, 1873-05-13

annual events. Ne1t yoar they will also be held
In other places In tho United Htates. Tho
feasibility OF giving one in Chicago wAa dis
oussod in Clncnnati, aud BY no ono mora
earnestly than by Mr.. Thomas hfmself. In 70"
gard to such an ovent, there sro two Important
questions to. DO oonsldorod. First, hayo ne men
sut1oiontly Interested in musio to guarantee tho
oxpennos Of such d festival simply for tho sake
Of music? We Anvo mon enough who will
guarantee anything that mnkos gront popular
display and otrorH opportunitios for advertising.
but hare no those sufficiently Interested In art,
to do something for tho sako Of art, without
reference to dollara aud oonts and ao1f~8lorifca-
tion7 That. is the frat question to be
ssttlod. Having settled this, hare RIO
the material for chorus7 We mako
no rcferonoo to sol oista OF iuBtr1-
.nentalists, for those could bo imported.
Havo no tic singing material Tho Cincinnati
chorus vas worry remarkable one. In ro1no-
mont and quality OF voice. 1t has had no equal in
this country. Three.fourthB Of It vas from
Cincinnati, md 1t waH throo-fourths American,
md largo proportion OF Its nombars, ospocial-
y IN tho sopranos and altos. belonged to tho
oldest aud Wenlthioat, families In Cincinnati.
This chorus studied and aang for tho sake Of
music. Thoro woro no jcalouaics, no chickering's,
no soloiats. No sslarios wero paid them, md all
paid their own expenses, not evon hay
ing the reward Of complimentary tlckcta
for tlleir friends. Tho Executive Committee it.
selt bought Its own uokets. It is morally ceA
tain that wo have not now the material for my
chorus At all. Thoro Is not 4 society Of ni1od
voices In Chicago. It, might DO possible to Or
gauiso 2 small chorus, BY dint Of hard labor
which In tho course of timo would bc ablo to pro-
ducc such music aa WIS Bung In Cincinnati, but
to establish largo and competent ohorus soems
woll nigh impossible ohicago, like Now York,
| Is cosmopolitan city, with ohangeab1e popula-
tion, and spread over groat aroa Of territory.
It is only an old and stationary pop.
u1ation Of leisure aud woalth which can
/ produce such = chorus. Now York
| could not do It, md so the Doaton
Handel and Haydn Society was imported for the
occasion Of tito festival In that city Cincinnati
had the material at home, aud its singera sub.
mittea to drill aaa discipline which were rigid.
| " seyerc. and 1t the cloae Of the festival wore
Us enthusiastic aa when they commenced. The
result Of that festival to-day is, that Cincinnati
is the frat musical city Of tho Wost. Chicago hat
a muslcal public that has alroady been su1n
| oiontly teatod-hut where ia our chorus Whore
arc our sopranos and our altos who will endure
Thomas discipline for throo or four months Al
thor own expense and with no hope Of a solo
Ono thing, houeyor, is certain, that Il
Chicago would hold out o sufficient
! financial and musical induoement, and II It'll
singers will subject themselves without muir.
muring to Mr. Thomas discipline, which hui
neither nouaonae or child'a play in 1t, hIr
Thomas will mako the experiment next spring
There is amplo timo between now and wintel
to think Of It but 1t must DO thought Of will
atrict reference to art, and mono whatovor t.
ahow or advertising. Jubiloea OF show can ht
got up without musical labor. but festivals lik.
those Of Mr. Thomas aro organized to educat'
the musical taste Of tho people, and to develop
tho true refinement and subli1nity Of the higheB
class Of music. To do this muat require month
Of hard 1abor, Ia Chicago ready for q festival
year hence7 .