New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-03
A CONCERT HALL NEEDED FOR GENERAL USE
NOT FOR ANY ONE LEADER.

A CONCERT HALL NEEDED FOR GENERAL USE,
NOT FOR ANY ONE LEADER.
To the Editor OF the Tribune.
Sir: have read with interest the various articles
in Harper's weekly The SUM- and The Com
mercal Advert ser upon the desrabilty OF securing
from disarmament the body Of musicians known as
the Thomas Orchestra guarantee fund OF rom
$4,000 to $4,000 and a special hall costing
$3.50 900 are desired by its conductor to secure for
the public twenty-four concerts during the season.
1t has occurred to me in reading this statement Of
Mr. Thomas in The Commercial Advertiser that
even were his desires not gratihcd New-York would
not starve for the best in music during the so-caled
season From November TO May we are In state
Of musical repletion. What with the New-forK and
Brooklyn philharmonic societies, the Choral and
oratorio societies. the Symphony Society," the Grand
Opera, and hosts Of chamber concerts and miscel-
laneous concerts and recitals, can enjoy only
part OF the good things set before him, while 1t IS
an imposslbnlty to assimilate all With so many
concerts, too, even at the high rates charged at
present all OF the large organizations must suffer
serious deficit and the smaller undertakings are
crowded TO the wall May I ask, then DO we
need and support moro concerts AT present.
Again. while every variety Of musical entertain
ment is presented during the winter season, we aro
really in serious need of good music for the rest
OF the year. For the unfortunate whose lot Is to
remain In the city from May until November, there
IL no good music TO be had, except
under the annoying conditions incidental to Coney
Island trip. A concert hall for both winter anu
summer service IS urgently needed and the idea OF
building one commends itself forchly to every one OK
musical tastes Such hall should be omen for tho
Use OF all orchestral conductors not for MI Thomas
alone but for Messrs sedl, Gericke Van der stucken
and Neuendorf as we'll 1t should be free for the use OF
any panoforte, and NOT be used by one plano firm
alone TO the detrment Of all Others. Such BUILDING
would be profitable investment for its projectors and
a blessing to citizens.
The absurdlties written recently in behalf OF Mt
Thomas calls for some remark. That he has done
worthy pioneer service TO this country In giving excel
lent concerts for the last twenty-five years here and
throughout the country every one must concede That
Nr. Thomas IS man Of genius, or great musician,
those who best know admire him must deny. In
the late Dr.. Damrosch and Carl Bergnnnn, ana IN
quite as cultivated musicians and as competent
authorities in musical matters as MI Thomas. N
view of the demands made by Mr.. Thomas for a
guarantee fund and concert han built expressly for
him I will even that he has never Dcen man
of public spirit that he has been disintercs ec
worker for art or done ght to encourage American
talent In composition or 10 foster thaI OI Aerodh
artists In how few cases has any young American.
having finished his studies either at home abroad,
had opportunity OF appearing up9n pr inol,a9
programmes, either In the Young Eothe sGI'G VI p
| umlnary rehearsals Of the New-Iork or Brooklyn
philharmonic societies. 90
an American citizen, deserves support should have
great weight with our people had ne eV d susn' d.
Is New-YOrk indebted to Mr. Thomas iCr me r ere
alton Of the institution known as the OK nm M
harmonic Society or for the esabll shment OF me
magnificent opera at he Metropolitan For the Or
atoo Society. or for It's first great Magnerlan Y
under such a load OF obligation and gratitude that II
should build for him alone concert nan ana gua,
as for a number OF years TO comet -
New-York, Oct %, 1855 AN INOCIkEk-