Music Trade Review
Issue: 1898 Vol. 26 N. 19 - Page 7
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
SHAKESPEARIAN SONGS AND MUSIC.
There are few persons who have not
wondered when seeing and hearing a pres-
entation of Shakespeare's plays on the
modern stage whether the music as now
given is the same as that which was given
in Shakespeare's own time. When, as we
sometimes see in the playbills, a play is
announced to be given '' with all the
original music," does it mean that the
music will be as Elizabethan as the words?
An interesting inquiry, truly, and well
worth an answer.
From the many songs in Shakespeare's
plays—every play but four containing one
or more—it can easily be inferred that
music and song were popular and that the
people's tastes were musical. And this is
the fact. Dr. Burney, the historian of
music, called this period the " Augustan
age of music." But this was more in
respect to church music than secular.
Nevertheless, the knowledge of music
was widespread among all classes. The
education of no lady or gentleman was
considered complete unless they could read
a " p a r t " on sight in a madrigal, or even
sing impromptu a counterpart to a given
melody. At social gatherings it was the
custom for a lady's guests to sing unac-
companied music from " p a r t s " after
supper. There is much that goes to prove
that not only people of high rank, but the
blacksmiths, cobblers and tinkers were
lovers of music, and their recreation hours
were spent in singing parts, or, as it was
called then, "catches."
Musical composition, with the exception
of church music, was in a crude state,
however, and the fact is that the beautiful
songs which Shakespeare wrote were sung
by the actors to airs which thpy took from
any source, for stage music was little more
advanced than stage scene painting, and
that we know consisted mainly of placards
saying, "This Is a Wood," "This Is a
Street," or " This Is a Castle." The
actors sang these exquisite songs to any
popular air that suited the measure, but
what those airs were, with perhaps one or
two exceptions, are now entirely unknown.
It was not until Shakespeare had been
in his grave three-quarters of a century
that his songs were first set to original
rnusic. In the latter part of the seven-
teenth century, one of the most celebrated
of English composers was probably the
first to show any advance in melodic con-
ception and originally in song writing,
and his setting of "Full Fathoms Five"
and "Come Unto These Yellow Sands,"
from " The Tempest," were the first
written where the music was in harmony
with the words. Shakespeare's songs were
neglected in England even into the time
of Handel, but Sir John Christopher
Smith, a contemporary of Handel, com-
posed music for many of the songs, and
arranged to music " T h e Tempest," as
well as " A Midsummer Night's Dream."
In 1746 Dr. Arne, the most notable of
English composers during the eighteenth
century, set to music several of Shake-
speare's most charming songs, and they
have remained popular to the present day.
They are ' < Blow, Blow, Thou Winter
Wind" and "Under the Greenwood
Tree" from " A s You Like It," and
" When Daisies Pied " or the spring song
from "Love's Labor Lost " and "Where
the Bee Sucks " from " T h e Tempest," a
delicate inspiration which will keep its
favor so long as young voices are left to
sing and those of all ages to enjoy.
Ellen C. Crawford.
*
MME. BLAUVELT'S SUCCESS ABROAD.
Lillian Blauvelt, the well-kown Ameri-
can soprano, appeared in Rome, on the
evening of April 6th, as the leading solo-
ist in Verdi's " Messa da Requiem," which
was given by the Royal Accademia de
Santa Cecelia. There was a chorus of
150 voices, and an orchestra of 80 players.
Mme. Blauvelt was not originally select-
ed for the cast, but it being known that
she was in Rome, she was prevailed upon
to appear, and although but a few days
were allowed her to rehearse, she achieved
done by no means as a joke. It may be
regarded as an instance of the esoterical
secrecy in which the hereditary musicians
of Japan endeavor to shroud from imitators
their knowledge of a divine art. Viewed
in this light the idea is poetical. Long-
fellow must have been imbued with a sim-
ilar feeling when he wrote:
'' Peace
seemed to reign upon earth; and the rest-
less heart of the Ocean was for a moment
consoled. All sounds were in Harmony
blended."—-Algernon Rose.
*
A OREAT CHOIR FESTIVAL.
The Eighth Annual Festival of the
Choir Guild of Long Island will be held at
the Cathedral, Garden City, on May n t h .
About fourteen surpliced choirs of men
and boys, numbering close on 123 voices,
will be represented, and the indications
are that the musical services will transcend
anything of the kind ever heard before.
The principal vocal solos will be sung
by Master Harold McGee, whose picture
appeared in the last musical number of
The Review-Keynote; the other soloists
are Master Clinton Walters, alto; W. H.
