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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
SAINT=SAENS' VIRILITY
MUSIC AND 2 H E "MOVIES."
SUPPORT FOR MUSIC IN ENGLAND.
As a Composer a Wonder—Latest Opera from
His Fertile Brain Keeping All Europe on the
Qui Vive—-His Activity as Composer and
Conductor.
Viennese Composer Opens New Field by Com-
posing Operetta Especially for Presentation
Through the Medium of Motion Pictures—
Specially Arranged Score.
Writer Suggests That Government Should Take
Earnest Steps in Support of the Musician and
Composer and Cites the Example of Germany
in That Particular.
Saint-Saens at the age of eigtity is a world's
wonder in the realm of music. Just now he has
all of Europe on the qui vive. He will shortly
present his latest opera, and composers both here
and abroad wonder how it is possible that a man
of his age still possesses such a fertile brain.
It must be remembered that at the age of eighty-
five Verdi was still a virile master of harmony.
It was between the ages of seventy and eighty that
his best operas were written. The great composer
if. born, not made. His genius burns until it is
finally quenched by death. Tt is a God-given gift,
which can not be acquired by methods of men.
Saint-Siiens personally supervised tbe rehearsals
of "Proserpine" in Brussels, and it was this aston-
ishing fact which caused the eyes of the country to
concentrate upon the veteran composer. The
opera was previously produced in Paris in 1887
and has intermittently been presented in various
cities of France. It has never been regarded as a
success, and the people of the United States have
never witnessed the opera unless it was seen
abroad. But now that Saint-Siiens has come so
conspicuously into the limelight and the rivalry
'between American opera companies has become so
intense, a production of "Proserpine" may 'be an-
ticipated during the coming winter.
It is said tlinit during the rehearsals Saint-Siiens
more than once occupied the director's chair and
told the members of the orchestra just what he
meant in certain musical expressions.
The fact that with whitened hair and a long
lapse of years behind him this man of music
should show the activity of youth is remarkable.
It is undeniable proof that age has but little effect
in stopping the march of genius. Great things may
yet be expected from the French composer. He
was for many years denied recognition. His early
operas met with failure. It is only of recent years
that the general public has begun to appreciate his
.operas. "Samson :ind Delila'' paved the way to his
permanent success, and since the great furore it
cieated in Paris his other operas have been pro-
duced and appreciated.
It is well that this recognition should come to
Saint-Siiens before it is too late. More than one
genius has died unthanked for what he has done
and unrecognized until after his body has turned
tc dust again. Such recognition falling upon silent
ears is regrettable.
Ever since they became a regular torm of enter-
tainment there has been music incidental to the
revelation of the moving pictures. Now a Vien-
nese composer has written an operetta intended
for use in the films only. The characters in it
will not be heard. They will be seen, while an
orchestra plays the music intended to illustrate
their story. The wise composer has prepared his
orchestra for a version of his work to be per-
formed in the expensive moving picture theaters,
while a piano accompaniment to the varying scenes
will serve for more economical impressarios.
This is the first instance of an operetta com-
posed exclusively for the film playhouse. When
there is more complete accord between voice and
action in the picture than there is at present it
may be that the scores written for these theaters
will be sung by- the actors or seem to be sung by
them. Synchronization has not yet reached a
sufficient degree of finish for such a result. It is
not regretted, perhaps, so " much as it might be
were not the sense of sight in me theater much
more important to-day than the sense of hearing.
Stranger still in the history of the advance of
the "movies" into the realm of music is the con-
sent of Cosima Wagner to have the sacrosanct
"Parsifal" presented to the public in this form.
Music selected from "the sacred dedicational play"
is to be performed as the pictures of the music
drama are shown. The rights of Bayreuth to the
exclusive possession of "Parsifal" lapse with the
close of 1913. Then it will doubtless be heard in
many theaters. Three productions are already an-
nounced in Paris for next year. The German
cities will not be likely to respect the wishes of
the chatelaine of Wahnfried once they are by law
entitled to produce "Parsifal" in their theaters.
So it may be, says an editorial writer in The Sun,
that there is method in the liberality of Mme.
Wagner when she allows the scenes from "Parsi-
fal" to be shown broadcast in "the people's thea-
ter."
