The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-29
MUSIC'S THRILL NEAR.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE GILMORE
JUBILEE.
me Experts Of the Great Leader Pass
Through In surprise-Excursions Com
ing-The Famous Vocal and Instru-
mental Artists, Anvils and Cannon.

Pat s. Gilmore is long-headed business
man as well as masteriu musician ant
leader He doesn't ever take chances o
playing to empty chairs, even were thii
possible W. tn such superb organization
lie has in h, IS employ an advance agent, 9
railroad excun ion promoter and news.
paper man, who visit each city at which
the band is 10 app ar in concert a few days
in advance, Even y ne manager skips on
ahead occasionally to see that all is shap.
ing up promisingy. THIS fact has nothing
to do, specially, with the approaching Gill
more jubilee in this city, further than to
illustrate how rapidly Memphis ard sur
rounding country responds TO the invite,
| ton TO snch an event. All tho function
aries referred TO above have been here and
gone. The railroad and newspaper man
passed through yesterday, and only tarried
long enough to pay their respects to Mr.
Emile Levy, the local manager, and to
drive around the city and to Jackson
Mound park. Mr.. Christiana, tho ad-
vance agent, came here three or four weeks
ago, closed the contract and left for other
cities. Since then he has been here two
or three times, but merely to pay his re-
spects and pass through TO look after fields
that needed his attention. The manager
arrived two or three days ago, looked in on
MIR. Levy, and said he was going TO Dem
yer. He did not see anything remaining
for his experts TO manipulate in preparing
for the jubilee, and would order them TO
keep away. At the same time he took &C.
casion TO speak in the most Gathering
terms OF Memphis and her spontaneous
response TO well-iounded promises OF the
most divinely thrilling strains Of music
| ever discouIsed here.
| Ii there Is any detail OF preparation and
advertising that remains unattended 10 no
| one has yet been found 10 suggest II.
There is not a railroad leading from the
city that has failed TO take up tho jubilee
and make il known oil along its lines for
hundreds Of miles. Besides the large
parties Of regular excusionsts who will
come in and remain for all the concerts,
special trains will be run from Somerylle
and Aberdeen on Sunday morning. These
are known at this writing, and perhaps
others may be announced from day 10 day
/
The programs have all appeared In the
city papers, and are being distributed far
and near, city and country. But these
numbers OF historic excellence and worth
more than passing mention in advance.
The first nights concert, Friday, May 5.
will open with Richard Wagners overture
To ''Tannhauser." This is a noble produc-
ton. II contains and combines the idea
Il Ia. .l...lt.
expressing the religious and the other the
yoluptuous side OF human aspirations,
which, 10 Use Lists expression, "are
here placedin juxtaposition, and find in the
finale their equation" From a musician 4
point Of view il Is evident that Wagner
themes and his treatment of them, are
absolutely original, and show mastery in
all technicaltics, such as no other com.
poser can lay claim 10, but this side Of the
matter, though important, is not the main
one. The overture Is first and foremost
a poets work, and must be valued for the
amount OF poetical perception II eyinces
rather than for the astounding ingenuity
displayed In the presentation thereof
There was q legend current among the
people OF Germany in the middle ages Of a
certain mountain in Thuringia. into the
interior Of which Venus had retired, and
from which she made nocturnal expedi.
tons for the purpose Of ensnaring the IN.
wary. A knight and minstrel, named
Tannhauser, Is said 10 have been cnticed
therein and 10 have tarried n whole yea
with the goddess. The overture 10 The
opera "Tannhauser" describes this event,
aud begins with chant OF pilgrims, which
is first heard In the distance, then ap
proaches, swcls, and at length recedes
Twilight-the last strain OF the pilgrim
chant dies out. As night draws on mag
ical phenomena present themselves; q
fragrant, roseate mist arises, yoluptuou,
shouts Of Joy are waited TO our ears, We
descry the dizzy motion Of a licentiouf
dance. These are the seductive, magic
spells Of the "Vcnusberg." Allured
thereby, Tannhauscr approaches. Exult
ingly, he invokes the spell with his jubi
liant loye-song. Wild shouts respond u
his call, he Is envelopcd In the roseato cloud
and It's cnrapturing fragrance entrance,
aud intoxicated him. lie secs the goddess
Venus before him, and, burning with
iercc desire, no raises his song In hci
praise. Boistorous shouts Of wild deligh
re-ccho on every side; maddened bac
chantcs ruth hlther and thIther, and
: dragging Tannhauser into their giddJ
dance, hand him over 10 the arms Of the
goddess, who carries him Oh, drunk viii
Joy, 10 the fnrthest rcccsses Of her inyinci
! bic kingdom. Tho wild throng dispcrses
whirring murrnur alone stirs the air, ant
darkness comes ON. Day at length Begin
20 dawn, and the song OF tho returning
, pilgrims Is again heard In the distance
As they draw near, and the sun has riser
In all liz splendor, their inspired strains
: swelling 10 a rapturous torrent Of sublim,
ccstacy, proclaim Tannhauscr's deliver
ancc from the wilcs Of the goddess anc
happiness b all living things. A write
In the Atlanta Constitution, speaking Of thii
number, ~ rendered In that city few
days ago, says he has heard this ovcrtur'
played by Theodore Thomas great orches
J ira, and did not conceive that II could
be given In a satisfactory manner by 4
, band devoid Of stringcd instruments
Gilmorc's rendering Of Il was therefore I
/ revelation. Tho tono coloring wal
masteriul, and tho precision, delicacy
force and vcrye were astonishing. Thu
great work was fitting prelude Tor wha
; was 10 follow.
Saturday night's concert opens with Ros
sni's Overture 10 William Tell" Thii
overture Is PROFESSIONALLY one Of his mas
tcrpieccs, and has become almost his sol'
representative In ne modern concert rep
J crtoirc. The opening andanic, 20 cx
| Qusitcly Instrumental for five yiolonccll
and divided double basscs, illustrates the
rcposc and peace Of the Alpine solitudes
, II was not believed that this movement
=. - A ~.