下载辰思小说免费APP
[Musicalnotationwhichcannotbeproduced。Itmeanstwo/fourtimewithquaver，quaver，crotchetrepeatedforthreebars。]
Itisdifficulttoconceivewhatfireanddevilrytheygetintothesehammeringfinales；allgotogether，voices，hands，eyes，leaves，andflutteringfinger-rings；thechorusswingstotheeye，thesongthrobsontheear；thefacesareconvulsedwithenthusiasmandeffort。
Presentlythetroopstoodupinabody，thedrumsformingahalf-
circleforthesoloists，whoweresometimesfiveorevenmoreinnumber。Thesongsthatfollowedwerehighlydramatic；thoughIhadnonetogivemeanyexplanation，Iwouldattimesmakeoutsomeshadowybutdecisiveoutlineofaplot；andIwascontinuallyremindedofcertainquarrelsomeconcertedscenesingrandoperasathome；justsothesinglevoicesissuefromandfallagainintothegeneralvolume；justsodotheperformersseparateandcrowdtogether，brandishtheraisedhand，androlltheeyetoheaven-orthegallery。AlreadythisisbeyondtheThespianmodel；theartofthispeopleisalreadypasttheembryo：song，dance，drums，quartetteandsolo-itisthedramafulldevelopedalthoughstillinminiature。Ofallso-calleddancingintheSouthSeas，thatwhichIsawinButaritaristandseasilythefirst。TheHULA，asitmaybeviewedbythespeedyglobe-trotterinHonolulu，issurelythemostdullofman’sinventions，andthespectatoryawnsunderitslengthasatacollegelectureoraparliamentarydebate。ButtheGilbertIslanddanceleadsonthemind；itthrills，rouses，subjugates；ithastheessenceofallart，anunexploredimminentsignificance。Wheresomanyareengaged，andwhereallmustmake(atagivenmoment)thesameswift，elaborate，andoftenarbitrarymovement，thetoilofrehearsalisofcourseextreme。Buttheybeginaschildren。Achildandamanmayoftenbeseentogetherinamaniap’：themansingsandgesticulates，thechildstandsbeforehimwithstreamingtearsandtremulouslycopieshiminactandsound；itistheGilbertIslandartistlearning(asallartistsmust)hisartinsorrow。
Imayseemtopraisetoomuch；hereisapassagefrommywife’sdiary，whichprovesthatIwasnotaloneinbeingmoved，andcompletesthepicture：-’Theconductorgavethecue，andallthedancers，wavingtheirarms，swayingtheirbodies，andclappingtheirbreastsinperfecttime，openedwithanintroductory。Theperformersremainedseated，excepttwo，andoncethree，andtwiceasinglesoloist。Thesestoodinthegroup，makingaslightmovementwiththefeetandrhythmicalquiverofthebodyastheysang。
Therewasapauseaftertheintroductory，andthentherealbusinessoftheopera-foritwasnoless-began；anoperawhereeverysingerwasanaccomplishedactor。Theleadingman，inanimpassionedecstasywhichpossessedhimfromheadtofoot，seemedtransfigured；onceitwasasthoughastrongwindhadsweptoverthestage-theirarms，theirfeatheredfingersthrillingwithanemotionthatshookmynervesaswell：headsandbodiesfollowedlikeafieldofgrainbeforeagust。Mybloodcamehotandcold，tearsprickedmyeyes，myheadwhirled，Ifeltanalmostirresistibleimpulsetojointhedancers。Onedrama，Ithink，I
verynearlyunderstood。Afierceandsavageoldmantookthesolopart。Hesangofthebirthofaprince，andhowhewastenderlyrockedinhismother’sarms；ofhisboyhood，whenheexcelledhisfellowsinswimming，climbing，andallathleticsports；ofhisyouth，whenhewentouttoseawithhisboatandfished；ofhismanhood，whenhemarriedawifewhocradledasonofhisowninherarms。Thencamethealarmofwar，andagreatbattle，ofwhichforatimetheissuewasdoubtful；buttheheroconquered，ashealwaysdoes，andwithatremendousburstofthevictorsthepiececlosed。
Therewerealsocomicpieces，whichcausedgreatamusement。Duringone，anoldmanbehindmeclutchedme