Macllroy, tenor, and Graham Reed, bari-
tone. Frank Wright, organist and choir-
master of St. John's Church, will preside
at the organ, and William H. Woodcock,
the celebrated organist and choirmaster of
the Cathedral, will be the musical director.
The program includes '' Prepare Ye the
Way" (Dr. Garrett); " I Beheld and Lo a
Great Multitude " (Elvey); " By Babylon's
Wave" (Gounod); "Hail, Gladdening
Light" (Dr. Martin), and Dr. Martin's
famous Military Evening Service in B
flat.
In addition to the above, there will be
special music by the Thirteenth Regiment
Band under the leadership of W. S. My-
grant. The Choir Guild is under the pa-
tronage of Bishop Littlejohn and other
prominent personages.
MME. LILLIAN BLAUVELT.
a signal success, and was received with
the liveliest demonstrations of appreciation.
The Queen of Italy was present, and after
the concert expressed in person her ap-
preciation of and satisfaction with Mme.
Blauvelt's singing.
The leading papers in the Italian capi-
tal have been most generous in their
praise of the American soprano. From
Rome, Mme. Blauvelt goes to Germany
where she will study. She will also ap-
pear in prominent concerts.
*
SILENT MUSIC.
There is one species of music which
ought not to be forgotten. It is perhaps
the most extraordinary kind of music in
the world. I refer to the silent concerts
of the Japanese. These performances are
given during certain Shinto festivals. It
is thought that were the sound to fall on
unworthy ears the sanctity of the occasion
would be profaned. Although, therefore,
both stringed and wind instruments are
used, and all the motions of playing are
executed, no strains are emitted, This is
32 years old, first-class teacher, with very
best testimonials and references, wishes to
accept immediately, or for the beginning of
the fall season, a position as a TEACHER
OF SINGING in one of the larger Musical
Institutions. Reciprocal references.
Address offers to Mining Director HERM,
HESSE BRUHL, Cologne o/R, Germany.
SINGERS WANTED.
First-class vocalists of recognized ability
can make big money singing to the Edison
Phonograph ; also dialect specialists. Apply
by letter only, with full particulars to
'Music,'Nat. Phonograph Co., Orange, N.J.
All our Instruments contain the full Iron frame and
patent tuning pin. The greatest invention in the history
of piano making. Any radical changes in the climate, heat
or dampness, cannot affect the standing in tone of our in*
Btruments, and therefore Challenge th# world that o«f|
Will e^cel any Qtl»«r,
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
SHAKESPEARIAN SONGS AND MUSIC.
There are few persons who have not
wondered when seeing and hearing a pres-
entation of Shakespeare's plays on the
modern stage whether the music as now
given is the same as that which was given
in Shakespeare's own time. When, as we
sometimes see in the playbills, a play is
announced to be given '' with all the
original music," does it mean that the
music will be as Elizabethan as the words?
An interesting inquiry, truly, and well
worth an answer.
From the many songs in Shakespeare's
plays—every play but four containing one
or more—it can easily be inferred that
music and song were popular and that the
people's tastes were musical. And this is
the fact. Dr. Burney, the historian of
music, called this period the " Augustan
age of music." But this was more in
respect to church music than secular.
Nevertheless, the knowledge of music
was widespread among all classes. The
education of no lady or gentleman was
considered complete unless they could read
a " p a r t " on sight in a madrigal, or even
sing impromptu a counterpart to a given
melody. At social gatherings it was the
custom for a lady's guests to sing unac-
companied music from " p a r t s " after
supper. There is much that goes to prove
that not only people of high rank, but the
blacksmiths, cobblers and tinkers were
lovers of music, and their recreation hours
were spent in singing parts, or, as it was
called then, "catches."
Musical composition, with the exception
of church music, was in a crude state,
however, and the fact is that the beautiful
songs which Shakespeare wrote were sung
by the actors to airs which thpy took from
any source, for stage music was little more
advanced than stage scene painting, and
that we know consisted mainly of placards
saying, "This Is a Wood," "This Is a
Street," or " This Is a Castle." The
actors sang these exquisite songs to any
popular air that suited the measure, but
what those airs were, with perhaps one or
two exceptions, are now entirely unknown.
It was not until Shakespeare had been
in his grave three-quarters of a century
that his songs were first set to original
rnusic. In the latter part of the seven-
teenth century, one of the most celebrated
of English composers was probably the
first to show any advance in melodic con-
ception and originally in song writing,
and his setting of "Full Fathoms Five"
and "Come Unto These Yellow Sands,"
from " The Tempest," were the first
written where the music was in harmony
with the words. Shakespeare's songs were
neglected in England even into the time
of Handel, but Sir John Christopher
Smith, a contemporary of Handel, com-
posed music for many of the songs, and
arranged to music " T h e Tempest," as
well as " A Midsummer Night's Dream."
