, 1874-06-14

ward concerts, from their starting pont in De-
co1nber, 1865, and when music in Boston was
rescued from ''the tender meIcies OF speculltors
nnd adycnturers, coming down to tle period OF
tho
FIRST VISIT oF Tuo,1As' ORCHESTRA
to Boston, they sny:
In November, 1863, the famous Thomas Orchestra
came the first time, presenting: ~ rtrtnoso
"rcestra. technically Ct instrument OF many
~ urge and dazzling display Of nsao goods works
Ut Lbzt, Wagner Beruoz, and Lesser lights Of the 'n1o
scnoo! With these two now elements was combined
the CID one Of lgL: popular variety dance uste aud
what not. We al admired the Orchestra, and hailed
Its advunt us lesson and example to our own 1lu-
eiclanA, in whom it did secn to inspire new ab1-
ton As for our own concerts fos the first year o.
two the effect Of this briAnt d1ver6ou Was scarcely
to shake the loyalty Of accustomed audience ut
nil. Our public still cared moro for the good pro
granmes aud only onged fur te tine CIV when % We .oo
p1eaton- But, sooner or later, that not only thls
want but our very loyalty to one persistent purpose
our limitation OF our efforts mainly to one chosen
field, our abstnence from fur more tempting bats to
popularity and curiosity than 1t has ever lam wnln
our plan to o6cr should place our modest concerts
for some time ut disadvantage when We haTe such
For consider: On the ono eide, It Is programmes Of
exclusively pure, enduring qIaEty Of music, with
but the best chance orchestra h.1 be 1nade up fur
the season, for their executions on the other 1t is all
tue varied stores Of and older art the new phe
uouena Of musical production, with all their br4lian-
ces their startling effects and contrasts, freely used
to place the technical perfection OF the one only per-
anent aud real orchestra in all America in the lest
light In the past winter the fruits Of tho unequal
competition ha7e appeared in the withdrawal Of some
nutrt1nent from the good tree We planted. Yet VIC
should have held our own hId we not committed the
mistake last april meeting, Of throwing AWAY
the guarantee.
Nuw the questions for us nre:
Is it important ts it essential that concerts Of the
kind We cherish should 60 ONT
If so, II we really want them, shall We allow our
selves to be discouraged or let them slide through our
neglect or idle over -conddence7
Their Imporhznct.-Doa any other concerts promise to
make good their place? Do any others even seek to
realize their end7 What is their cad It is, amid
misleading lights OF this most active period Of music,
to provide pure music SO that not only we, but the
rising generation in their turn may nerer wander or
musical birthriGht. Ten sure chances in year OF
hcaring some u the Symphonies, ETC., Of Beethoven,
moderate ailowance when there Is not one OF tho=o
great works which my ardent nuHic-o can afford
leave unheard for great length o. tine any oettsr
that want to hear them We must hear them IN ut
combinations With each other and With such variety
mos,here for them; for 1t is not In every company
that these old masters to feel at home and pass
for all thoy are. We want, then in the first place:
{a} Good, co:s1stem programmes 70 We Ct mem
elsewhere than IN OVID concerts? NOT can lalty
be said that ou!y ut great sacrifice o. variety can s
consistency be purchased, or that confines US 10
very marrow circle Of selections. We have given pretty
nearly all the symphonies, overtures, concertos ETC.,
which rank among musicians as hcst-class: al which
haye kent their freshness in the chief musical centrcI
Of the globe. In shcrt, wo have given A. different
symphonies s. oyertures, end 20 miscellaneous Or.
clestral works Of Importance; 45 concertos;
probably classical concert arias, with orchestra.
tlau were heard before IN this country, besides
su1os etc., to- numerous to icntion NC have intro
duced, for the first time in boston, Is symphonies; IS
oss5turc rs 70 c4saed 1hs @
ber of ~ symphonies, and that We kept playing them
round. at the rate Of ten concerts year,-each SYN
phouy would get Iccring not 60 often aa one in
too weu7
ib.) Then We want tho swnpaltctic au6trnce,-the
m Whnse EiIauS sometimes
swecter thcn outright appause there Is scspr4hon,-
chief charm Of our concerts squa!ed IN no other'
{c) Then want concerts coming along at stated
intervals throughout tic winter; not ten crowded into
(d1 Of course wo want also good performances.