The British Government helps along music, so
far as bands in the parks are concerned; but, asks
the London Musical Record, "why should not the
powers that me, if they wish to support the musi-
cal art, do so in a broader and more general
sense? Germany subsidizes her opera houses, and
the French Government encourages her artists, na-
tional and local, in many ways unknown to Eng-
lish people. Why not a musical 'Burlington House'
and a 'Hanging Day' (no jokes) 'for British com-
posers just as for British artists? Some will urge
that the Royal Academy this year is less fruitful
than ever. But, if so, is not that the fault of the
constitution of the selection committee, not of the
system ?"
Another Ballad by Ernest R. Ball
I'll Change The Shadows
To Sunshine
Lyric by
George Graff, Jr.
Writers of "Till
the Sands'of the
D e s e r t Grow
Cold," "Goodbye,
My Love, Good-
bye," " H e r e ' s
Love and Suc-
cess to You," "Let Us Have Peace,"' "Call-
ing of the Sea," "When Irish Eyes Are
Smiling," "Lost Melody," "Where Is the
Love of Yesterday?" etc.
The demand for this beautiful song is
growing steadily.
M. W1TMARK & SONS
Witmark BIdg., 144-146 Weat 37th St,
NEW YORK CITY
Chicago
SanFrueUco
London
Paris
Melbourne
SONGS THAT HAVEJUADE HISTORY.
CARROLL LEADSJTHE SIMPLE LIFE.
Earl Carroll, who has spent some time in East
Aurora, N. Y., conferring with Elbert Hubbard
regarding the plans for a musical play for which
Mr. Hubbard will supply the book, Enrico Caruso,
the famous tenor, the music, and Mr. Carroll the
lyrics. The latter was much impressed with the
ability and keenness of the Fra and with the simple
life followed in the community. He stated that
pitching hay in the afternoon reminded him greatly
of Broadway owing to the difference.
JOHN HEINZMAN PARALYZED.
John Heinzman,' a well-known pianist for music
publishing houses, and most recently connected
with the Broadway Music Corporation, who was
suddenly seized with an attack of paralysis re-
cently, is still in a serious condition and doubt is
expressed by physicians as to his chances of recov-
ering completely from the stroke, which has para-
lyzed his entire right side.
J. ROSAMOND JOHNSON MARRIED.
J. Rosamond Johnson, the well-known colored
composer of popular music, with a number of hits
to his credit, was married in London last week,
to Nora Floyd, a colored musician of Florida,
who arrived in England for the ceremony recently.
Most of the songs that have made history were
written by men who had no other claim to im-
RICHARD STRAUSS' NEW MOTETTE.
mortality. The "'Marseillaise" is the only produc-
tion of Rouget de Lisle which has survived, and
Richard Strauss has just finished a new com-
"The Wearing of the Green" was the work of an position, entitled "Eine deutsche Motette," writ-
anonymous purveyor of ballads for the street ten for four solo voices and an orchestra and
hawkers of Dublin. Max Schneckenburger, an ob- chorus of sixteen parts.
scure Swabian merchant, who never published any-
thing else, composed in 1840 some verses of which
the burden was thus translated:
"Dear Fatherland, no danger thine,
Firm stand thy sons to watch the Rhine "
Little was heard of these until thirty years later,
when the Franco-Germany war gave them an enor-
mous vogue. They were then adopted as the na-
tional anthem of United Germany, and a yearly
pension of 3,000 marks was conferred on the com-
You or I, Love?
poser of the tune to which they were set.
Don't fail to order these Songs
My Dixie Rose
Who shall Wear them
Gasoline
My Old Girl
My Caroline
r one Story the
WALTER JACOBS
Roses Tell
107 Tremont S t ,
BOSTON, MASS.
,,v
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Publisher of
Kiss of Spring" "Son* Day When Dreams Com* Trut"
And Same Othen World Famous.
'Mid the Purple Tint-
OLIVER
You Can't Repay the
DITSON
COMPANY
BOSTON
NEW YORK
Anticipate and Supply Every Requirement of Muiic De
WHITE-SMITH MUSIC PUB. CO.
ed Hills of Tennessee
Debt You Owe your Mother
Meet Me in the Twilight
MCKINLEY MUSIC CO.
CHICAGO
Branch Homer Hew Yorfc — d '
NEW YORK