New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-14

In the third action Caliguls, A. D. 40,
is supposed to witness a farcical com
edy in Roman street, and the mu-
sicians are fsutists and players upon
cymbals, citherns, Tyres and scGbilld-
feet cymbals. Nymphs perform a
rhythmic dance and sing an Augustan
song. But we have no authentic re-
mains Of Roman song. The second in
terlude begins with a Germanic action
representing the pantomime Of Or
Faustus" in the sixteenth century, with
the singing OF an unspecified German
folksong. Here we should have been
on firm historical ground, but the ac-
ton is to be omitted. The second ac-
ton, French, Is devoted to the meeting
or tho Field Of the Cloth of Gold, with
the music already mentioned.
The third action, Spanish-ltalisn, is
a representation OF the Commedis DELI
Arto on the Place of st. Mark, Venice,
about 1880. The theme, which is bur
lesqued, is the first in the opera OF
"Don Giovanni" as We know It. Here
Alr Nackayo saves himself from the
charge Of anachronism by leaving his
date indefinite. The original Spanish
play on the subject Of Don Juan was
Tirso de Molins's, produced in 1622.
A translation was given In Italy for
the first time IN 1862. 1t was promptly
turlesqued By Torelli, whose pantomim-
lists performed It IN Paris in 1857. Mr.
Mackaye's date is only approximately
correct. Nothing Is said specifically
about the music 70 be played In the
scene. The third interlude IL the Eng
lish. showing folk plays and dances
described in The Tribune n few weeks
ago. Ny. Cecil J. Sharp has provided
The traditional music and dances. II
will be the only bit OF pagesntry which
will bring us the real music Of the
period.
In discussing the music for the Shake
snearian masque "Calibsn" Arthur Far
we'll. the composer, said that ne wishes
IL understood that he has in no way
attempted. except in rare instances 10
make the music archeologically cor
rect. that he has striven frankly 70
write modern music to what ne calls an
intensely modern theme. In, for IN
stance. such q song as "Come unto
th.,s yellow sands" FOR which there
have been many musical settings, MT
Parvell has contented himself with
writing his own music without regard
for the Elizabethan spirit. In giving
the reason for this he said;
".Caliban by the Yellow Sands Is
not an Elizabethan mssque. 1t is true
that II il founded on Shakespeare''
Tempest, and much OF shakespeare's
own language is used, but 1t is none the
less. in spirit and intention, essentially
modern. So il is that have striven 70
write modern music for this modern
theme, and though in few places such
os IN THE Field OF the Cloth Of Gold,
where I have introduced some old
French melodies, these cases are few
and far between. in fact, In the music
for the masque proper, the only por-
ton for which wish 70 be judged l
stand or fall on my own original pro-
duction. 1t is the most difficult ana
the most complicated task | have ever
ATTEMPTED, and yet the most interest
ing
"The difficulties and the completely
~ the subject we're almost beyond
comprehension. Music had TO be writ
ten for the action Of the mssque proper,
for The inner-stage scenes and for the
interludes. The masque proper taxes
place on the Greek stage; the inner
scenes on an Elizabethan stage set back
where would be the temple Of the Greek
TLaLc, MN4At llt AAANNAA1NNS
on the ground before the Greek stage.
The orchestra and chorus are placed
above the Elizsbethan stage. The music
have written for the mssque consists
Of every conceivable form. Most OF the
actors words have 10 be spoken to the
accompaniment OF orchestral music
Then there is choral singing, purely
orchestral compositions, songs, and
mere cries or entrance fsnfares. In the
ease Of the music for the interludes
this Is used merely TO accompany the
pantomime for the msssed crowds be-
fore the Greek stage.
"In the case OF these interludes /
have met with great difficulty, inasmueh
as the stage management required many
changes. while even now We do not
know n all are TO be given. The Ger
manic interlude, for instance. may be