The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-09-12
THE BAND JUBILEE.
SUMMIT. MISS. Aug. 9Th, 1877

SUMMIT, MISS, Aug. 9th, 1877.
EDITORS CLARION: Although the Jubile.
fast week is over and the various Incl
dents connected with it are already begin
ming 10 be forgotten, l would ask permits
sion to occupy short space in your col
umns for the purpose of making knowI
Que or two facts which in my opinion de
serve notice
| First, few words about the gentlemen
who acted as judges. 1t was, perhaps, gen
orally understood that the judges were pro
fessional musicians from New Orleans; thai
| they were men eminently suited to the po-
sition, and that all parties were satisfied
with the several decisions they made. Fur
ther than this the people know nothing, and
in order 10 let the amateur musical public
of Mississippi. aud all who took pride oil
plea. ure in the Jubilee, know the obiiga-
lions we are under to those gentlemen, / as
Director of the late enterprise feel it my
duty to announce that Messrs. Philip Greu-
ling, Genaro Nnieri, and John Charlton
| the venerable Judges who so satisfactorily
decided the contests at the Jubilee, acted
solely through motives of disinteresEed
friendship and good will toward the anna
teur musicians of our State, having been in
vited to do so by me, and as soon as the ma
ture of the proposed gathering was made
known to them, cheerfully conserving TO
do all they could to advance a movement
calculated to be of such benefit and inter-
est to all friends of music.
They magnanimousIy waived all idea oil
pecuniary recompense, said the loss oil
time and Inconvenience of the trip was OF
no account, and when on the ground went
through their duties with a degree OF
energy and pertinacity that well evinced
the interest they felt. In view of these va
rious considerations think L am not pre-
Stunning when, in the name of the musicians
of Mississippi, return thanks to the judges
for their magnanimity, and hope we may
be so fortunate in future years as always
to secure men as clear headed, impartial
and generous.
In passing, | will add that some acknOwl-
edgments are likewise due to the higher Off
cials of the New Orleans j tckson and North
ern railroad, for friendly encouragement and
for actual concessions in favor of the Jubilee
as when they agreed to carry the judges and
other visiting musicians to and fro at greatly
reduced figures, and also in the matter of fur
nfshing excursion trains, which was done
at unusually low figures in view of the ma
ture and objects of the enterprise. Mr..
Mckinley, our Division Superintendent,
told me he thought the Jubilee was good
thing, that it would bring people together
more closely, engender friendly feelings
aud "take off the rough edges" and that we
could count on him Tor anything he could
do for it.
With permission, l would like to add a
word in my own justification. Several
gentlemen belonging to the bands which
failed to win prize No. ?, accused me in tn
hearing of my friends, but not TO my face
of having given the Summit band the
music for the piece to be played at sight be
forehand, so that they could practice it.
will merely state that the piece played al
sight by the Summit band from the books
of the Jackson band was selected on the
spot by the Judges, and l know positively
that not a mem Der of the Summit band had
ever seen those books before, or any music
that was in them. They also said that was
my own band that had drilled for months
etc. This is all the merest nonsense.
have no band, nor have | belonged to one
for nearly four years. don't see the mem
bers eff the jolly Brothers (Summit No. J.
band once fortnight, and have no cOnnec-
ton in the world with them or any Other
band. My profession is the practice of med
| icine, and | only worked up the Jubilee in
my summer leisure as a friend of music,
and as former enthusiast in band matters
believe that all who know me do me the
jus tice to believe me innocent of the charge
of partiality, but have felt called upon tC
vindicate myself in the matter, and hope
| may be understood.
G. f. PATTON.