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Show Q Q DESERET NEWS, TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1977 Children's plays in repertory Shakespeares musical knowledge By Harold Lundstrom Deseret News music editor In her introduction to the Concert," Anna Russell, as a womans club president, says: I think Shakespeare summed it up so beautifully If music be the food of love, play on. He didnt . . say on what, but I think it's a marvelous idea." Apparently Shakespeare thought so, too, for we find music and references to music in all his plays, Irom the early Henry VI" to the final Tempest." And whenever he mentions music, he does so with high praise. Nor was Shakespeare alone. We find lyrics not only m many plays of the Khrahethan period, but also interspersed m prose works of fiction, especially the pastoral for in England this was the Golden Age of music as well as drama In 1514 Castiglione had w ritten in The Courtier, one of the most influential books of the time, that musical training was an indispensable attribute of the cultured man. The ability to carry a part was as important as the ability to read Latin or to compose verses. No student of Shakespeare, no casual reader, but is impressed with the Bard's knowledge of, interest m. and use of music, in both its practice and its terminology of his day. Now as we near the 16th annual Utah Shakes-liearea- n Festival that begins in Cedar City Thursday (lti and continues through August 20, it is an appropriate time to review what he brought to music, and what he gave to it. Most of Shakespeare's work was done as a young man, say from 25 to 55 years. When did he have time to accumulate the mass of information shown in his plays? The lawyer wonders at his legal information; the doctor, at his medical; the genenl reader, at his historical knowledge; and the musician, at his fund of musical lore. His musical errors are few and casual. Compare this with the host of modern rut hors and their often comical mistakes, when they venture to use a musical reference or illustration. From Browning and Tennyson down to the writer who speaks of a Chopin nocturne" as a song, they all would be better by the services of a musical editor. Not so with Shakespeare. We go to him for the principal source of musical information knowledge of music in his tune and country. All the knowledge of his day that came to his door was grist for his null. He pictured music as he found it. And it was in no more settled or codified condition than was the language of his day ; a social pleasure with little of art or st lencc. One needs to remember that Shakespeare antedated Bach by a century and a quarter; and Bach is regarded as being the fountainhead of modem music. In Shakespeare's day, art music may he said to have been in its infancy. And what of our tonal art may we find between Shakespeare's covers? There are times when his pages seem to lean heavily on music for their best emotional thought and expression. His lines are enriched with multitudinous references to the instruments of his day, and make many an allusion to such theory of the art as then in practice. And especially does he make use of song in every respect. Even the casual reader recalls such references as, I am never merry when I hear sweet music : If music be the food of love, play on; Here we will sit and let the sounds of music creep in our ears; The Meet the evil Darth Vader in person! The menace in the black jJ hood and flowing robes v3 invades our Salt Lake store on July 13 at 1 p m. 'Valley' tickets University of Utah Young Peoples Theater has gone into repertory with this years productions and will continue throughout the summer, alternating the three productions on the schedule. "Leprechaun's Magic," a new production, started the repertory schedule WonMonday afternoon, and "Alice In derland was presented this afternoon. The man that hath no music in himself"; and a score of others that are common knowledge, as well as hundreds that are not. It may be often but a word or a pbrase, but it shows the sympathetic altitude of the poet. In the matter of musical terms, Shakespeare occasionally mentions the consort (concert), and frequently speaks of the instruments used therein The viols and the recorders are the most often named. The sackbut was a forerunner of the slide trombone of today. The cornet wa entirely different from the modem comet and has no descendant in the modern orchestra. One also finds mention of the virginals, the lute, the organ, the fife, the drum, and the bagpipes. The Engbsh gentry of Shakeepeares day were supiKised, as a matter of course, to take part at every social gathering, especially in song. And so it is not surprising, that his musical references are largely toward the vocal side of the art. The modern author may well take vocal lessons of of him. He speaks of singing flat and sharp of concord" and individual parts in counterpoint of "discord" descant, base, "rests, "diapason," "frets," gamut," "key," tuning and of various other theoretical terms common m musical terminology. This technical knowledge proves him to have had an acquaintance with vocal and instrumental music, perhaps unequalled in his day. FflEG DAYS OF 47 ANNUAL POPS Featuring Directed by EUGENE JELESNIK with Celebrity Guests In Person Billie Tony Silva, Conchita, Stagg McMann, Loukas, Bob Davis, Utah Dixielanders WEDNESDAY, JULY 13- -8 P.M., SALT PALACE ARENA Free Tickets at the Door and Daynes Music Co. Tribune Bldg. Belvedere Hotel All ZCMI Stores Salt Palace Music Performance Trust Funds of the Recording Industries - and the Ming proudly present CONCERT Salt Lake Philharmonic Orchestra XAtmVfTlT David Chow win be Griff m and the Minor Canon and "Magic Wednesday nrosented week and Alice" will wind up the and Friday. Thursday will The second week of repertory be and "Alice. with 15 begin Julv and Griffin followed by and Leprechaun," and "Alice Griffin. After that, they will alternate on a regular basis ...... a FOR THE SHOW OF YOUR LIFE . LAS VEGAS STYLE Shows nightly 7 P.M. and 9 P.M. WEDNESDAY thru SATURDAY ' M 2 ri JGNtF(CEvr FOOOS" r. lJ, Tv- - DEUClous -- 1 V Featuring: CHIEF MAPU U SOUNDS F, and Ssg5ZTShSL UWchS mi?" of POLYNESIA - . -$- t.89 $2.98 Direct From HAWAII tickets to perforof Promised are being reValley leased for sale to Utah residents each day, according to Pat Davis, director of the production. A few mances In previous years, FOR FAST HOME DELIVERY 4 1 PHONE: 972-976- i 973-708- L 2055 WEST 3500 SOUTH - tick- NEXT TO VALLEY FAIR MALI ets were given free to tourists at the Visitors Center on Temple Square and those left after 5 p.m. were distributed to local residents. local residents purchase tickets Now, may from the Promised Valley Playhouse box 132 South State Street each day from 9 a.m., according to Miss Davis. Only a small number are made available until 5 pm. each day. e, -- Now lobster is within your reach. Once you taste these little lobsters, you'll find them just as tender and succulent as a big one. They share the platter w ith a broiled-to-orde- r steak. Plus a baked potato or french fries and Sizlcr toast. So hurry to the Si. At. 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