New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-26
TUr LOSS or THEODORE THOMAS.

THE LOSS or THEODORE THOMAS.
Whatever may be thought Of the importance
of the scheme of musical education in Gin
cinnat, of which we give the particulars this
morning, the public outside of OHIO, and es-
pecially the people of New-York, will read the
details of it with profound chagrin. To this city
the loss of Theodore Thomas is simply catas-
trophe and to the United States at large the
disbanding of his orchestra is a misfortune
for which the creation of conservatory
promises but trivial compensation. great
school of music trains hundred artists, while
a great orchestra is educating hundred thou
sand people, 1t is true that the new institu-
ton at the West is likely, if all goes
influence for the whole nation; that 1t
may accomplish certain permanent re-
suits which no musician could hope to attain
by individual effort and that another or
chestra will gradually group itself around Mr.
Thomas in his new home, travelling East
perhaps once in a while to give passing en-
tertainment in NewYOrk and other provincial
towns These considerations, however, are
not likely to weigh much with us just now.
For the present our minds are engrossed with
our own immediate loss. We can only think
with dismay of the disastrous effect OF this
change upon musical art in the metropolis,
and the check which it must give to the inn
prOvement of the popular taste and the ex-
panson of the popular musical intelligence.
Mr.. Thomas has spent over fifteen years
of exhaustlng and unrequted labor in
work for which this country will al
ways remember him with gratitude and
veneration. The Philharmonic Society, and
other musical organizations preceded him
in the cultivation of classical music among
select gatherings of the cOnnOisseurs, but
Thomas was the first to throw open to the
masses the inner recesses of the temple of art.
He brought Beethoven, Mozart, Schumann,
Wagner and List close to the popular afiec-
tons. He led the inexperienced multitudes
into that enhancing fairy land where every
breath is a melody, and flowers rustic con-
course of sweet sounds. The popular capacity
for musical enjoyment enlarged under his
guidance; every department of the art
felt the impulse of his strong hand; there
was not a cheap concert-singer, nor third
rate pianist, nor church choir that did not
learn from his example to aim ut higher
whole field of art burst into bloom. Watch
ing the remarkable and far-reaching effect of his
work, we have regarded it as of the first inn
portance to the United States, and have de-
voted to it an attention which no other musi-
cal enterprises seemed to deserve. The tech
nical excellence of the concerts given under
his direction, great as it was, always ap-
peared to us a secondary consideration.
As for the concerts themselves, there can be
no reasonable doubt that of late years they
have been the best in the world. There are
only one or two orchestras in Europe that can
rival Thomas's in point Of execution there
are probably none that excel it 1; and certainly
no such programmes as he has been IN the habit
of presenting have been attempted anywhere
else. We know that they have been studied
with surprise and admiration in foreign musi-
cal centres, and have given NewYork a repu-
tation abroad which we fear New-York does
not wholly deserve. For those who know some-
thing of Mr. ThOmas's private life are aware
that he achieved all this only by continual
self-sacrifce. He brought the public
up toward his standard by steps that
were pleasant indeed for them but pain
ful 10 him. His career has been long struggle
with adversely. In the fortitude with which
he has sustained neglect, the courage with
which he has faced obstacles the perseverance
with which he has pressed on toward his ideal
through all discOuragements, and the cheerful
silence in which he has borne trouble there is
something Of the true heroic character. If he
is now obliged to abandon what we believe to
be his proper work at the moment when his
triumph seemed to be in sight, it is because
New-York has politely but steadily refused TO
support him. A few rich gentlemen of an in
terror town offer him what we have declined to
give and so we lose one of our most valuable
possessions. We deserve to lose him, and be
surely deserves the comfort and rest and
peace of mind which an ample salary promises
to give him in his new home.
We presume that Mr.. Thomas will not
be allowed to depart without some pub
lie testimonial of our esteem. If we can
not pay our debt to HIM we can at
least acknowledge the obligation. Those who
know him only by his work will be glad to
show their appreciation of it those who have
enjoyed his personal acquaintance will delight
in doing homage to a sincere, honest and high
minded man, who to strange degree has
won in his very prime the reverence that
should accompany old age, as honor, love
and troops of friends.
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