In 1746 Dr. Arne, the most notable of
English composers during the eighteenth
century, set to music several of Shake-
speare's most charming songs, and they
have remained popular to the present day.
They are ' < Blow, Blow, Thou Winter
Wind" and "Under the Greenwood
Tree" from " A s You Like It," and
" When Daisies Pied " or the spring song
from "Love's Labor Lost " and "Where
the Bee Sucks " from " T h e Tempest," a
delicate inspiration which will keep its
favor so long as young voices are left to
sing and those of all ages to enjoy.
Ellen C. Crawford.
*
MME. BLAUVELT'S SUCCESS ABROAD.
Lillian Blauvelt, the well-kown Ameri-
can soprano, appeared in Rome, on the
evening of April 6th, as the leading solo-
ist in Verdi's " Messa da Requiem," which
was given by the Royal Accademia de
Santa Cecelia. There was a chorus of
150 voices, and an orchestra of 80 players.
Mme. Blauvelt was not originally select-
ed for the cast, but it being known that
she was in Rome, she was prevailed upon
to appear, and although but a few days
were allowed her to rehearse, she achieved
done by no means as a joke. It may be
regarded as an instance of the esoterical
secrecy in which the hereditary musicians
of Japan endeavor to shroud from imitators
their knowledge of a divine art. Viewed
in this light the idea is poetical. Long-
fellow must have been imbued with a sim-
ilar feeling when he wrote:
'' Peace
seemed to reign upon earth; and the rest-
less heart of the Ocean was for a moment
consoled. All sounds were in Harmony
blended."—-Algernon Rose.
*
A OREAT CHOIR FESTIVAL.
The Eighth Annual Festival of the
Choir Guild of Long Island will be held at
the Cathedral, Garden City, on May n t h .
About fourteen surpliced choirs of men
and boys, numbering close on 123 voices,
will be represented, and the indications
are that the musical services will transcend
anything of the kind ever heard before.
The principal vocal solos will be sung
by Master Harold McGee, whose picture
appeared in the last musical number of
The Review-Keynote; the other soloists
are Master Clinton Walters, alto; W. H.
Macllroy, tenor, and Graham Reed, bari-
tone. Frank Wright, organist and choir-
master of St. John's Church, will preside
at the organ, and William H. Woodcock,
the celebrated organist and choirmaster of
the Cathedral, will be the musical director.
The program includes '' Prepare Ye the
Way" (Dr. Garrett); " I Beheld and Lo a
Great Multitude " (Elvey); " By Babylon's
Wave" (Gounod); "Hail, Gladdening
Light" (Dr. Martin), and Dr. Martin's
famous Military Evening Service in B
flat.
In addition to the above, there will be
special music by the Thirteenth Regiment
Band under the leadership of W. S. My-
grant. The Choir Guild is under the pa-
tronage of Bishop Littlejohn and other
prominent personages.
MME. LILLIAN BLAUVELT.
a signal success, and was received with
the liveliest demonstrations of appreciation.
The Queen of Italy was present, and after
the concert expressed in person her ap-
preciation of and satisfaction with Mme.
Blauvelt's singing.
The leading papers in the Italian capi-
tal have been most generous in their
praise of the American soprano. From
Rome, Mme. Blauvelt goes to Germany
where she will study. She will also ap-
pear in prominent concerts.
*
SILENT MUSIC.
There is one species of music which
ought not to be forgotten. It is perhaps
the most extraordinary kind of music in
the world. I refer to the silent concerts
of the Japanese. These performances are
given during certain Shinto festivals. It
is thought that were the sound to fall on
unworthy ears the sanctity of the occasion
would be profaned. Although, therefore,
both stringed and wind instruments are
used, and all the motions of playing are
executed, no strains are emitted, This is
32 years old, first-class teacher, with very
best testimonials and references, wishes to
accept immediately, or for the beginning of
the fall season, a position as a TEACHER
OF SINGING in one of the larger Musical
Institutions. Reciprocal references.
Address offers to Mining Director HERM,
HESSE BRUHL, Cologne o/R, Germany.
SINGERS WANTED.
First-class vocalists of recognized ability
can make big money singing to the Edison
Phonograph ; also dialect specialists. Apply
by letter only, with full particulars to
'Music,'Nat. Phonograph Co., Orange, N.J.
All our Instruments contain the full Iron frame and
patent tuning pin. The greatest invention in the history
of piano making. Any radical changes in the climate, heat
or dampness, cannot affect the standing in tone of our in*
Btruments, and therefore Challenge th# world that o«f|
Will e^cel any Qtl»«r,
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