The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-19
De KoVen'S Maid Marian. -
He Describes the Book and Harry Smith
Talks of the Music.

/ and ell that charms in nature /;
I is exactly fifteen years ago that
De Koven made his first attempt
with the Begun - Maid Marian
is a sequel to Robin Hood. and.
with the exception Of Lady Vivian
and some Of the minor parts. all the
characters are the same Both the
| composer and Iibrettist were caught to-
gether the other day by a reporter.
Tell me about Maid Marian said he
! Here you are, Iibrettist and composer
! there IS no escape"
III tell you what vel do. Let
Smith tell you about the music. and III
/ tell you about the book VIII that do2''
| asked Ar. De Koven. On receiving as
| sent the composer began.
( We first got the idea Of Maid Marian
/ four OF five years ago, and as a sequel
to Robin Hood would only be properly
done by the Bostonians. we had this fact
in view all the time Mr.. Smith has
taken UP the story of Robin Hood
from where the curtain dropped on the
third act, and the three acts Of Maid
Marian have all the old English color
Of Robin Hood varied by scene laid
in the Crusade Mr. Smith has been
eninently successful with the atmos-
pheTe Of Maid Marian. and has pre-
served the artistic feeling of the story
throughout without once going outside
the picture. In my humble Judgment
il is the best book he has ever turned
out, and has even more strength than
! Robin Hood. The piece IS coherent.
and would play well as a comedy with
out music Smith has cleverly repro
duced the old characters in new guise.
He has been particularly happy in sug-
costing TO me as a composer titles Of
lyrics, and. although it is varied. has
retained the atmosphere which made
Robin Hood
People expect something ike he
'Armorer's Song and this they have in
the 'CeIIerer's Toast which is as
unique in character. although varied in
theme and treatment. It has been in
cumbent on US TO reproduce certain
characters Of numbers. ana this has
been done with the sextette gIee. the
song Of the two blue bottIeaies. and
other numbers. 4 particularly hapoy
lyric is The Monk and the Magrfe.'
which details the adventures OF a monk
who tried to teach speech 10 a maybe
An absolutely novel scene Is the opening
of the third act. which shows an empty
stage set in the style of an old baroniaI
castle through the stained glass win
dows of which the moon throws its soft
beams. Outside the snow is falling and
the Christmas waits sing a typical
chorus. Inside the great TuIe log bIazas
merrily. the boar's head is brought in
for the feast and the country fox dauce
a pretty old movement.
4 am rather disposed in favor of Mr.
Smith. All my work has been with him
with one exception. and that piece did
not go. Our methods of collaboration
vary. Sometimes the music is first
written aad the lyrics fitted. sometimes
the lyrics are brought to me complete
by Mr.. Smith with songs like the Old
Cross Bow in Robin Hood. the Farmer
and the Scarecrow' in The Highway
man. the 'Crickets ard the Frogs in
Foxy CUTLER. all notable successes. the
words were written 20 the music, a far
cIeverer. proceeding on me part of the
librettist than if he wrote the words
first In Maid Marian Smith has ex-
cclled himself
Mr.. Smith. who had been smoking furi-
ousIy while his associate was thus dis
cussing ms book here broke in:
IT'S all right for De Koven to say
these things about my book, but 7 think
he has the lions share coming TO him.
I never worked on a piece with more
heart and interest. and I guess We have
both done our best. I am wild over the
music. ] was present when De Koven
played through the score for the first
time I thought Reggy had struck his
limit in Foxy CUTLER. but he has gone
beyond II in Maid Marian. or all the
solos and choruses ! heard, there is not /
one which think Will fail of an encore, .
and some of them should get three or
four. especially those like The CeHereE's I
Toast. The Monk and the Maggie. 7
Robin Hoods song OF the Crusaders. the /
trio. The Man at Arms and the sex
iette glee in the last act ought 20 rouse |
everybody. Mr. De Koven has cleverIy (
preserved an the sDontaneity and old .
to an artistic finish, which his years of /
work since have given him. The piece. /
as I look at it, ought to be considered /
as an artistic whole. We have endeavor-
I'd 10 keep in the picture. and not write /
a musical piece, with Incidental music. !
so far as I can judge, the songs grow
naturally out of the situations, and are
not forcibly dragged in by the hair
More than this, our inales are not must
al tags, but carry out the action, and
he denouement is not until the final
,uTtain- We both think comic opera, Of
, legitimate type. so far from being
lead is q very lively corpse and in the
lands OF as strong a company as the
3ostonians is certain OF perfect pre-
90
Tim Murphy's Loss.
While playing in Kansas City last |
week. Tim Murphy received the dis
news that the new country