New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-14
CTycrNN4Tps MUSICAL Fhs7ITAL.
DESCRIPTION OF THE GREAT HALL AND ITS
BEAUTIFUL DECORATION.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE GREAT HALL AND ITS
BEAUTIFUL DECORATION.
Irnoa A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT oP THE TRrBUsE.I
CINCINNATI, May 11.-Thanks to the Musical
Festival which Is take place here next week. en-
cinnati at present the centre OF interest through
out q large portion OF the West; and the cen
ire of interest in Cincinnati Is of course the
spacious Music Hall. which the generosity and hber
aity OF Mr. Reuben Springer and several OF his fellow
citizens have given TO the Queen CITY," The interest
felt by all classes in both Festival aad Music Hall Is In
tense In the case the ball is natural for there is
other building quite like it in the country In tho
case OF the festival, il Is not less so.
The hall has excellent situation not far from the
centre OF the city, and it fronts pleasant little
park cool and quiet, full OF pretty shrubs and
fine shade trees. The Music Han In
tended To form the central part Of the Exposition build
ings but the only part yet erected The others
are not even begun. The style of the architecture.
according to the printed description, is modified, mod
Gothic. The principal material is red brick, but
Ohio and black brick used freely In the ex-
terror decoration Tie principal facade, that on Elns
shows the western gable of the hall, nanked by two
towers with sharply pointed roofs; the towers
extend some distance in front of the line OF tho
hall. and between them is low. clustered portco
with fiat arches through which one enters
the front lobby. Beyond the towers again there
are two smaller buildings, with their gables to the
street. In the upper part OF the central buiidlns
there is large window, and just below this
there are three large windows with Gothic arches The
height Of central portion is $50 feet and the width
OF the whole facade is 17S feet inches. In different
parts the facade there windows with balconies Of
brick with stone ratings, which do much TO diversity
the appearance OF the building.
The main lobby Of the hall is very spacious, opening
up to the third story with balcony the second HOor
when gives access to the first gallery. There are
broad high corridors running along each side
OF the hall on both frat aud second
stories, which, besides afUrding admirable
means for entrance and exit give also opportunities for
promenadng during the long intermissions at the Fes
val They are also designed. believe. to hold cases
when the building shall be used for Expeditions. There
are a large number Of doors opening into the Hall.
which, large "a IL is lit seats nearly $500 people,.
could be einptied as quickly any ordinary
theatra-mOre quickly than most, indeed. On
both first and second floors there are large
number OF rooms, both in the front and the
rear OF. tho building which can be used as COM
mittee, artists and chorus for similar pur-
poses On the third floor, the front lobby, u
smaller hail. 1l2x46 feet, which can be used for tho
meetings. conventions such concerts the main hall
may be too large for.
The large hail. in which the Festival ia to be given, is
the largest in the country is 1872 feet long, ll2 feet
wide aud 20 feet high, and it has stage large enough
10 seat 700 singers and an orchestra Of 100 In spite
Of the large amount OF space taken up by
tho great organ, tho second In size IN TINS
country The corners Of the hall are curved. so as
TO give as nearly possible the shape OF an elhpse
There are two galleries, the first OF which stretches
nearly fcom the stage along each side OF tho
hall. and across the end of it, while the
other above it, merely the end with slight
curYe The hall is lighted by nine large windows on each
side The roof which broken panels by the large
beams that traverse it, supported by great curved ribs
that rest on iron columns Tie arrangements for venat
ing the hall which are not only in the roof but under tie
seats in the galleries very extensive, and seem to DO
admirable.
The most striking feature about the hal is. perhaps
It's color 1t entirely lined with the wood OF the tulip
tree which is Oiled vanished aud its color Is very
effective. Toe OrpHn. which Is In the centre
Of the stage, IA brilliantly decorated; the pipes
which show silver and gold docorate1 IN blue,
and the case wild Of cherry deliberately carved ~ tue
women OF Cincinnati their contribution 20 the new
Music Hall. /, the mOstIenective thing about the hal
and adds wonderfully to ITS appearance.