New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-07
MUSIC
THE NEW OPERA
Some Lines from the Metropolitan
Prize Work-A Contrast in
Operatic Librettos.

they were in all things exceptional As q
rule. authors as well as publishers seem 10
have been actuated by the common notion,
as old as Addison at least. that what is too
foolish TO be spoken and consequently to
he read is good enough TO set TO music
That seems 10 have been the conviction OF
the authors OF "Natoma." which achieved
performance. at the Metropolitan Opera
House through the Offices OF Mr.. DIPPED
last season. There was no terror for either
composer or publisher or producer in such
lines as
Gentle maiden. tell me, have ! seen thee
in my dreams
/ wonder?
When above my pillow from the night fell
starry CLEANS.
| wonder?
or this love lyric:
Fair one listen to my vow Of love.
A vow that from my very soul is spoken
Fair one. paradise and heaven above Id
To ravish from thy lips token.
or this coy confession:
MY confidant. oh. silver moon.
How oft with thee I've held commune
And wondered II the tale be true
That lovers should confde in you.
or this thrilling song Of vaquero:
Who dares the bronco wild defy?
Who looks the mustang in the eye?
Fearless and bold.
Their master behold. Aiei
With leap and from the ground.
To the saddle In q bound,
And away, Ale.
See where the bull upon his knees
Shorts when his neck we tighter squeeze;
Wild are his eyes!
Flercely he dies Aiei
This Incompatible lyric was printed in
The Tribune's review Of "Natoma". but
the hour was late, and the reviewer did
not feel quite equal 10 continue his search
for poetic gems Now the noise in the
UPPER Broadway lyric playhouse having
subsidized, he has plucked up courage TO
rescue a few more from everlasting loss
How glorious was the thrill which all the
audience felt when Lieutenant Paul Mer-
rll's sailors swung their cutlasses (Ameri-
can sailors mind you: none of your com
mon salts. with Blow a man down" or
We're off for the Rio Grande'' or any old
chanty Of that kind in their lockers) and
rang:
Blow Boreas, blow.
Old Neptune. shake your locks,
Wen dress our maid in her daintiest braid
And fiaunt her prettiest frocks
We round the Horn and laugh to sCorn
Old Scyla and Carib.
We stick our nose wherever IL blows
And never stow lib,
Old "Scylla and Carib" seem to have
broken their moorines and drifted pretty
far to get IN the neighborhood OF Cape
Horn; but the patriotism Of Americas
patriotism has stomach FOR anything and
everything. How heartwarmins and mag
unanimous IS Lieutenant Merrill's tribute
10 the discoverer Of America:
No country can our own outvle
In tribute 10 the one
Who held the flag Of Spain on high
Toward the setting sun
His noble figure stands apart,
In sacred trust 10 hold:
Upon our shield. upon our heart
His name Is stamp'd In gold.
Columbus Led on by hand divine.
Columbus, My Country's love is thine,
], would he amiable 10 agree with The
Evening Post" that the libretto stands In
some respects on level with Tristan und
Isolde; but somehow It is impossible We
must not 20 on. There are other matters
waiting Since "Natoma" has had its pro-
duction, an opera for which national com
petition was established has been crowned
by the judges selected by the directors Of
the Metropolitan Opera Company. The
SlNiN vi MO1d. nv tfoIHtlO 1dlkPT ana
Brian Hooker. has been described I'm brief.
In due time. since It's publication has been
arranged for tho public will 10 told more
than the plot Of the work. which is all
that has been printed thus far The Trib.
une has said that there Was fair promise
for something good in the verdict Of the
jury and fairer I'm the past achievements
OF the author The Schirmer press will
issue the vocal score and Mr.. Hooker will
publish the book i'm literary form The
term Will not be misapplied II the following
excerpts are to be looked upon as fair
specimens OF the character O. the poetry
Of the new book.
The first is the description OF an ominous
dream which determines the heroine, a de
scendant OF the ancient British Queen Bo-
adicea. to sacrifice her love to what she
and tho other Drudic consprators hold to
be a duty TO ner people:
walked upon a windy beach between
Dark forest and dim sea. Low swollen
clouds
Heavy with storm. gloomed overhead and
hung
Belying against the tree tops. Close
ashore
lowered one huge wave. curving over me
AS serpent curves to strike. crested with
cloud
And foam. the hollow gulf beneath alive
With tremulous lights and angry nlnts of
green,
High overhead looming: so that | seemed
To walk In long cavern rooted With
And walled with foam and forest. And |
Upon my breast naked sword. close held
AS a mother holds her child. So when the
surge
Poised to plunge down upon me, l thrust
The sword. shaking It seward, and the sea
Bent backward and forebore Meseemed
one stood
Beside me yelled IN n white shroud. whose
I could not see that strove to snatch away
NV sword Therefore. | smote and slew
him. Then
The surge plunged, and the clouds burst
Fell. thunder rent and whelmed me. And
I woke
Trembling. and seeming still to see the
And the grim cloud and the green surge.
And now
Three nights together have dreamed this
dream.
The next Is Mona's confession Of her love
for Gwynn:
There is a cloud over the moon
I cannot see thy face. only thine
Around me like strong sleep. only
thy voice
And all our children laughing in thine
eyes
And it is good for me to put away
WEAKNESS, and the fever Of high deeds.
And the dry hunger Now earth
sinks and swims
Falling, and the great river OF Joy flows
down
Inevita BILE tender luminous
And whelmS me; and ! float under the
moon
Quietly. toward the foam-bright sea.
Down, down
Where the glimmering shores grow faint
and darkness