New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-22


The Instruments properly required, then, In good
theater orebtst "a IRE an follows:
fifa Violin.
Second Violin
viols.
NolOnoslIo
Bass.
te.wiih PiocOlo.
Hautboy.
Frst Clarinet
eeeond ClsTine
RassOon.
Fi.t Trumpet or Correi
seoond Trumpet or Comet
Fret Horn,
krcond Horn
Trombone.
Kettle Druma
| Some one or two of these, &c we bavo shown,
require TO be more effectively represented than
would be possible through single performer. These
mus. be eraduatedalways according TO the limit which
we viii! fix at twenty-five smallest number from
which well-proT ortioned orchestral effects can gen.
orally be expected Three first volins arc essential;
two second vioins not less 20; one viola could be
made to serve, its function being almost solely the
filling in Of barmonies In which it is much aided by
other instruments working to the same end--the
horns, etc. One good violoncelo could be made fuf
fcient, bnt not without the support OF two BASES
Thus spportoned, the strings would hold their own
against the wind instruments, counting one per-
former TO each Of these latter, and fine, fairly
balanced small orchestra be made Of twenty good
musicians.
| How nearly our own orchestras approach to this
standard, we propose briefly to chow, promising that
the iheater orcheetras OF New.York arc ut The pres
ent time Of better class than those Of any other
city with which we are acquauted-csrtainly better
than those of Paris or London. There have been
larger thester orches,ras in Boston, but none, We
| Ill. oil Oh ILL IT,.
Tlsster, under Messrs. Conner & Os!ineh, numbered
at one time nearly thirty aud in the early Seasons
Of the present Boston Theate., Mr.. Conner led an
excellent orchestra Of twenty. In New-York, the
largest number afforded is nineteen which, In this
particular case happens Ly good fortune TO he equiv
aent TO several more.
NJ. st@pel's orchestra, at Wallack's Theater, ia
arranged according TO the plan We have presented,
excepting that il contains only single string bass.
This il particularly noticeable for too reason that
the same orchestra possesses special advantages
which make weakness in the fundamental part Of
the string family particularly prominent. The three
first volins are unusually powerful, aud being
equal IN strong passages TO four five ordinary fret
violins they berGy more emphatieally the compare
tive deficiency in the bass. This, OF courte, woud
be point not much observed by the public at large.
OF the details of the orchestra should say that
its string instruments all well supplied Of the
yolins have spoken, and the violonceo is one Of
the finest that NO have anywhere heard. The wood
wind instruments are also especially good. The
bass are not so good, in any particular. The char
acter of tho music here given is unqueslionably the
best in the city. II, always ample in variety aud
excellent 10 quality. The conductor, NJ. Si9pol.
I l. a.
ton as a compOser) by bis Arrangements Of ,olec-
lions from opem which form the leading features
Of bis en;re-nctcs. In ,ome respects, the perform
auoos Of his orchestra arc moro compact and COM
pele than those Of the largo concertrooms since, |
In the fire.. place small body Of musicians al. |
ways DO welded with more precision, and In tho
next, regular and repeated performances under
the rame direction give smoothness aud evennes.
which cannot 10 attained when frequen, changes
made.
Mr.. Bakers orchestra, a, Laura Kcene's Theater, !
stands next In Importance. The number Of musicians
here 10 sixteen--three frat vioins, two second, one
viola, ono violoncoo, one bass; one nu.e with pic
colo) one hauboy, two elGrineit; two comets, one
trombone; aud drums The epenlial defee, here !.
the sbseuco Of horns the consequence Of which ia 10
/ leave the harmoncs thin and unsub,tantlal. With.
out them the orchestra bec0mcf moro OF skeleton,
aimee tue second yions and the viola, with only the
occasional aid Of the comets and Of the wood
Instruments are not sufficient TO give the requisite
solility and rcundness. Mr.. Bakers purpose, how
ever IL 10 offer music which shall depend for irs
effect upon the brilliabcy with which s melodies
are exrressed-dance music and the lighter operate
tihos For this intention bis orchestra answcrs
very we'll especially bis musicians arc clever per-
forn.er But /, would be impossible for him to
realize any more serious musical idea, Tor reason
which we shall touch upon hereafter, wien speak
ing Of Mr. Dodworths orchestra. Mr. Baker FREE
quently adds TO the keenness Of his solo Effects by
introducing the Aageolet, high wind INSTRUMENT OF
wood less piercing than the pccolo or snail iluts
(Which IN theser orchsftras ia played BY tie regular
nulist when resonance emphasis i'd l,lg.'edJ AID
somewhat more flexible.
Mr. Dodwor,b's orchestra, o. Nibl,'s GARDEN, ia
alec composed OF sixteen M Iciais:two intvioliIs
two second volin- one VIOLA one violcntelo, one
bafs; one 1uie with Iccolol, one hautboy, one
clsrine'i two horns, two cornets one tronbOn; add
drums. lie, too, like 81. Baker. gives mot slien.
lion TO Light aud parking dance music. or it- e,aiva-
lent, aud lis performances arc ulwhys popular. The
def ct of lis orchestra iis extreme pun, rica weak
ne,s in wood instruments. that Of Mr.. Bake,s is
ia tho.e of brass. There are often musical occadons
which demand that tue sound sball temporarily pro-
coed iron the strings, from the wood or from the
brass alone, TO secure particular. aud sometimesm.
onait eiIects. This is possible in the orchesin at
Wallacks but in no other. At Laura Kcenos he
brass instruments are only three-two comets md
one trombone; ard harmony ue, cannot to made