, 1876-08-20
TEE TH1EES ORCHESTRA

4h1f nGfIlCH Va kllC AAA9A-AA JlAI1AAI hA4AS1A -
nrccatc the best music will be glad to learn
fro,u au articlc in the New York Tribune, printed
Elsewhere, that there is every prospect that Mr..
T,ropons THOMAS will bc enabled to rcorgan-
in his orchestra am! resume his place at the
,.,n1,:,tor:s desk during the coming fall aud
,y;o,cr season. 1t would be q thousand pitics
chat such IN incompatible organization of
,r,s;,j,ps drilled, disciplined, and seasoned BY
}cnr years of practice together, should be sud-
d.nly disrupted, with no possibility that any
other ma. could gather them together. There
I, NJ leader in this country who possesses
The executive ability and the musical intel
1;ccn,c to direct such IN orchestra
execpt Mr.. THOMAS. There is no
o1hcr leader Of whom we have any knowledge
g],o las the courage to elevate the standard Of
music, and perscyere in 1cyoting this skilled
talent to tie production of the hest in his art.
1t is, therefore, matter for congratulation that
his works moi to be- failure after all, and that
he has wealthy, cultivated, and influential
friends sufficient to step in and rescue the or
cAestra from disintegration. It would have
tpen sad comment upon the musical
Taste Of this country if it had failed
to support this orchestra. It would hare
been tantamount to a confession that, while
Erropean countries can maintain several first
class orchestras, the United States could not
support one organization devoted to the pro-
duction Of the highest class OF music, as well as
of that which ranks as popular.
In his recent dismissal Of his orchestra, Mr..
THOMAS undoubtedly followed not only the true
course, but policy which was forced upon him.
He organized his orchestra over ten years ago
No man TAN tell how hard he has labored with
it, what hopes he has built up with regard to it,
what obstacles be has had to meet and over
come. There is one obstacle, however, which
no conductor can contend with unless he has
an immense fortune to fall back upon (which is
never the casc), and that is want Of support.
MIR. THOMAS has worked these ten years hope
fully, lndus.riously, couraggeously, hut without
remuneration adequate to the entertainment he
has offered. A man in any other walk
OF life, conducting business for ten years With
out profit, would lie compelled 10 seek some
ether occupation. or to 20 to the Poor-House.
Mr. THOMAS could not be expected to do less.
Art is long, but bread and butter is longer and
q good deal stronger. lIc, therefore, very wise
II assumed the position that If he continued his
leadership Of the orchestra lit must he gua1lI-
tecd against loss, and until such time
tie preferred to do something else. No pru-
dent business nan Will question the Soou sense
and prudence, not to speak Of the necessity, OF
such determination.
There is but one criticism that nc have seen
made upon the step hc has taken, and that has
been made SO often that it has become as
monotonous rs it is unjust. The following
from q Philadelphia newspaper, perhaps, ex-
presses this criticism III its most general form:
+" It. WAS very well Tor Mr.. THOMAS to PLAY such
music rs plcasedllim and the few VINO appreciate
the kind Of music he most loves; but it would
have been 1noror sensible and more polite if he
had chosen such as the masses OF the people
would have prcfcr7cd.'' Tic fallacy Of this
criticism lies i'll tho fact that the THOMAS or
chestra was organized for the production Of the
higher forms Of music. # the people want
negro n,instre1sy, the minstrel companies can
furnish better article Of it than the !
InoNAs orchestra. If they Hant 's Yankee !
Doodle" and ':Old Dan Tuckcr,'' they
an have it to their hearts, content |
from thousand different sources. II they |
want waltzcs, potpourris, medleys, and fan
asics, there are orchcstras in every city capable
II producing them as we'll as they deserve to be
produced. The radincn1s Of music are ex-
-eiIhtit 1cHCScaLcN Ill every S1Lt4 LOn II, aa14
7illagc where there is singing school or q
,orma] institute. Thc music for the masses is
:scap. and plentiful, and excellent everywhere.
There is no room for Mr.. THOMAS in this field.
ic could do 10 more and no better than thou
ands arc doing already. But in his orr depart
nent OF art he virtually stands alone No one
an do so well as he. Is it not, therefore,
he height Of ahsrrilitv to growl at !
his organization Of musicians, who have
made study Of the higher form OF
music, with the view to its performance, be-
ause they do not play the Three Blind siice''
nd the Anvil Chorus,'' when these and kin
|rcd music can be heard anywhere and every
Fhcre at less expense and equally well per-
ormed! The criticism is as unfair as it would
'e TO abuse great painter because he does not
'a1nt daslbs by The square yard for the auction
ooEn BECAUSE they arc popular. If there is
~ room for criticism in the premises it should
II applied to Mr. Thomas constituency Of
earers, who profess to be admirers OF the best
u music md then fail to support him. There
&c people enough in every city, and their num-
es Is being constantly reinforced By those who
ase been educated in music, to give him re-
support lie looks to then, for
aat support If be were looking to the masses
or help, he would give tie music Of the masses.
TIE RUTHLESS T0XICODENDA0N.