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.
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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
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