The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-06-19
The Monster Jubilee Mt Boston.

In saying that the monster Jubilee at Boston
is monstrous fraud we commit, perhaps, the
objectionable sin; at least we cannot hope for
dissolution from any true Bostonian. But
notwithstanding the pecuniary success of the
scheme, the magnetic excitement of the vast
crowd attracted by it to the Coliseum, the
prestige of the presence of President Grant
and host of national and foreign notabilities,
the patriotic associations of the 18th of June,
the mutitudinous roar Of voices and instru-
ments, including cannon, bells, anvils, the big
organ, the big drum and everything else in
the original programme, except the hundred
ministers who were to have prayed aloud in
unison, making the loudest if not the finest
prayer sever addressed to Boston audience;"
Notwithstanding all this and the undeniably
sublime effects which some of the music has
produced, we must say that the protector"
as Mr.. Gilmore modestly styles himself has
simply out Barnumed Barnum.
Our special Boston correspondent, who has
literally praised whatever has proved praise
worthy in the Jubilee, the chorus in particular,
which ''is, in every sense of the word, the
best ever heard in America" has been con-
strained to record certain complaints made
against the acoustics Of the Coliseum. ''They
were considerably married by the myriad ban
ners suspended across the roof, and the sound
was to good extent muffed by striking on
the bunting. Some people were disappointed
in the character of the body of sound which
frny fha nd tho
They say that five hundred singers in music
hall in New York produce a greater effect"
They may not be mistaken, although our cor
respondent compares their disappointment to
the first disappointment of visitors to st.
Peters, at Rome. He does not expect, how
ever, in the colossal musical structure built up
by Mr.. Gilmore the complete harmony In
detail of the immortal Basilica. He adds
that the stand of the conductor sis too low for
the members OF the orchestra to be able to
follow his baton with satisfaction, and the in
struments are not well located for sound" The
overture to EZRA Diavolo," with which the
third monster concert began, was not q sue
cess, as the opening bars for the violins were
utterly inaudible. The 'Festlval March" com,
menced with commonplace fanfare Of trum-
pets, and then followed some passages which
were manifestly intended for the wind instru-
ments, but were played by the violins. A
triumphal overture on the national air, "Hail
Columbia" concluded the first part. II was
composed by Convers, and never should have
been selected for such an occasion. The
opening part seemed like an incarnation, and
was desperate attempt at classical writing,
introducing passages taken bodily from
Beethoven. II fell fat as IL deserved. The
reed band of five hundred performers did not
give satisfaction in the overture to 'Stradella."
II was very uneven performance.
Without dwelling upon other criticisms
which our correspondent makes of minor
details of the so-called musical event of the
period" we fear that Marie A. Brown--cruel
as II may seem for strong minded women to
ego back on Boston"--does not greatly err
when, in the Anti-SldDery Standard, she thus
Eliminates against the Hub 1.-THE Jubilee 10
perfect sample Of American ostentation. IL