Presentations on Herbert’s Music
“Hearts of Erin” from Eileen by Shannon Wright
Victor Herbert (1859-1924) was a Composer, Cellist, and Conductor, born in 1859. He is thought to be one of the most important theatrical composers of the Early 1900s (nicknamed the “grandfather of American musical theater”) [1 & 2]. Some of Herbet’s most famous works include: Babes in Toyland, Prince Ananias, and The Fall of a Nation.
Herbert remains a beloved force in the creative world, as the founding member of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) [2] , and composer of the Irish Opera “Eileen” (once called Hearts of Erin) [3].
Eileen tells the story of a revolutionist from Ireland, who’s lover and aunt try to rescue him from the British after being arrested for treason. Only however, to be recaptured and nearly killed, before someone arrives to end the suffering for not only him, but other revolutionists
Herbert though of his work for Eileen among some of his best. Although critics thought highly of his score, the libretto didn’t exactly have the same fate, and the music was used for silent film accompaniment and other purposes. This arrangement for silent film orchestra makes use of Piano, Harmonica, Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, 1st and 2nd Clarinet, 1st and 2nd Horns in F, 1st and 2nd Trumpet, Bass Trombone, Drums, 1st and 2nd Violin, Viola, Cello and Bass.
Sources
[1] Luck’s Music Library..
[2] Library of Congress
[3] OPERETTA; FIRST ‘EILEEN’ IN NEW YORK SINCE 1917, John S. Wilson, The New York
Times, Dec. 1982
[4] Ohio State University Silent Film Collection
The Eight Most Popular Songs by Victor Herbert by Ivan Garcia
The musical legacy of Victor Herbert (1859-1924) is extensive and influenced the musical production of the first half of the twentieth century. Even when his musical studies and career started in Germany, the highest development of his work was delivered in America. His musical archive includes several genres of music for orchestra, chamber music, piano music, and concertos for solo instruments and orchestra. However, he is better known for his operettas, musical comedies, and comic
operas, with songs that became exceptionally popular with the audience. These songs were recorded and published in America and Europe included with the compositions as a whole or individually as a collection of the most popular ones, highlighting the album recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra with American soprano Beverly Sills released in 1975. There are some other songs recorded by The Philadelphia orchestra with arrangements by Robert Russel Bennett.
After his time as a cello solo player and assistant conductor with the New York Philharmonic Victor Herbert joined soprano Emma Juchs touring through the midwest performing excerpts from operas, arias, and songs to audiences that were not too experienced with this kind of music, the ensemble consisted in a quartet of singers, a pianist and Herbert playing the cello. At this time, Victor Herbert had composed his first operetta Prince Ananias a few years earlier and premiered on November 1894 at The Broadway Theatre in New York.
Victor Herbert’s social labor is also extensive, he led the group of composers and publishers that founded the American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers, to give composers rights over their compositions, songwriting, and publishings.
The following list of the most popular songs musicalized by Victor Herbert is based on reviews, recorded albums, collections, and the most listened songs in the last years.
1. I’m falling in love with someone.
This song is a number of Herbert’s operetta “Naughty Marietta”, which was premiered in October 1910 in Syracuse, New York, and played more than 130 times. The lyrics were written by Rida Johnson Young.
Lyrics:
I’ve a very strange feeling I ne’er felt before ‘Tis a kind of a grind of depression
My heart’s acting strangely, it feels rather sore At least it gives me that impression
My pulses leap madly without any cause Believe me, I’m telling you truly
I’m gay without pause, then sad without cause My spirits are truly unruly
For I’m falling in love with someone Some one girl
For I’m falling in love with someone Head a-whirl
Yes, I’m falling in love with someone
Plain to see
I’m sure I could love someone madly If someone would only love me
Now I don’t mind confessing that I used to scoff At this sort of a sport of flirtation
I need to believe that I’d never be caught
In this foolish but fond complication
I’m losing all relish for things were dear
I’m looking for trouble and know it
When someone is near, I’m feeling quite queer But I heartily hope I don’t show it
For I’m falling in love with someone Some one girl
For I’m falling in love with someone Head a-whirl
Yes, I’m falling in love with someone Plain to see
I’m sure I could love someone madly If someone would only love me
2. March of the Toys
This piece is part of the second act of Herbert’s operetta “Babes in Toyland”. The production premiere was in June 1903 at the Grand Opera House in Chicago then in New York in October of the same year. The recording version listed here corresponds to the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Slatkin and released in 1988.
