The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-22
THE GILMORE FESTIVAL.
MR.. EMILE LEVY UNDERTAKES THE
Task OF GIVING 1T TO MEMPHIS.
The 0randest Affair of the Kind Ever
Promised the City. and Great Draw
ing Card for Thousands Of Visitors
LIS. the Public Lend a Hand.


nooga, Knoxville, Little Rock and other
southern cities believe they have con-
quered Memphis in the line Of enterprise,
pluck and perseverance. This is not in
tended in the sense of commerce and
business generally, as they have long since
learned such a devoutly longed for con-
summation impossible. The cities emu
merated above deserve commentator for
their achievements, but the Bluff City
will show them card better The case
is this:
Gimore's celebrated band OF musicians,
who have for years delighted the people
of New York and other large cities,
determined upon a tour Of the south
and west during the approaching
summer The cities named promptly
grasped the opportunity and entered into
contract for performances within their pre-
cincts The advance agent had his atten-
ton toward Memphis all along, but for
time the engagement seemed hopeless.
Everybody wanted them. but, as tho liza
| bility was fully 5000, no one assumed
the responsibility. Mr.. Emile Levy rose
to the emergency, and, with his character
istic pluck and philosophical policy, vol
unteered. lie at once went TO work on
plans and preliminary arrangements, and
results, 80 far, are as follows:
! Mr.. Levy has seen officials OF every road
leading into the city and secured excursion
rates from cities and towns $50 miles dis
tant in every direction reached by rail and
river. The dates are fixed for May 4, 8
and 0, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with
two performances on the two latter. jack
son Mound park will be the place, as most
accessible, commodious and otherwise
suitable. Mr.. Gilmore is 10 bring seventy
five pieces, four cannons, an electrician
and five vocal soloists, among whom Is the
famous baritone, Tagliapietra. Liberati,
the celebrated solo cornet player, will
also accompany the band and be
feature in all the concerts. MIR. Levy has
also taken steps to organize q grand
chorus of local talent, comprising $50
voices. For Saturday afternoon, IL Is his
desire and intention 10 have a chorus OF
school children POO strong. To this end
the energetic manager will visit all the
leading schools OF the city for the material.
Mr.. Levy's idea is 10 style the engage
ment "Gilmore's Jubilee Festival" and
carry il out on the same plan Us the Bos-
ton jubilee. The cannons referred TO above
will be used in ''The Star Spanded Ban
ner and Anvil Chorus" both vocal, and
manipulated by the bands electrician.
As already stated, Mr.. Levy has arranged
excursion rates on all the railroads, and
will make this feature. But he does not
stop with bringing people to the city apd
then leaving them to find their way TO shc
park rs best they can. In addition 10 the
$50 street cars promised by Superintendent
Barrett trains will bc run by The Kansas
City road every fifteen minutes. This lire
il not $50 yards from the park and can
transport people by the thousands. Under
this wise and systematic management,
there will be no difficulty whatever in
every man, woman and child In the city,
who 20 desires, attending the concerts,
either afternoon or evening. There will
he no squeezing in prices, popular rates
will prcvail--50 and 20 cents aud - the
latter for reserved seats. Mr. Gilmore
has agreed 10 furnish all the chorus books
necessary for the chorus organized here,
and Mr.. Levy now has few adj
vance copies. The contents are all
standard, familiar 20 local vocalists,
and will not require tedious
study. Neither are they 80 highly classic
that those not cultivated up 10 the highest
standard cannot understand and appreci-
ate them. Another pleasing fact Is that
Mr.. Gilmore differs from Theodore Thomas
in the style Of music employed in his con-
certs. lie believes In entertaining and
thrilling his auditors, and in the programs
arranged for Memphis he will carry out
this principle. Further. when 40 warmly
received as 10 merit IL, he cheerfully re-
spends 10 the encore. Thus II Is that he
comes TO comply with popular demands
from those by whom he is greeted.
The foregoing announcement viii carry
profound qualification 10 the hearts OF
music-loving Memphians and vicinity. In
many respects IL will be the grandcst
achievement ever scored Gilmorc's band
has national reputation for perfection Of
the highest type, and thousands from the
south who have visited New York and va
rious watering places during the summer,
have returned 10 discourse enthusiastically
upon the delights experienced while
listening 10 the thrilling and divine strains
OF music drawn from the instru-
ments by artist performers II will DO
the frst appearance In Memphis and,
under the excellent management oil Mr..
Levy, will prove a drawing card for thou
sands Of visitors, eclipsing even the sue
ccssful first Mozart festival. years ago.
But there is something yet needed 10 make
the praiscworthy project reality and tri-
umph. One man, no matter how ener-
getic, experienced and determined. cannot
carry IL through singlo-handed and alone.
IL remains for tho public 20 sec
ond his efforts and assist In
the financial burden. II II by no means
likely that one individual Ia Memphis
would favor letting tho opportunity pass
unmproved, and will doubtless cheerfully
respond 10 the request for contributions
10 the guarantee fund. During the next
day or two Mr.. Levy will call upon tho
proprietors OF institutions moro directly
benefited by the presence OF large num-
bcs Of visitors, and receive any contribu-
tons volunteered. lie should, and no
doubt viii. be warmly received and en-
couragcd.
Emile Levy, as manager OF Affairs OF this
kind, stands In need Of no introduction or
commentator OF the people OF Memphis.
Never has he undertaken anything oil an
inferior order Of merit, and In every In
stance, the people who attended wero
enthusiastic in their after comments. In
this respect he has no superior, and few
equals. Exacting Tor merit and accuracy
in attractions, lac never fnlls short Of the
mark In pleasing the public when his
work u presented 10 them. In the pro-
posed Gilmore Jubilee festival, Il Is the
grandcst undertaking OF his career, and Of
such n character that N cannot fail 10