New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-28
TIE CONFIRMATION

FESTIVALS The idea OF the college outcome
OF the building Of the hall. suppose.
RepOrter-Do you think the conditions in Cincinnati
altogether favorable for such an institution as this is
proposed 60 bet
Mr.. ThOmas-Yes, think they are. In tho first
place, it lies well geographically, being well West and
South IL Is certainly cheaper TO live there than here
At any rate, If any TO live cheaply there he
can. am under the impression that there is class in
this country who wish professional musicians
who would be very glad to take the chance to
study three or four years at reasonable
price; to have methodieal training; to hear
music We will make. it a point TO that a
good deal Of chamber music is given both publicly and
privately and to have enough talent at command to
give all sorts OF vocal and instrumental works except
operas Cincinnati is so situated that the whole South
and West can easily make use OF it, BY keeping up
great deal Of good which the excellent eccentric
talent that will have there win enable us to do 1t
seems to me that good be accomplished than in
any other way
Reporter-EIOw long do you suppose it will take to
form such an orchestra as yen desire
Mr.. Thomas-That Will depend on the material. !
shall make OF all the talent there Is in Cincn
natl and after that 1T is understood whatever needed
shall be taken from the East There is however. time
enough for that shall not begin concerts till
November. We VIII have orchestra of sixty or
enty this Autumn this win be used to give concerts
for the present and it will form nucleus OF the large
orchestra of 100 $50 which it Is hoped may come
Later IL will be necessary to take with certain Of
the men from NewYOrk who win be used in the Orches
ira, and the principal nstrumentasts will be engaged
with view to their holding professorships in the col
lege well "a playing in the orchestra 1t is possible
too, that may have to send to Europe for part of
material.
RepOrter-DO you think it possible for the players
whom you will take with you to find much employment
outside of their work in the collegei
Mr.. ThOmas-Yes. there has been a seifsuppOrting
located that during large part OF the year there
is rst-rate Summer garden business, for the city is
hot, and the hills about it covered with
Summer resorts The inclined railways give excellent
access to those and it is almost matter
Of necessity for the people in the city to
get OF town, If only for the evening. II is an I'M
doubted fact that orchestra be better supported
in the Summer between Cincinnati and Chicago than
anywhere else in this country gave concerts in Gin
cnna for several weeks last Summer, and my houses
averaged 1000 night
Reporter-HOw far developed IS musical taste in the
Wes-in such cities, instance Cincinnati, Chicago
st. Louis and Clevelandf
Mr. Tnomas-1he difference between the West and the
East about this: don't know whether it is because Of
the novelty not but in the West the public at large
attend concerts We have the support OF the whole peo-
pie Here in the East supported only by certain
class and not by the whole public.
Reporter-Then You think that there Is better field
in the West now than III the East
Mr. Tnomas-Yes, think there is a better field there
now than there is herethat myself do better work
there than here and think that there Is on the
whole better field for musicians. With my knowledge
Of the people there and with their knowledge Of me and
Inv past work, think that do better work out
there than anyone could and since cannot be in
both places at once, think that would be more
easily found TO take MY place In New-YOrk than any
one could 10 do the work which L expect
to do in the West. II Is no use 10 say
that il could find just what 1 want in Eew-York,
would not stay preference to going away. But
feel that 1 need some rest and some securi-
ty-a security which is given in Cincin-
natl by the guarantee Of Nir Springer and the
other directors the cOege-and adequate support
which NewYork does not at present seem inclined to
give me- do gard myself particularly il-used,
An that after all my work here L should be
obliged to go out of the city to make q Nv
ing but il Is certainly time that should
take some thought for myself and my family. All
offered in Cincinnati pleasant position, where shall
be comfortably situated, free from all worry and uneer-
anty and deem my duty To accept It, not only for
my own sake bat for that Of my family Moreover
nave wOrsd hard here for the last fifteen years. and
feel that need some rest.
Rcporter-Is there such interest in the West
hat the orchestra viii be able to give concerts all
through ONO and the adjoining States rs well az in Gin
cnnatii
Mr. Thomas-Yes think so. decidedly; better even
than here. In the entire surroundings Of New-York
there IA not place will pay expenses aDd neces-
sary 70 make at least days Journey before
gel 10 place that will pay but IN almost every large
CITY in the It Is possible TO give successive concerts
70 paying audiences have tried this In the East, and
have proved abuBdantly that cannot do anything OF
he kind here.
Rsporte Well, Mr. Thomas, what are the conditions
necessary to keep up ilrst-ciass orchestral
Mr. Thonas-Ia the first place, 1t Is necessary 10 get
good players aud then, when you have got them, 10
keen tbem together In Europe when an orchestra has
been engaged by municipality as ali the orehestras
IRE there plenty Of occupation Tor IT, 1t kept busy
ali the time aud is not only not Obliged TO exc out
living by playing at balls and parties and
theatres but such thing would not be allowed. IL IL
10 keep mp good orchestra that the men should
nave steady occupation where good music Is PLAYED,
and nothing else whether operate or symphonic but in
a good sized orchestra OF not less than forty men Ia
small orehestras the strings very few in number,
and having play against much brass aud reeds as
they would in large orchestra they have 10 play loud
ana coarsey without any regard to finish or quality
and this Is what ruins the playing OF most orchestral
players in this country. order to Keep up hrstate
orchestra the should have some steady Occupation
where they can play good music regularly and nothing
else.
Reporter-In Iwhat city this country DO you think
There Is the greatest amount Of cultivation In mnse at
PRESENT.
Mr. Thomas-Tle largest class Is in Now-TOrk think
that there 10 pcrhaps NO audience IN the worm Su 90
n a audieuees that / have had in the symphony
concerts; SO large and at the same time 80
appreciatiye After Eew-York 1t seems to me
that the beat audiences in this country are to be
,ound IN the West; they are Intelligent and
attentive than any Others and they larger do not
think thai auy such audiences those which have been
AZ the Cincinnati festivals could DO brought together
anywhere else than In the West, under the same
circumstances
Rsporter-How do you think the condition OF music at
present compares with what IL was when you hrst came
70 New-YOrkl
Mr.. Thomas--why, look at the programmes they