New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-11-30
MUSICAL MATTERS.

MUSICAL MAJ
CONCERTS-THE OPERA-PUBLICATION
In addition to the larger musical attractions Of the
opera, there the Classical evenings and mornings
myeraly OF Mr. Enfield and hessrs. Mason and Berg
mann. Thee last are means for presenting IN rOon
not too large specimens OF instrumental q1intets,
ousrtets, tyio.. &C. in which the skill of composers
and performers is especially evident. The morning
concert Of Messrs. Mason and Bergman, on Tuesday
last wssyery successful.
- The Italian Opera has not been remunersting to
Mr.. Psine. The gorgeous Semiran,de does not draT
large audiences: neither does The Prophet. we have
received several communications to the price OF the
tickets sta,irg that they are exorbitant &c. With
this we have nothing 10 do. Mr.. Paine chooses to
become opera manager, and has right 10 tx his Fn
prices. Our own opinion on this SUBJECT was given
before the Opera House was built and it was, Fi-@ /;
That the house should be sufficiently large 10 accom-
modate several thousands enabling al I. see and be-
seated equally well, The Academy does not
fulfil these conditions, as we have shown.
Second: That there should be uniform
price Of half dollar ali over the house. I'VE did not
recomme nd private boxes but here are those who oe-
leve ii there tier or portion OF tier Of pm
vate boxes, really such afer the European fashion,
they would pay, rented by the season as general
thing. At present the only private boxes are those OF
the prcscenirm) Third. We thought that the chief
reapce-the grand reservoir Of sttractOn-should be
opera through the English language. A good COM
pany .iDgr in English has always succeeded in this
city, aud generally bad has likewise succeeded.
An OF era house should play six nights week, with
company sufficiently strong aud various to admit Of
such performances and thus economic vastly the
expenses over playing but three times aweek. IA
Italian and English company under one roof Is quite
practicable. An opera-hOuse, too properly should
have about 800 co., capital stock pat into 1t for
dresses and scenery SO that the manager has no er
cessve care or expense for mounting pieces and then
the nightly expenses for which he is accountable will
be very much reduced, and the whole should be let
upon Macanss-lke terms OF liberalty BY the
rich stockholders. Then again, in operates systems
tiled, so that engagements in Europe cou be
made sufficiently beforehand, expenses could be fur
theI reduced.
But We find that the Academy prices have Just boon
reduced See the advertisement, by which 1t appears
that the pit and first circle 81, second circle so
ceats amphitheatre IS cents. Nov the anti two-do.
lar people can attend for half price.
MIR. c. C. Converse has produced a method for
the guitar, Messrs. Hall Son publishers) designed
to teach the art Of accompaniment without troubling
the pupil with the ultra vrtuosoisms of the instrument
which are so rarely acquired, and for which in
fact it is hardly fitted. 1t seems to US that
Mr. Converse has we'll succeeded in his elaborate un-
dertakipg The book IL Handsome well stocked. and
well composed.
The same composer gives ia "Sprirg Holiday,
" Csntata in three pats, designed for the use OF Fo-
" male Feminine Seniinaries, Academies Juvenile
Glasses Schools Concerts, Exhibitions, &C.. lbret-
" TO by c. N. Cady." Firth, Pond & Co. are the
publishers This little work is after the fashion of Mr..
Roots fsvOrite csntsta-not beyond the abilities OF
boarding. schools The melodies are easy and SYM
me,ricsl, and the whole shows much talent that we
should be glad to see Mr. Converse produce more am
bilious works. The difficulty, however, lies with pub.
fishers more than composers. There are works, but
no attraction presented to g composer in any large
form. Stealing from Europe is easy for publishers,
that to adopt American works seems supererogatoy.
Thus there no nducement whsteverto compose; and
American opera houses, societies, publishers are
dead. blank to com ossrs. The NJ Y. Times has had
some very just remarks on this subject and the fret
we have seen in print editorial. Under the same 70
sticton 10 other America would be little above
an aboriginal state of ssvsgery.
We have from Cook & Brother The Rip Van
Wnkle Polka, par lar. by y Chas. ]. Hopkins. This
y written wi technical accuracy aud poetlcal mean.
ing. The author certainly shows he can get beyond
Polka.
Messrs. Scuberth & Co, Broadway have published
in elegant style The Technical Instructor on Piano
Forte playing, by d. Krug; any one who masters
which will be fine exeoutonist on the instrument.
The publishers have issued Easy Piano Pieces,
by Robert Schumanu, which may be especially recon-
mended to pupils partially advanced. Likewise a
cheap edition of MOzaIts Opera of THus-musc
little known here, comparatively not at all
the stage. 1t possesses the Characteristic grace and
esse Of EOzart's muse.