Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-19
DE KOVEN TO COMPOSE
DRAMA MASQUE MUSIC
Musician Sees Great Possibilities
for Educational Uplift in Uni
versity of Penna. Experiment

Reginald De Koven. composer, will write
the music for the Masque of American
Drama, the big outdoor spectacle to be
presented in May at the Botanical Gardens.
Negotiations have been completed between
Mr. De koven and heads of the Masque, and
the signature of the author of The Can
terbury Pilgrims" and robin Hood" will
be affixed to a contract some time today.
The selection of Mr.. De koven as the
man to whom will be ntrusted sthe hard
task of writing the music for the dances
and other parts of the Masque was made
only after considerable trouble. Victor Her
bert was considered but it was discovered
that he was foreign-born and as the Masque
reflects the development of the spirit of
America 1t was decided to select IA native-
born composer in order to carry out to the
letter the central idea of the Masque. De
koven was chosen as the best of native
candidates.
The composer visited the Botanical Gar
dens and inspected carefully the amphi-
theatre where the pageant is to be pre-
sented in order to judge the acoustics of
the open-ar theatre. The Masque itself
be believes to have great possibilities to
strike note of true Americanism.
But the feature of the Masque, so he told
interviewers. was the great uplift in
education that was certain to result from
getting more than one-quarter of the stu
dent body Of the University to participate
III tilt pdScdHt IN some way or Otnef. IL
means in his opinion, a new step in edu-
cation.
1t means developing influence in edu-
cation and the advancement from what
might be termed scholastic standpoint"
said De Koven. Il think that. conceived
in the artistic spirit that 1t is, the
Masque will render students of the Cniver-
sity in move aiding the drama, whether
musically or however expressed an edu-
cational influence"
THE action of the faculty of the Univer-
sity," he remarked, "in heartily indorsing
the students in this Masque is correct, and
I think that they are right. That man is
and appreciates him. The Masque Of Amer
ican drama through rubbing Of elbows with
all classes of students will do this
De Koven outlined the plan by which he
aims to bring new ideas in orchestraton to
the musical score of the Masque. Incl
dentally, he corrected popular and erro-
neous impressions of just what a Masque is.
There are possibilities in the Masque
in giving the public something that is
neither opera, nor comic opera, nor musical
comedy, but something that may be a
fresh development in musical entertainment.
/ will conscientiously try to illustrate the
text with such aids as orchestral accom-
paniment and other effects which will bring
that home to the audience. The spirit
Of the MasQue Is one Of education and at
the same time commemorative There Is
no doubt about the added effect, especially
in large spaces. j have often had the idea
that musical drama could best be got with
continuous orchestration and dramatic ef-
feet with musical illustration. There can
be no question that music goes beyond the
spoken word in effect. Any really dramatic
effect can be enhanced and made more
plausible, not to say intelligent, by the
addition OF appropriate music.
~ would like to instruct the public as to
what the meaning of the Masque is, and /
am rather Of the opinion that the average
person thinks OF the Masque as 4 masque-
rade, which is far from the inherent mean
ing and intended effect. The Masque as [
interpret is the folksong of the stage. As
the foksong is the expression in music
of the emotional feeling of the people, so is
the Masque from a dramatic standpoint
on the stage a popular dramatic sentiment.
The idea of the community Masque such
as this will be. is valuable as a means Of
instruction to the public in the real upift
of the stage"