3. Ah! sweet mystery of life.
This song is also a piece of the second act of the operetta “Naughty Marietta”. This version was recorded as part of a collection of Victor Herbert’s concertos for cello and songs at the Kingsway Hall, London with soprano Kiri Te Kanawa, Stephen Barlow and the Kingsway Symphony Orchestra in July 1975. The lyrics were written by Rida Johnson Young.
Lyrics:
Ah, sweet mystery of life, at last I’ve found thee Ah! I know at last the secret of it all
All the longing, seeking, striving, waiting, yearning The burning hopes, the joy and idle tears that fall For ’tis love and love alone the world is seeking And ’tis love and love alone that can repay
‘Tis the answer, ’tis the end and all of living For it is love alone that rules for aye
For ’tis love and love alone the world is seeking And ’tis love and love alone that can repay
‘Tis the answer, ’tis the end and all of living
For it is love alone that rules for aye
4. Kiss me Again
This song is part of the first act of the operetta “Mlle. Modiste”. The operetta was premiered on December 25th 1995 at the Knickerbocker Theatre in New York. This version was recorded by soprano Beverly Sills and the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andre Kostelanetz in 1975 with lyrics by Henry Blossom.
Lyrics:
Ah! dear one!
How often I think of the past!
Can it be you forget?
Perchance ’twas a passion too wondrous to last But I dream of it yet!
I see you again, as you gazed in my eyes
With joy of delight!
So fondly you’d fold me as softly you told me Of love through the star-sprinkled night
Sweet summer breeze, whispering trees Stars shining softly above;
Roses in bloom, wafted perfume
Sleepy birds dreaming of love
Safe in your arms, far from alarms Daylight shall come but in vain Tenderly pressed close to your breast Kiss me! Kiss me again
5. Italian Street Song.
The “Italian Street Song” is also part of the operetta “Naughty Marietta”. The lyrics were also written by Rida Johnson Young in 1910. On this version the solo voice corresponds to Judith Blazer and the Millennium Chamber Orchestra on the album re-issued in 2021, based on a previous recoding produced in 1981 by the Smithsonian American Music Theater.
Lyirics:
Ah my heart is back in Napoli
Dear Napoli, dear Napoli
And I seem to hear again in dreams Her revelry, her sweet revelry
The mandolinas playing sweet
The pleasant sound of dancing feet Oh, could I return, oh, joy complete Napoli, Napoli, Napoli
Zing, zing, zizzy, zizzy, zing, zing Boom, boom, ay
Zing, zing, zizzy, zizzy, zing, zing Mandolinas gay
Zing, zing, zizzy, zizzy, zing, zing
Boom, boom, aye. La, la, la, ha, ha, ha, Zing Boom, ay
La, la, la, la, ha, ha, ha zing, boom, ay
The mandolinas playing sweet, the Pleasant sound of dancing feet Oh, could I return, oh, joy complete Napoli, Napoli, Napoli
Zing, zing, zizzy, zizzy, zing, zing Boom, boom, ay
Zing, zing, zizzy, zizzy, zing, zing Mandolinas gay
Zing, zing, zizzy, zizzy, zing, zing
Boom, boom, aye. La, la, la, ha, ha, ha, Zing Boom, ay
La, la, la, la, ha, ha, ha zing, boom, ay
6. The Streets of New York
This song is part of the second act of Herbert’s operetta “The Red Mill”, which premiered on September 24, 1906 at the Knickerbocker Theatre in New York and it was also extensively performed in London.
This version of the song is performed by Jerry Hadley and the American Theatre Orchestra conducted by Paul Gemignani in 1994 with lyrics by Henry Blossom.
Lyrics
In dear old New York it’s remarkable very!
