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THE
genstein, have been in the National Museum for
;i quarter of a century, despite frequent protests
from near relatives.
"GYPSY LOVE" TRIUMPHS IN WEST.
New Lehar Operetta Enthusiastically Received
in Chicago—What the Critics Had to Say.
(Special to The Review.)
Chicago, 111., Nov. 20, 1911.
It has been many years since an operetta or
musical comedy from the East, especially one im-
ported from Europe, has met with the reception
that was accorded Lehar's "Gypsy Love" upon
the production of that piece at the Chicago Opera
House on Monday of last week with Marguerita
Sylva as the prima donna. The opening perform-
ance went through without a hitch and the local
critics and first-nighters displayed almost unbound-
ed enthusiasm both regarding Lehar's music and
the singing of Miss Sylva. The warmness of the
reception is best indicated in the following ex-
tracts from the criticisms appearing in the various
daily papers on the morning following the first
performance.
The Daily News: "It has been a long time
since the enthusiastic word furore has been called
into service for the expression of the quality and
quantity of a splendid hit, but for Lehar's 'Gypsy
Love' and Marguerita Sylva nothing else quite con-
tains the measure of the triumph achieved last
night at the Chicago Opera House. . . . Lehar
has gone quite out of himself except to refuse to
divide the dance from passion and emotion. The
whole of 'Gypsy Love' is a variation of movement,
rhythm and abandon to the dance."
Record-Herald: "What with its numerous sump-
tuous melodies in Franz Lehar's most alluring and
musicianly manner, its bright stage pictures, its
exhilarating chorus and, most welcome of all, its
prima donna, who can and does sing, 'Gypsy Love'
created an inspiring effect at the Chicago Opera
House last evening."
Journal: "Coming from Vienna, of course
'Gypsy Love' has its waltz song, 'The Melody of
Love.' . . . It is a seductive thing, with better
musical values than were possessed by the same
composer's 'Merry Widow' waltz."
Post: "The most richly garnished musical play
of this season—and perhaps of several seasons—•
reached the Chicago Opera House last night in
Franz Lehar's romantic operetta 'Gypsy Love.' "
Inter-Ocean: "Taken with or without 'humor'
'Gypsy Love' is something unique. It deserves
long and prosperous life."
American: "Refined, urban, admirable-arousiny,
performance—good, welcome music that sang ad-
hesively to the auditory nerve."
The various other papers, practically without ex-
ception, had equally enthusiastic opinions to offer.
Chappell & Co., Ltd., publish the music.
CHINESE FOLK SONGS.
Progressive Element in Celestial Empire Adopt-
ing European and American Songs of Free-
dom to Own Tongue.
In view of present-day developments in China it
is interesting to note that the progressive element
in that country has seized upon the folk song as a
vehicle for spreading modern ideas. The old Chi-
nese notion of patriotism mainly resolved itself
into a system of emperor worship, but the new
generation is becoming imbued with more demo-
cratic ideas, veneration for the motherland taking
the place of the cult of the son of heaven. The
writer gives extracts from new popular song books,
which he says are being distributed in native
schools throughout the length and breadth of the
empire from Nanking to Mukden.
Some of these folk songs are modernized adapta-
tions from ancient epics; others deal with politi-
cal and other questions of the day. Most notice-
able is the fact that through all of them runs the
martial spirit. To be respected China must be a
nation in arms is the keynote of the modern Chi-
nese educator.
George Washington is the favorite example of
lofty and pure patriotism. Lord Byron also comes
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
in for praise, and Greece's struggle for liberty
against Turkey furnishes a topic. Lessons drawn
from Russia's defeat by Japan are paramount in
all these patriotic song books.
Another favorite song has for its theme the fate
of dead nations, crushed under the conqueror's
heel, such as Poland. Even the "Marseillaise" has
been translated.
Exhortations to loyalty toward the reigning
dynasty are curiously scarce.
"PEGGY" PLEASES WASHINGTON.
"Peggy," the London Gaiety Theater success
which won much favor with Philadelphians during
its run in that city, was also well received at the
Belasco Theater, Washington, this week, the mu-
sic proving especially pleasing to the audiences.
The book of "Peggy" is by George Grossmith,
Jr., the lyrics by C. H. Bovill and the music by
Leslie Stuart, the composer of "Havana." Chap-
pell & Co. publish the music.
KNOWS HOW TO RETAIL MUSIC.
Wm. H. Peate, the progressive music dealer of
Utica, N. Y., was a visitor to the city this week
and called on the various publishers for the pur-
pose of getting a line on new hits and possible
hits. Incidentally Mr. Peate has some ideas on
the selling of popular music that it would do
some other dealers good to listen to.
HARRY VON TILZER IN VAUDEVILLE.
