Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-14

Exposition, comedies with the views OF
President Marvin. He says the building
could be heated at an expense of less than
81, 900. In his interview he said:
sit was always my idea to have entertain
ments given in the Exposition building
That is what it was built for. 1t would not
be hard matter to heat the building. We
have introduced in this city natural gas
stoves that need no ehimneys. With the
gas the combustion is so perfect that no
vitiated air remains in room where there
is no chimney. If we had to heat the build
ing with coal stoves it would take great
MANY to do the business. With natural gas
stoves the place could be warmed in
the coldest weather. 1 would be glad
to see series of popular con-
certs given this winter. Looking
only at the moral side it would be great
thing. It would keep young men ont of
poolrooms and saloons and young girls from
running to cheap dances. The young people
need some amusement, and if they cannot
get it one way they will get it another. If
the scheme was inaugurated and the price
of admission be placed at 25 cents, 1 think
many of these dance halls would have to
close up. The concerts would give the peo-
pie q healthy resort to go to. There is not
the least doubt but that the idea would be-
use allowing the buildings to stand there in
idleness while they could be used to advan-
tage for the betterment OF the people. When
the Exposition buildings were erected it was
not the intention to have them used exclu-
sively for exposition purposes, The society
wants music hall, but the question is how
are we going to get it?
"When Conductor Innes, of New York,
went away 1 asked him if he would come
back during the winter if we wanted him.
He said he was ready to play for the people
of Pittsburg at any time. Now, if we could
bring him back and give another week Of
brass and reed music, would it not be treat
for the people? After having Innes and
his band would have a vocal concert.
Then run in one of our local bands for few
nights. This idea is carried out in other
cities in this country, and there is no reason
why it could not be done here. In Europe
every little town has its music hall, where
the people gather and hear music that is
beneficial to their systems after working
hard all day. have been over good por-
ton of the globe, and do not know of any
town where people have more getup in them
than the residents of Pittsburg. When this
concert idea is started by The DISPATCH I
am sure it will be productive OF good. 1t
Will have the support of all the directors
and most of the members of the Exposition
Society"
THE MOZART DIRECTOR.
Prof. ]. P. McCoIlum, director of the
Mozart Club, thinks the concerts would not
be musical success on account of the main
building being too large. He said:
'I am heartily in favor Of giving popular
b,,4 iF T-ooo1 v,,ucio so spfap1ad do
not think the Exposition building is the
proper place. For orchestral or brass music
the hall is all right. For home talent the
place is too big and is not adapted for solo
singing. To give frst-class concert 1 do
not think any artists can be found anywhere
who will fill that place. The hall could
be remodeled by dividing it in
half. If one-half was partltioned
off and the concert held in either half of the
building it would be q success. A hall that
holds over 5000 is q poor one for singing.
The Exposition building could only
be adapted for concerts by the
expenditure of large sum of
money. l am in favor of everyday concerts,
but to be a success they must be held in
suitable hall. / understand the music hall
the Exposition Society intends to build will
hold Z, 900 people. do not know what
they will do with it when it is completed.
When you crowd $500 or 5000 people into
building to hear concert you get nearly
every one who wants to go on that night. l
hope the thing will be success. The music
lovers would be heartily in favor of it,
MANY PLANS FEASIBLE.
In the summing up of points In favor of
the plan of winter and summer concerts, it
must not be forgotten that the musicians of
Pittsburg and Allegheny would form
powerful nucleus. The massing of fairly
expert orchestral players who, with assidu-
GUS rehearsals, would not do injustice to
either the best popular or the mildly CLASH
cal music, would result in an orchestra
equal in size and far more provocative of
interest than the great orchestras which
visit here. But the professional musicians,
who would of necessity have to be included,
would mostly be available for afternoon
concerts on account of evening engage
ments.
What Pittsburg's brass musicians can do
when harmoniously brought together has
been several times shown. Notably at the
occasion of the M. M. P. q. picnic at Ross
Grove last summer year ago. Over 200
players were concentrated in one band and
marched through the city making the at
mosphere resound with inspiring melody.
Inside such building as the main Exposi-
tion Hall, the band would tear the lining
out of things.
PITTsBURG's VOCAL CONTINGENT.
The possibilities of successful combina-
ton of the local singers were vividly shown
at the recent May festival, at which mag
nifcent chorus handled with consummate ease
such powerful and intricate compositions as
Saint Saen's ''The Deluge;;" Beethoven's
''Ninth Symphony" excerpts from Wag-
ner's best works; all with marked success.
In fact, the Pittsburg singers scored great
point in succeeding with the 'Ninth SYM
phony" after four months practice, where
the singers of Cincinnati went to pieces
after years study.
Such vocal ability applied to the oratorios
which are always popular-and the stan
dard cantatas, glees and choruses, scores of
which would be wholly new and novel in
Pittsburg, would be sure to achieve sue
cess. The combination between local sing
ers and the crack orchestras of the East has
been accomplished with good results by the
Mozart Club and the Boston Symphony Or
chestra.
FINANCIAL MATTERS.
It may be that the money for the heating
of the Exposition building may at present
seem not forthcoming, as the plan of popu-
lar concerts hardly lies within the scope of
the Exposition Society. But the discussion
of the plan may evolve some ways and
means. In an interview published in THE
DISPATCH, it will be remembered that Mr..
Carnegie, Just returned from Europe, re-
marked that if the musicians of Pittsburg
would become as harmonious in their rela-
tions as they were in their productions, he
might feel tempted to play patron saint in
several ways. The remark stirred up a
great many people who went to some pains
to show how poorly the shoe fitted them.
Nevertheless, the steel king meant what he
said, as may be demonstrated before the