The name on the lamp-post is unnecessary!
You merely have to see the girls
To know what street you’re on!
Fifth Avenue beauties and dear old Broadway girls! The tailor made shoppers the Avenue A girls, They’re strictly all right but they’re different quite
In the diff’rent parts of town.
In Old New York! In old New York!
The peach crop’s always fine!
They’re sweet and fair and on the square! The maids of Manhattan for mine!
You cannot see in gay Paree,
In London or in Cork!
The queens you’ll meet on any street In old New York!
If a spare afternoon you should happen to have and you Start on a leisurely stroll up Fifth Avenue,
There is where with haughty air
You’ll see them as they walk!
With velvets and laces and sable enfolding them, Really you’ll nearly fall dead on beholding them, Lucky’s the earl that can marry a girl
From Fifth Avenue New York.
In Old New York! In old New York!
The peach crop’s always fine!
They’re sweet and fair and on the square! The maids of Manhattan for mine!
You cannot see in gay Paree,
In London or in Cork!
The queens you’ll meet on any street In old New York!
(Verse 3)
Whatever the weather is shining or showery,
That doesn’t cut any ice on the Bowery.
Ev’ry night till broad daylight,
They dance and sing and talk!
The girls are all game and they’re jolly good fellows, They’re not very swell but they’re none of them jealous, They go it alone in a style of their own
On the Bowery in New York.
7. Art is Calling for Me
Originally from the two-act operetta “The Enchantress”, the song “Art is Calling for Me” was performed for the first time on October 19, 1911 at The New York Theatre in New York with lyrics by Fred de Gresac. This song version was recorded in 1975 with soprano Kiri Te Kanawa, Stephen Barlow and the Kingsway Symphony Orchestra in London.
Lyrics:
Mama is a queen and papa is a king So I am a princess, I know it
But court etiquette is a dull dreary thing I just hate it all, and I show it
To sing on the stage, that’s the one life for me I know I’d win fame
If I sang in Boheme
That opera by Signor Puccini
That would send the cold chills
Down the backs of all hearers of my vocal frills
I long to be a prima donna donna donna
I long to shine upon the stage
I have the embonpoint to become a queen of song And my figure would look pretty as a page
I want to be a screechy peachy cantatrice
Like other plump girls that I see I hate society
I hate propriety
Art is calling for me
I’m in the elite and men sigh at my feet
Still I do not fancy my position
I have not much use for the men that I meet I quite burn with lyric ambition
Those tenors so sweet, if they made love to me I’d be a success, that I do know
And Melba I’d oust
If I once sang in Faust
That opera so charming by Gounod
Girls would be on the brink
Of hysterics, I think
Even strong men would have to go out for a drink
I long to be a prima donna donna donna I long to shine upon the stage
With my avoirdupois and my tra la la la la I would be the chief sensation of the age
I long to hear them shouting “Viva” to the diva Oh, very lovely that must be
That’s what I’m dying for
That’s what I’m sighing for
Art is calling for me
8. Thine Alone
“Thine Alone” is a song part of the third act of the comic opera “Eileen”. The lyrics were written by Henry Blossom and was premiered twice in Cleveland on January 1917 under the name of “Hearts to Erin”, then it was moved to Boston changing the name to “Eileen” and opened in march 1917 at the Schubert Theatre.
This version of the song features American soprano Saramae Enrich and tenor Mayory Walker for the album named “The Immortal Victor Herbert” with the Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra, and released in 1961.
Lyrics:
Tell me! Why is there a doubt within thy heart
Eileen! Tell me why?
I but fear the time will come when we must part
Alas! I should die
Ah! Near to thee or distant love, though I may be
Eileen! Thou art mine
Evermore, by day, by night, I’ll dream of thee my darling
My heart is but thine
Eileen! Mine own
In thine arms enfold me, my beloved!
Let thine eyes look fondly into mine
For thy love bears a spell
All to wondrous to tell
‘Tis a rapture that’s all divine
So within thy tender arms enfold me
For thy loss the world could not atone
Beloved swear that you will e’er be true
And forever mine alone! be mine