conductor. and became
convinced that neither music nor he drama
could ever attain. as then united. he high
position possible TO them. surrounded BY the
influences and traditions that prevailed in
the ordinary city theater- Therefore he de-
cided that a theater must be built for the
sole purpose OF producing his words. and
that it should be surrounded by IN atmos-
phere that Of itself would inspire both art
lsts and audience 20 a real appreciation
Of art as such. Any other composer would
have been content 10 have had his works
produced at Paris or Berlin or Munich.
but Wagner stopped short OF nothing less
than his complete ideal.
The work known as The N%ibeluugen
Trilugy' consists IN four parts. each of
which is an opera in itself and requires
from four 70 five hours tor its performance.
1t Is based upon The old Gernanic legend
found IN its primitive state in the Eddas
and Sagas Of Iceland. The characters are
dwarfs. giants, gods and heroes. The mo-
tive power for the whole drama is the ring
made from Rhine-guld Upon which i curse
has been pronounced. The spirit Of the
story is essentially German and it has been
already used as The foundation Of a poem.
Wagner's drst idea was 70 write but one
work IN which Siegfried. he principal hero,
should be the leading character In the
course of his studies preparatory 10 writing
this work ne became convinced that Sieg-
fried would be unintelligibie to a German
audience unless he was introduced ana ak
planned and by way Of Introduction and ax-
PLANTATION he wrote the Two preceding music
dreams. T. g., "Das Rhein- gold ana Die
Walkure.' The music-dTama "Sleg:ried' is
devoted to The youth 1f he hero; the Cot
terdAmmerung'' The Dusk 1f he GOdsj
pertains to the maturity and death OF me
hero. This work, which is he last Of the
series. vas the first one planned, as Sieg
fried'5 death was the central point which
Wagner had n view when he made bis irs;
outline.
Ii was for his NibeIungen rrilngy thar
Wagner proposed 70 erect a theater sspe-
cially adapted n every way 20 its perform
ance. Wagaer's best friend was Ludwig II
King OF Bavaria. and 1t was Dwing 20 his
indefatigahle assistance that he composer
achieved any Of he great objects which ht
aad in view King Ludwig lived AZ Munich
and Of course had absolute control over Jhs
royal opera house. In 1863 lie commanded
that an his tete lay August Is, "Das Rhein.
gold" should receive its drst performance
ami he opera house closed is doors for 1vel
two months 20 facilitate The necessary prep
l~rat!uns. Il was found impossible 70 b.
ready by The time irst appointed, but On -h'
evening Of september - The first perform
ance took place. The king waited until III
third performance, wishing 20 see the y1ri
given as nearly perfect as possible aus
feeling hat ne irsr two performances voul'
be little less than hIl dress rahearsals
even though he greatest artists N German.
wore u The EAST.
The following word portrait If Wagner a
this period viii be Interesting Sometime
We are seated but ne, never. No, 10 10
~recollecr ever 10 have seen him sit down
unless Il we're IN a plano or 4 table. BAG
ana forth all over he great room. muvin
chairs about, diving INTO all his pocket
Tor his zuun box. always lost, or MS spec
-acles. which sometimes iangied from n
pendants of the chandelier. but which Yer
I never IN his nose. ciurching Al his dar vel
vet cap, which lung over ais left eve VII
|, The effect Of a black cock soomn. rolling
r between his 1llnched hands, suuilng il nj
ais Saistcoat. pulling il out again and put
eng il BACK On his head, he vas Away
taIk!ng. taking, talking De sew mi
: transports sublime imagery puns. harnal
i SINS an incessant taw Of words. super'
Gender. violent or ocular and, someum,
: Laughing immoderateiv sometimes meitin
into tears, sometimes working himself .
Z into a prophetic aesIaey, be mixed nan