The New York herald., 1879-10-03
THE PHILHARMONIC CONCERTS.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THEODORE THoMAs-cLAs
sIcAL MUSIC IN AMERICA.

which he will lead in person. He found al
steinway Hall yesterday. by HERALD reporter.
busy among his letters and scores. but cheerfully
consented to chat the promised winters
work. far as decided on. "And SO. Mr. Thomas"
said the reporter 1--WE to have you back again
this winter to lead Philharmonic concerts? ?'
..Yes." said Mr. Thomas. pleasantly. sand am
glad to see old friends and visit old scenes. am
getting ready for my two concerts and also for the
Philharmonic rehearsals."
.How many concerts will there be under the Phil.
harmonic Society?"
..Sx concerts preceded by six rehearsas In New
York. and the number OF each in Brooklyn
There will be slight innovation the usual Gus
tom Tho concerts and rehearsals. both OF Brook
lyn and New York. will occur In the
Same week-Monday and Tuesday In Brook
lyn and Friday and Saturday of the same
week in New York. This will allow me to
return to Cincinnati within ono week. and almost
month will intervene between the concert periods.
Brooklyn has kindly given way in this. aud New
York retains her usual days"
"And what will tho Brooklyn programme be?"
'Much the same that in New York. The SYM
phonies will be the same and in the main tho pro-
grammes will be identical"
.And thou you return to Cincinnati?'
eyes; am preparing the great spring festival Of
$780, which promises to be the grandest musical
busy all the winter and early spring on that"
"Last year the chorus mostly recruited from
American voices. was It notY'
"Yes, but this the German singing societies
adding their forces aud the effect is to the
standard materially. They are good. steady. able
assistants"
AME1tcAN VOICES.
"Are not the American societies deficient in tenor
voices?'
1t is characteristic Of all American choral societies.
They possess good female voices, sopranos and
altos. but they universally deficient in low
mont supplies plcntuly and the coalition OF forces
has materially aided u.s. / said This peculiar
American lack is not local. but extends over tho
country"
"And of what material is your orchestra composed
which to hear III these concerts?
..Alainy or the old material. Some of my musicians
have left the country, but most of them within
call and have gathered them together again. My
old orchestra which travelled tho country with
mo and were ten years in almost constant PRACTICE
joined the Philharmonic when became tho leader
THE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA.
"Tnc Philharmonic Orchestra was thenSmade up of
my mon and picked members of the Philharmonic.
After left for the West the mon mostly remained
in the society. and though they have played under
other leaders and III second rate concerts ut times
oy are within IN na WIN ha Ra a
this city and Brooklyn"
"Does not that fuct Of their playing under differ
ent leaders and an inferior quality OF music affect
their usefulnegsY"
..Somewhat. Not that tho music they have been
since playing has hurt them. a man docs not want
to play symphonies all tho time any more than
he wishes to live on decacies tho year
musical exccllance whenshe plays from pillar to
post. you might say. and In all places and at all
OF discipline which he should experience at all times
to keep him keyed up to proper standard. MY or.
chesra became so efficient solely from this constant
pructicc and discipline. When concerts were given
hero by then 1t seemed as single effort. but they
the results OF twelve months work. TO
your mon must be kept together. must
feel q common interest and have an object-the
mancnt Organization. Musicians of such class
play these concerts should be made to feel that
Sy usna Sr pornoyon
OF tho year. This IL u main means or support to
them then. and they locate themselves in one city
and devote their spare time to teaching and to
playing in private concerts. But II they are in
secure in their appointment and uncertain OF the
compensation their energies naturally weakened
aud their usefulness naturally lessened. In Paris
and Leipsic and London this method prevails. Tho
musicians of the Paris society hold professorships
aud they play only in the Conservatory concerts
and at the Grand Opera. In Lepsic they play exclu
sive Gowandhaus concerts. instituted by Mendels'
sohn."
'.And in Londony'
"In London the Crystal Palace Company and other
similar organizations give them ample emp 'oymont.
III these foreign cities they sustained by govern
mcnt allowances or royal patrons and so they
thrive"
'And here?
but the concert season is protracted. and as the
people offered many musical attractions We
In New YORK are Obliged to on tho
road as theatrical people say. suppose people
thought was specniating Tor money when H., t9ok
simply because New York could not sustain them.
/ gave symphony concerts In tho large cities and
lighter music in the summer"
at was not success ut Gmore's. was 1t ??
GILMORE GARDEN CONCERTS.
mo; but that the fault OF the building and
the tines neither suited to tho project. Gem
trial Park Garden was built for me, and there FOR
ira Gimore's Vas too large. unsuitcd in build aud
at is an opinion that the Franco German war aided
us musically by the coming of many musicians to
this country to escape the war;.
'.That is u mistake, far as am concerned. My
best musicians were specially engaped in England
France and Germany and camo here under contract
not under influence OF tho war;"
"Aud Is there material here that Is avatlabeY
"Yes. to some extent, though the professional mu-
sical element is chiefly foreign of foreign parent
the nucleus of good professional society, but tho
present generation is largely dependent for per-
formers on iihportations."
"And the public-what of themY
''Therc eau DO mono better. They sustain as no
similar class does S elsewhere as paying pn9Iic.
popular music. They know what IL excellent and
they discriminate quickly between good and
bad music. Twenty years ago they knew nothing
comparatively OF classics. muscally speaking. Then
was my hard season; but they quickly caught tho
lessons offered and tho advance Ia knowledge has
been wonderful"
"a natural instinct, was IL noty'
eyes. 1t seems though they possessed nat.
ural appreciation OF good music. They demand
good music, and they get II in these concerts"
AMERICAN sTANDAnDs.
"How docs the promised programme ut tho com.
ing Philharmonic concort compare With similar en-
tcrtainments In London?"
1--WE are ahead OF London. Our programmes are
not 80 miscellaneous: thoy soverer aud purcr
than those originated in London. Our execution OF
orchestral music is better symphony pro-
grainmes acknowo ged to be unrivafcd and
copied abroad. Could any better index bo had OF
tho advance OF musical taste in American
And how can this spirit be further fostercd ana
kept aliveY
at Will keep itself alive. 1t is so deop seated;
but II can be strengthened by encouraging pcr.
manent band OF musicians and building . hall
specially suited to this class ofmusc.'
"And your orchestra OF this winter Have you
decided ON itY'
'.Oh. yes. They are practising In Stenway
Hall. They are up 10 the old standard fully. and
will average through the winter 100 meinbors
''Havc you decided tho relative strength OF tho
instrumentsy