Harry Von Tilzer, head of the Harry Von
Tilzer Music Pub. Co, is again appearing in
vaudeville, having accepted booking for several
weeks. This week he was featured as the "head-
liner" at Keith's, Boston, where he scored his
usual success in singing his own compositions.
The Von Tilzer Co. are featuring several new
additions to their interesting catalog, which con-
sist of "My Counterfeit Bill," "Oh! Mr. Dream
Man," "With His Little Cane and Satchel in
His Hand" and "In Ragtime Land."
69
FAME THROUGHj\ SINGLE SONG.
How a Single Effort Has Caused the Names of
Men and Women to Become Famous for All
Time—Some Notable Instances—A Question
of What Is Written Rather Than How Much.
When Mrs. Elizabeth Akers Allen died last
month, the papers of the country said she had
written many fine things, but none of them could
recall the name of more than one poem. She lived
and will live in literature as the author of "Rock
Me to Sleep, Mother."
This is not unusual—this resting of an author's
fame on one poem, and that a short one.
We keep "Paradise Lost," "Evangeline," "The
Fairy Queen," "Light of Asia," even "Lady of the
Lake," and "Lucile" on our library shelves as in-
tegral parts of literature. In the world of books
they answer to the old aristocratic families that
give a foundation and background to surrounding
social conditions.
But it is the short poem, the song directly from
the heart of the singer that becomes the familiar
friend of the people. We are all aware that Camp-
bell wrote the "Pleasures of Hope," but we know
"Hohenlinden" by heart. The "Village Blacksmith"
overshadows Longfellow's "Evangeline," and the
Raven's "nevermore" in Poe's keynote to fame.
For always it is some intensely vivid word-picture
that is singled out for homage by the multitude.
Mrs. Elizabeth Akers Allen is not the only
writer who is remembered by one production. In
our American literature there are many men who
labored all their lives in the vineyard of letters and
left behind but one enduring poem. Take for in-
stance, Richard Henry Wilde. The reading world
answers the roll call of his name with these lines:
"My life is like the summer rose."
We ask nothing of his other work. We care
nothing about it. We know him only by that one
clear song, and knowing him we love him. When
we hear the name of Fritz-Green Halleck, we for-
get that John Jacob Astor left him an annuity—
A. H. WOODS OFFERS MARGUERITA SYLVA IN
GYPSYLOVE
Words by HARRY B. and ROBT. B. S M I T H
Music by FRANZ LEHAR
GYPSY LOVE The One Great Waltz Success of the Season GYPSY LOVE
THE MELODY OF LOVE There Is a Land of
SEPARATE NUMBERS
The Melody of
Love
$ .60 Book by Harry B. and
Robert B. Smith
I Will Give You All
Music by Franz Lehar
for Love .60
Lessons in Love .60
And the
Matrimony
.60
Baby Duet
.60
Love is Like the Rose .60
fall
Ev'- ry
Love's Sorcery .60
SEPARATE NUMBERS
Fancy'DUEi) $ .60
Gypsy Love .60
sweet - « t
A> tt» *r« •
be«rt
that
bwti
1» - low,
K»'- ry
Copyright, MCMXI, by Chappell & Co., Ltd. Ail Rights Reserved
When I'm Waltzing
With You .60
Waltz
.75
March—Hungarian .60
Selection 1.00
Vocal Score 2.00
( hi the Press.)
PRESS OPINIONS
" 'Gypsy Love' is due for a long and successful run."
" 'The Merry Widow' itself was hardly greeted with
more tumultuous applause when first sung here than its
" 'Gypsy Love' is sure to have as long a stay in town
successor, 'Gypsy Love/ was last night."
as 'The Merry Widow" enjoyed."
" 'Gypsy Love' is a welcome return to the type of ro-
"There is no douht at all that the town is doomed
to another waltz as far as 'The Melody of Love' is con-
mantic light opera popular a generation ago."
cerned. You may like it or not but you can't forget it."
"Rivaling 'The Merry Widow' of classic fame and far
" 'The Merry Widow Waltz' has a worthy successor in
excelling all other succeeding musical productions along
'The Melody of Love.' "
similar lines."
"The melodies of several of the waltzes are of the
type that linger in the memory. 'The Melody of Love'
"The melodies are irresistible in their rhythms; and
is the waltz song that occurs most insistently."
in handling them Lehar has orchestrated them with
the command of a master."
"Its melody is unforgetahle and will be hummed all
over the town."
" 'Gypsy Love,' with its ravishing Magyar dances, lan-
guorous waltzes and its more serious music will in
" 'The Melody of Love,' will probably be the song hit
terest for many a night."
of the piece."
CHAPPELL & CO., Ltd., 41 E. 34th St., New York Established 1811