TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 23. 1960 Visiting Prof Gives Views On Operas By CAROL BLAKESLEE Until there are librettists, composers will have to con tinue to write operas based on already written plays, Hugh Weisgall, visiting professor of music, said last night. Weisgall spoke last night on "Drama into Opera: A Process of Transformation" at the Liberal Arts Lecture Series. Composers, however, did not always have to depend on plays for libretti, he said. It was more common for the 17th century musicians not to transmute drama to libretto. Libretti were especially writ ten for specific operas, and there was no necessity for using a work which was already writ ten. One 17th century librettist was so prolific, in fact, that 26 of his libretti were set to music more than 1000 times, Weisgall said. In the 18th century, however, a number of composers turned to pre-existing plays and put them to music, he said. This helped to bolve the problem of dramatic continuity, keeping the drama going. With the rise of Romanticism in the 19th century, there was a great demand for good op eratic situations. Composers searched for these in pre-exist ing plays simply because the libretti written then were too bad even for incompetent com posers to deal with, Weisgall said. Weisgall explained particular problems encountered in trans forming a literary work to an opera, citing his own experiences in writing two operas. Both used stories already writ ten as the basis for the libretto. These are "The Tenor" written with Karl Shapiro and "Six Characters in Search of an Au thor," written with Denis Johns ton Weisgall also read selections from the original works and from the operas, explaining how the original had been changed and why. Civil Service Exam Slated for Spring The Pennsylvania State Civil Service Commission will give a competitive examination on March 12 and April 20 for Management Trainees in the state government. Seniors who are residents of Pennsylvania and have "some knowledge of the basic principles of political science, economics, so ciology and psychology" are eli gible to take the exam. Application blanks are avail able at the Institute of Public Administration in 316 Sparks. Further details may be secured at the institute office or at the polit ical science office in 129 Sparks. DICK CLARK'S WEIRD WORLD He can't act. He has no visi ble talent as a performer. Although he's the idol of mil lions of teen-agers, he has nothing in common with them. He's been accused of reducing the quality of popu lar music to the level of comic books. Most of his proteges can't carry a tune. Many of the teen-agers on his pro grams look like adolescent hoodlums...and act the same way. This is the strange world of Dick Clark, almost impos sible to believe, described with amazing frankness., In the March issue of Redbook the Magasise for Young Adults Vow as sale at all aawastaada THE NETHERLANDS CHAMBER CHOIR, with Felix de Nobel conducting, will present a program of a capella music at 8:30 tonight in Schwab Auditorium. The choir is on its first tour of this country. Artist Series 'North Halls ,Student Tickets To Give Award Still Available For Best Unit Seventy-five student tickets re main for the Netherlands Cham- ber Choir Artist Series concert.] North Halls Council last] Ninety-seven non-student tickets,' •ght which cost $1.25 remain on sale approved a program for' i at the Hetzel Union desk. !selecting the outstanding liv-1 The choir will perform at 8:30- in tonight in Schwab Audi_ l !g unit in that area. The win -1 torium. They will open their pro-:ner will receive a trophy "for gram with "Sanctus" by Non excellence achieved in all aspects' Papa. They will also sing Ave; of college life." Verum" by Mozart and 'Ave, Maria" by Bruckner. The group The judging of the contest will, will close with four Dutch folk- 'be held in May, with criteria for] songs which were arranged by 'selection to be activities, projects,, Felix de Nobel, their director. ,and academic averages. Cho r a 1 singing, particularly Similar programs are to be '] a capella singing, has been a tra-,initiated in both Nittany and West' dition in Holland. During the 15th:Halls areas, with the winner of, and 16th centuries, the chorus'each eligible for an AIM out masters in most of the cathedrals ;standing living unit award, ac-' of Europe were either musiciansicording to Paul Craska, council of Dutch origin or closely identi- iciresident. fied with the Dutch musical stylei In other business, council de- In recent years, the choir has tided to accept a new recreation appeared at the Edinburgh Festi- program as set up by a University val, Sainte Chapelle, the Sagra recreation director and hold elec- Musicale in Perugia, Italy and the tions to fill the offices of secre- European Choir Festival i n Vi- L ary and vice president of coun enna. cil, next Monday night. Nomina tions of present members may be made from the floor, and any North Halls resident, with a sec ond semester standing or higher may petition for the office. —Passenger car advertisers in vested over 13 per cent more in newspaper advertising in 1957 than in the previous year. A good cover makes the difference! A few pennies invested in an attrac tive cover gives your report the pro fessional look that commands re spect before it's even read! Next time .you prepare a sales pro posal, audit, case history, or any report, add the professional touch with an attractive brief cover. We have covers to fit any - prestige or protection need. Built-in prongs, attachable fasteners, or screw-post styles. Popular leather-grained tough paper or plastic materials. Let us help you "dress-up" your next report. It may make a lot of differ- • ence in your future! KEELErs %r The University - Book Store t 9:45 A.M. to 9 P.M. MON. - 8:45 A.M. to -5:30 P.M. TUES. THRU SAT. AD 7-2112 THE DAILY COLLEGIAN STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA Nittany Home Gets Check for $2450 State College's proposed Mount, Nittany Home received a $2450 check from President Eric A. Walker who presented it on be- ; half of an alumnus, Tom H. Brown, Sr. Walker presented the check to Gordon H. Pritham, professor of physiological chemistry and a leader in the home for the aged movement. Brown, a partner in the Greens burg insurance brokerage firm of Bair and Brown had asked Walker how he might contribute to the financial advancement of faculty retirees. Walker suggested a contribu tion to the building fund of Mount Nittany Home, Inc. Pritham is spearheading current efforts to find suitable property for the proposed home. .. - . (. k.....- . :. ~...---. , • .., Our modern, comfortable, conveni ' \ 4 ently located salon with specialists to serve your beauty needs. V . 4,.. t 1 e I 220 A S. Allen St. 2) Vc• C i OP AD 8-0213 -I Miss Joan Rasch Joan, a fourth semester AEPhi from New York, also possesses a mind to match her good looks. A bearded gentleman who isn't her father can sometimes be seen in her company. Some months ago, one of our experiments produced the "misty print." While it is hardly something you would give to a casual friend, it is delightfully suited for your most ardent pursuer. Its purpose is to enhance the eyes and lips while letting all else go misty. If he's far away, this tech nique acts as a wondrous catalyst in strengthening his longing for you. Might even get you married ! I Anyway, with the bugs ironed out and so many people asking for it, we've reduced the price of this optional extra by 30 per cent. There are still four openings remaining for fraternity or sorority composites to be done between now and Spring. Delivery is six week. Don't miss the boat. Did you know that party pix in color are a paltry 50 cents more than black and white. Give yourself a lift ... have your portrait made Lowenfeld Addresses Atlantic City Convention Dr. Viktor Lowenfeld, profes sor and head of the Department of Art Education, addressed the convention of the American As sociation of School Administra tors held last week in Atlantic City, N.J. Using the subject. "Research in 'Creativity," Lowenfeld discussed the implications of the research on creativity conducted at the Uni versity and other teaching insti tutions. He also discussed the identification of characteristics of creativity by relating them to : methods of teachings. THESIS MULTILITHING VAST ECONOMICAL rompoPrlAL ppm; LS? E. COLLEGE AD 6-6794 For All Your Hair Care Needs . . . bill coleman PAGE THREE
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers