Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-02-07
Miss annie PixIey.

This young lady played here one
night in her chosen character of
ttsDI'liss." Last Tuesday evening
ITas the appointed time, and all
the circumstances were unfavorable.
The snow was deep on the streets
and the weather was cold and the
hall insuficiently warmed. We do
not attribute blame to Mr.. Elder
for this last defect, as It was the
first time that his heating apparatus
has been tested by real cold weather,
and we have no doubt the defect
will be remedied now it is known
Another defect was the absence of
an orchestra or piano to accompany
Miss Pixley's songs. It was GER
tainly an unfortunate oversight, as
from one or two snatches of song
she gave us without aceompani-
ment, we infer that she is a fine
singer; she has certainly fine con-
tralto voice. The manager of the
troupe addressed the audience in
reference to these defects of arrange
ment in a tone that expressed more
irritation than was becoming.
Without knowing more than we do
at present it is impossible to say
whether the absence of an orchestra
is to be charged to the management
or TO Mr.. Elder. Many of the COM
binations now travelling take their
orchestra with them, and if this
troupe does not, the furnishing of
Accomplishments ought to have
been a matter of contract. One
thing we know, that no orchestra
can be furnished in Clarksvillecom
petent to accompany vocalist, and
this might have been ascertained if
proper enquiries had been made. A
pianist, we think, might have been
had, but whether he should have
been furnished by the company or
by the proprietor of the hall is
question which depends entirely
upon the contract previously made,
and, if no contract was made, it was
an unfortunate oversight as regards
both parties.
Under all these circumstances we
think it better not to criticise the
performance exceptso far as to say
that Miss Pixley possesses great
personal attractions and much tai
ent, both histrionic and vocal.
p. S.-Since writing the above
Mr.. Elder has made us a statement
in reference to the musical arrange
ments, which we now give.
The manager of the company was
informed from the first that no Or
chestra could be had here, but Mr..
Elder agreed to furnish a pianist,
which he did. Prof. Meininger was
engaged the whole afternoon in re-
hearsing with the company. For
this purpose he was not furnished
with a piano score, but only with
the first violin part of an orchestral
OF course a very inn
perfect accompaniment would result
from this, but, such as it was, the
rehearsal went through, and it was
the understanding that he should
attend at night, which he did. On
himself be was informed
by the manager in very abrupt
manner that he was not wanted,
that he, the manager, did not think
he should perform at all that night.
Upon this Prof. Meininger left the
building.
This statement, we think, relieves
Mr.. Elder of all blame in the mat
ter of the music, and we will only
add of our own knowledge that
Prof. Meininger is a competent
when furnished with
the proper means; but it is unreas-
enable for company relying upon
the music obtainable in the towns
and cities they may visit, to travel
without a regular piano score of
their music.