The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-12-20

Sullivan kept in the higher walks OF
his art. But, like all who take the
reasonable view of the matter, I am
thankful for the keen and pure enjoy
ment which his humorous music gave
to the tens of thousands who heard 1t
enjoyment which brought many OF
those thousands for the first time with
in the influence and laid them under
the spell of what was really true art
the influence of delightful melody,
treated with all possible skill and pro-
priety and instinct with even finer
human spirit than that of Auber. Not
withstanding the reservation aforesaid,
I have enjoyed Sullivan's comic" mus
sic as much as anybody, and have
taken my share of the pleasure which
these felt who had no reservation at all.
Surely it is no offence for even great 4
musician to be cheerful himself, or to
cultivate cheerfulness in others. The
most manifest sign of WISDOM said Y
Montaigne, lis continued cheerfulness.''
How wise then must be the music we
have been accustomed to hear in the
theater on the Embankment
1t has been said that the composer
whom we now mourn did his work flip
PANTY, perfunctorily, and without seri-
Gus purpose, writing only under COM
pusion, and then putting down the first
idea that came to hand. I don't agree
with that for moment, but may read
lily concede the excuse that in music
no less than in literature the simple
and easy to understand is generally the
result TO most palms. What reads more
fluently than Gray's "Elegy,' yet we
know it includes very few of the words N
in the original sketch. But waiving this
point, it is simply not a fact that Sulli-
van was not other than thoughtful
and Dainstaking. Here / speak with
absolute knowledge, since had mod
est share with him in the preparation
of the Golden Legend While that a
work was in progress we were neces-
sarily in CLOSE association, ana \
the reader, I hope, will take my word
that no man could have been less spar
ing of pains than he, or more anxious
to do his best at whatever cost Lest
this should not suffice, 1 will place in
evidence some extracts from his Lett
Iers. l had indicated a chorus on the
ines beginning, 1T is the seal" ana
he composer actually completed it, But
ne Informed me soon after: Il had to
'ewrite Tt is the seaR because I found
hat the chorus entirely robbed tho next
movement of it's effect. The chorus LS
had written was. I really think, fine
piece of descriptive music, but it had
% be sacrificed as the following num-
Der Is what | rely on to bring about g. \
broad and impressive effect SO I cut
tut the chorus and gave it as a sort OF
reverie to Prince Henry.,, IN
Fhis change, beyond question wise
me, brought about further good for.
Is some choral relief was wanted al
title later, the exquisite 80, pure in
leart," took place in the scheme of
he work. Yet another chorus was sac
ificed by the careless composer. AS to-
his, Sullivan remarked: IT wrote a
horus Let him live to corrupt his
ace but l found it so unsatisfactory
hat cut it out after it had gone to a
he printer. I could not get rid of the
fleet of the spirits in a pantomime.
All the rest is as we left it at our
asst poW-wow. and L have profited BY
II your suggestions. Shall we call it
The Golden Legend?' [ suppose there
) no better title. 1T has the merit of
eing known" On this testimony the
ase of Sullivan versus his critics may
est. Many other matters of interest
re discussed in the letters I possess.
ut nothing can be said about them
ere. The composers mark "Priyate''
ecessarily keeps them sealed.--Joseph
ennett in London Telegraph.
tn clIrR a cold oI1inlyly--y1ca Cr1,-,.