The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-03-04


gymnastics" and his greatest compo-
sitions in the field of opera are called
Emusic Dramas"
every part of the DRAMA" he said,
"must be in harmony with its poetic
idea" Neither the poetry nor the
music must be regarded as of the
greatest Importance. Combined with
these two must be the added effect of
the other fine arts. The acting, the
scenery, the dancing, must all have
their place, and contribute to the per-
feet whole.
That he might secure this unity he
wrote his own words (the librettos)
for his operas; he made his own
drawings for the scenery, and regard
ed no detail too unimportant for his
attention. He made his orchestra a
very important part of his music
dramas, for in its music one hears the
story without words.
To represent each idea-love, death,
the sword, the giants, or the different
heroes-Wagner wrote special mus
zeal phrase called a motive" and if
one makes study of his operas he
can be listening to the orchestra's tell
what character is about to appear on
the stage or what thought is being
suggested.
So that nothing should distract
the attention of the audience, the or
chestra was concealed from view.
Because his ideas were so different
from those of the other musicians of
his time, he was laughed at and his
work was most severely criticised.
Publishers would not buy his music
and he was often almost penniless.
But through it all-poverty, lack of
artistic sympathy, unkind criticism
he did not lose faith in himself or his
own ideals, but persevered and kept
on writing as subjects for new operas
came into his mind.
In other ways he was not popular in
his own country. He was very out
spoken against the rulers at times,
so he was not allowed to live at home
and therefore sought new home in
Switzerland.
While there in exile, his friend
List, then almost a musical king"
gave a performance of "Lohengrin" in
Weimar. OF course Wagner could not
be present. But this opera so won the
heart of the young Prince of Bavaria
that he championed Wagner's cause,
inviting him to Bavaria and helping
him with funds to build the theatre at
Bayreuth, in which theatre his music
dramas were presented regularly I'M
til interrupted by the late World War
Greatest singers regarded It the
highest honor to be invited to sing
there in the great Wagnerian festi-
walls.
One of Wagner's most popular OPP
eras is ode Walkiere," which is in
deed only one of the group of four
operas with a continuous story, but
designed to be performed on separate
evenings.
So great master of the orchestra
was Wagner that his orchestral COM
positions for operas often appear on
concert programs for great symphony
orchestras, and the two which follow
are favorites in the realm of titanic
and thrilling music.
The Valkyrie maidens in the opera
Walkiere were daughters of the great
god Wotan. Dressed in silver ormor,
shining helmets and glittering shields
1t was their mission to carry the souls
of dead heroes from the battlefields to
their resting places in Walhalla.
The ride of the ''Valkyries" depicts
these war maidens flying through
space on winged horses, amid the
mountain crags, the swiftly moving
clouds, the rushing winds and flash
ing of lightning. Above it all we
easily can distinguish two significant
musical figures, or motives" the use
of which was so characteristic with
Wagner. One stands for the gallop-
ing war horses. The other is the wild
war cry of Brunhilde, the favorite
daughter of Wotan, and the leader of
Valkyrie maidens.
But one time Brunnhilde disobeyed
her father, the great god Wotan, and
though she was his best beloved war
maiden it was necessary to punish
her. Her father took away her power
as goddess and condemned her to
long sleep till she should be awakened
by a man who claimed her for his
bride and with whom she should live
on earth like any other woman.
Fearful that man, less than the
| bravest hero might awaken her,
| Brunnhilde pleaded that Wotan sur
round her sleeping place with a great
wall Of fire so that only hero that
knew no fear should approach her
couch. The request was granted.
Wotan carried his beloved daughter to
a smooth rock on lofty mountain
where she promised him that when
she awoke into a mortal woman she
would always be bave and true. Then
with her fathers farewell kiss she