Eugene Field, a Study in Heredity and Contradictions — Volume 2

by Slason Thompson

• "Down the Forest Pathway."

MALE CHORUS

• "From the Farms."
• "We are a Band of Gallant Tars."

MIXED CHORUS

• "Hail, O Happy Nuptial Day!"
• "Ah!"
• "Where Turtle Doves are Cooing."
• "The Spanish Dance."
• "They're Delightful."
• "Oh, Can Such Wonders Be?"
• "How Sweet to Fly."
• "He Really Must Be Ailing."
• "Adieu, Sweet Love."

QUARTETTE

• "The Old Love."
• "The Parent's Voice."

QUINTETTE

• "Oh, What Were Life."

Field always insisted that Messrs. Smith and DeKoven got the title, if not some of the inspiration, for their opera "The Begum" from the argument of his "Buccaneer," the scheme of which he showed to Harry B. Smith, then a member of the Morning News staff. But the reason for his failure to carry out his operatic venture is obvious in the argument itself. It is intrinsically deficient in the elements of surprise, novel situations, and dramatic action necessary for stage effect. Field would have made it rich in lyrics, but as has been often proved, lyrics alone cannot make a successful opera. He quickly appreciated this and abandoned the work with "Oh, What Were Life?"