The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-14
MAKING A LIBRETTO.
Plan Followed in the Golden Days Of
the Italian Composers.

the lIdHdn composers.
Recent operate librettos have been
so unsatisfactory that European crit
les say that they accomplish their pur-
pose no better than the librettos of the
earlier days, which have been in recent
years the subject of so much ridicuie.
The following satire, written by an
Italian, is fair illustration of the Way
in which the text of these old works
were prepared by composer and libret-
fist together:
The composer goes to the librettist in
search of a writer who shall carry out
his ideas.
Il want ~libretto'' says the COM
poser, dealing with the love of king
for shepherdess. What do you say to
that?"
..The plan is a little too simple" an
swered the writer, but we can intro
duce complications enough. The most
4 important is to find names for both of
I them. 1t is my opinion that the king
ought to be called Ludwig and the shep-
herdess Caroline. What do you think of
/ that?"
1--WE must arrange the first act, then.
4 We have three numbers right away.
1 The first will be a chorus of shepherds,
then a grand aria. in which the king de-
clares his love for the shepherdess, and
/ finally another chorus of the shepherds.
What else do you need?'
Well if it were possible" says the
composer, Il should like peasants
wedding, in order to introduce some
music on the style of La Somnam-
bula'"
Nothing easier We will have them
celebrate the marriage of a young
friend of the kings with young friend
of Caroline's,'
and that would give the opportunity
for a short aria by the mezzo-soprano,' =
said the composer, delighted.
Heart beats OF the bride, suggest
ed the librettist.
Yes; and perhaps we could put in a
drinking song.
''Of course, by the chorus of wedding
guests. I'll look out for that. What af-
ter that?"
This tender tome" says the COM
, poser, will have to be contrasted with
something martial like the Soldiers
Chorus from Faust"
Excellent. I'll have a group of re-
/ cruits come unexpectedly to the we'd
ding SAL ...e librettist.
And l had comic duet in my mind
with very taking melody in ID fiat"
"Good" agrees the librettist. III ar
range some accident that win bring
that in. The bridegroom shall be taker
away to the war, as in Elisire d Am
= ore. F"
Then. continues the composer, -
will have an aria in sharp That mus
be sung by the king. Then he must 81
r to the war. Without war there is M
reason why man should be the kins
in an opera"
v rs that all you want to put in tn
first act?"
Yes" answered the composer slow
". unless some sort of national air Xix
the 'Sequidilla' in Carmen could b.
S brought in.''
"Snanish or Polish - asked the Iihret
fist.
Which do you Think"
n "Wen, We'll leave it that way. Lud
wigs country is either Spain or Poland
we can decide which after while. l
y will be laid waste by an army of enc
mics Caroline will disarm the invad
+ ers through her singing.
Splendid" answered the composer
Then 1 will be able to bring in m
to colorature of the soprano. But ho'
will we be able to get in the war;"
The librettist was not nonplussed. Ii
was an experienced man.
SIS "a shepherd can look into the wing
on the right and sing: OH see wal
rior comes!' Then in the orchestra tn
Re warriors motive can be played. IN
chorus of shepherds then sing A wal
I, rior Comes. What may that be? Whs
NAV that be?' In the orchestra tt
warriors motive continues, crescent
IS; Then the shepherd who first discovere
the warrior steps two or three feet TO
ward and sings. %, L recognize nj
WELL the warrior there. The warri'
cir there him we'll 1 recognize These fe
phrases and the march of the warrio
re; will be all that is necessary to put Il
us audience into a martial mood
We'll" asks the composer, Tho
much Will the libretto COST?
1.-TWO hundred and fifty francs
act" answers the librettist, and t
lrt bargain is settled.