Only with U.s. the FIRST consideration Is the mater VIC
would have presented Na,li'tT is not ai any, wren
upon fne eecadeuco Of Art. It is like milking the
elegant and sumptnous dress OF wealth and fasEion
the measure and criterion Of social culture But good
performance must have, for good performance Is
Interpretation. This suggests
prime disideratu not only Of these conrcrs but Of
tlis whole musical community. We mean conf
Ra1S RRomeo1c;esFa composed of good musicians, who
may find employment in it the whole year round play
ing continually togather making that er 9e business t
have studied for day to earn their bread tn ball
rooms theatrrs and streets. At present Boston Las
for m OCCASION for series Of ten occasions always
running the risk however, that some important nenl-
bers may be drawn away On concert or
etc1 But true orchestra nluEt be m orchestra al
ways: Of such, We have scea as yet only Fnglo
model: nor shall VIC be content until we have tta
How wo to set Il? sa1nly not By gying up u tho
only stated o. tng ,acsnz here
had and which have been provided bJ our ow so:!efr
Few as they are, these ten concerts may YET eaa 10
mora The Handel md Haydn Society, perhaps, fur-
perse7eTe. r re may We not some day hud audience not
1 ,ea but also for freqaent q
higher character, with chances for the tr1l OF neT
music among other things? And shaA Wo dsmss IL
as m idle dream? Is 1t not fast becoming necessity
of our great growing popuation, that there should be
concerts Eeeping good orchestra IN
winters hioner e1orts9 Until utterly despair Of
this the wiser instinct is to hold Oh 10 WAL re a'o
got. l.. ..x. .,,t-o,
of Dir opn yroGrdmmes- having always had In our
Programme Committee musicians whose KNOWLEDGE
nnd 1usicisnship arc Of the highest order and to
whose taste and culture, and artistic purity Of mo-
i've We can look up with nnnlsgiglnS Difference We
eonnsa rcaounce our 1aith, and quit the field hall
won then what befals the general tendency OF music
in our city7 Where {uness IN the ora;or1os, ana IA
some semi private Will there DC any
edre Of anything superior to the capr1ciocs fashions
1f day7 The symphony concerts are our ou1"arA
aT asn,nt1 aseinst such lessons aud e1amps musical
taste al think it for their interest
to give. .., .n,roa ar.x N
diEcQufape1QCQN
nnhnid these concerts It is point Of vital principle
With US. We must go and make them, II possloe;
Etil better than they h.ve tcen; nc must STUDY az
means at improye1ncnt But the first call upon US
now is to insure their continuity II we Jet ourselves
be crowded out winters II We fail to hold on even
shall have forfeited great opportunity Of lastlne
good through indifference Or Lack Of + eneapIse
end courage. Woree than that, ne slln DO throwing
away u:cS Of the prestige OF the Association, and
iessening the interes: that felt in it even amongst
ourselves; for nothing unites and qutcEens 20,
ri. ct3nBct0u8 responsibility OF EQlDe ROuA
work.
The suggestions of tho Committee regarding
tho means for obtaining permanent orchestra
Of really good quality, and one which can be
Te1ied mon for concert-wo-k, will meet with
hearty commentator. In conclueion, the re-
mort sets forth the needs OF fresh element in
he programmes; and this, the employment of
CHORUS OF MIXED VOICES,
IN enc1, works as Schun1auu's paradise and the
D. peT; hIendelssohn's +" Walpurgis Night, Bach's
s.4aE ~. eaotataa and the like, is expected to