New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-15
THE MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
ADAY OF TRIUMPHs IN CINCINNATI.

A
" At cFsrIs" SUCCESSFULLY PERFORMED BEFORE
SIX THOUSAND ENTHUSIASTIC PEoPLE-MAGNIF-
1cE>T WORK OF THE ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS
nrnIcAuoN OF THE NEW MUSIC HALL-MR.
e1SGrR's MUSIC FOR THE FESTIVAL ODE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsE.l
CINCINNATI, May IA stranger cannot
helm being impressed with the rapitty with which
an art idea, planted in Cincinnati only five years ago.
has sprOuted, bOssomed and borne fruit The
scheme OF musical festival was taken up
with so much enthusiasm and Intelligence at the
sprt, that this Western city placed herself at the
first bound alongside of Boston, ana now has left that
venerable home OF the Handel and Haydn Society far
in the rear The festival of 1878 was full OF promise
The festival OF 1875 the best ever given IN America
up to that time. The festival of 1878, when VIII sur
pass that of 1870 finds Cincinnati provided with one OF
the largest organs IN the world and a new con-
cert hall which, in spite OF glaring defects as
work of architecture. is in many ways the
hest on this continent as well as ncOmpalably the
largest The Cincinnati Trennal Festival is now estap
shcd the great art gathering Of America ana one OF
The best expressions OF American musical cu'ute' II
sends wave of excitement all through the central re-
zion of the States. II brings hundreds OF
visitors from New-YoTk and New-Engand;
iudeed, the number and earnestncss OF
these musical pilgrims from the E'sU Is
a continual surprise TO me. In preparation for the
feast the city has been decked with bunting transpa
Icnccs, pictures, festoons ana Tyres OF green Inc Ia
dies nave chosen tins time to throw open an excellent
loan collection of decorative art and antiquities, where
treasures OF lace aud ceramics Old furniture and spcc
mems of woodcarvng by the women of Mr. frys ia
nous school, nay be seen in close company with musical
autographs queer musical instruments, and other Oddl
ties appropriate TO the occasion.
The chorus believe, is very little smaller than II
was three years ago but II is better selected tue loss III
numerical strength being in part the result Of The clim
nation of undesirable material out Of the 700 members
now on the rolls 52s belong to Cncinnau, ard nearly
$50 have been under the permanent direction of Mr.
Otto Singer the chorus and assistant conductor
OF the festival The greater part Of this force conS OF
five Cincinnati singing societies one Is German, num-
boring eshtyfour members, and Is Welsh, with fifty
members The OutOf-town societies are three, namely
from Dayton. Hamilton and Crbana. The voices are
distributed Is follows:
Sopranos .......... 263
Total. ..............7O7
This Is the chorus As il appears paper In practice
there are always vacancies ia tie ranks but the
actual force of singers is nearly 700
The orchestra consists entirely OF Thomass own band
and members OF the New-York Philharmonic Society
entirely with exception, that Of Nine MaTe.z k
who PLAYS the second harp There has been som" com
raint in Cincinnati because no local musicians en-
ployed This, however, is unreasonable. Thomas
Pas had the band under constant rehearsal
Tor several weeks IN NewYo;k and on the road during
his Journeys. How do complaining friends In GIN
cinnat suppose tnat these musicians could have at
tended these rehear.als Aud do they imagine that the
Thomas Orchestra plays anything without practice OF
With only that hurried and general evcw which can De
had on the eve Of performance IL was not until last
Friday that chorus and orchestra came together for tn
first time I en- tie work went hr.skly because the
band was already thoroughly prepared The instruments
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