The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-17
PARSIFAL..

PARSlFAL.
Parsifai- at Wichita Is an event that
We all should appreciate especially as
we are TO hear it under such favorable
auspices. Walter Damrocks superb
crchestra<w cald he musical treat in
itself bur 20 have Parsifars beautiful
music also. is something music lover
would willingly miss hearing. America
is proud of this splendid Organization
and proud OF its leader. who has done
so much for the cause of music AS an
orchestral conductor. Walter Damrock
has no superior either in this country or
Europe. and he has attained this enyiahle
distinction by the most strenuous ell
deavor He was the first TO present in
concert form the orchestral parts OF many
well known opesas and his latest success
is .-ParsifaL" In this opera he has
shown the possibilities OF an orchestra
under the baton OF thorough musician.
and the critics have with bur few ex-
ceptions accorded him unstinted praise
for his magnificent orchestral presenta-
ton Of "ParSifal" His wonderful versa
tiity is shown in his different roles of
composer, conductor. lecturer in all OF
which he excells TO an unusual degree.
He comes from a family OF musicians and
to his father especially ne is indebted for
his musical temperament. Leopold Dam
rock was consideced one Of the finest
musicians in this country. and il was
through his enterprise and perseverance
under overwhelming difficulties that
German Opera in America. became first
possibility and then an assured fact.
OF course the story OF @Parsifal'' is well
known: il was Wagner's Swan SONG,
and is intensely spiritual and this senti
ment peryades the entire opera for in
stance the scene between "Parssfal' and
the Flower Maidens. wagners wish
was that these maidens should be made
10 appear as perfect beings. guileless.
sanity. incapable OF sin. innocent as
flowers; lovely. spiritual in all that word
expresses. This is their song. it con-
veys Wagrer's ideal of what they should
be-:
I'VE are fragrant ghosts,
Born OF the gardens sweetness;
In spring our master gathered us
He avaded here. always.
Through sunlight. through summer,
At last TO bloom for thee.
Be kind,-be gentle
Give the flowers what they ask:
II thou wilt love us not.
We shall fade. and die forever
'.Parsifal" very fanciful. very unreal |
mythical in the extreme and yet in !
New York city on Christmas eve seven |
Thousand people sat with tear-stained !
faces until past midnight listening Ia |
"Parsfal on the occasion OF its first |
presentation in America. Those who We're !
present say the dawning OF Christmas |
morning and "Parsifai seemed so close |
~ identified that one could almost i'm !
agine that they were one and the same. I
people were so completely under the spell |
of "Parsifaf' The music OF .Parsifar' is I
very beautiful; Wagner like Gluck. be- /
lieved in assigning an important part OF /
his drama to the orchestra. in fact as |
he expressed il, II want them to swim in !.
a sea OF tone" His development OF !
orchestral thought and tone color. with 1
which he invested his scores. far ex-
ceeded that attempted by any other COM I
poser He invented and made use Of 7
orchestral effects. Most composers when .
picturing ceIectial effects use the harp I
the conventional instrument OF the angels. I
not SO with Wagner. ne prefers high /
violin harmonics IN such cases and blends !