Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
THE WORLDOF MUSIC.
General Interest Felt in The Dis
patch's Agitation for
POPULAR SUMNER CONCERTS.
Some Suggestions as to the Methods to
be Pursued.
GOSSIP ABOUT OUR LOCAL MUSICIANS

was originally suggested in this column
about the time of the May Festival that
gave the structure its musical baptism; but
it was then too late 70 arrange matters for
that summer and too early for the next.
Now the proper time has come to work the
scheme into shape for the coming summer.
The discussions aroused within the past
ten Gays, since this paper has taken the
project up again, have developed a wide
range of suggestions that prove at least how
close to the public heart lies the question of
music for the masses. Considerable attention
has been directed toward the desirability of
a large music hall, costing guar
ter of 8 million, to complete the
Exposition society's cherished building
plans. Flashing hints OF brilliant SOLO
singers. kaleidoscope pictures of great
choral festivals and dissolving views of un-
paralleled operate productions have ema-
mated from various suggestive correspond
ents and contemporaries.
And they have been gladly welcomed sas
allies in the crusade. All these lie farther
along the straight line of development IN
those musical departments in which the largest
public has the greatest interest. The more the
whole topic in all its eventual aspects is talked
over, the greater likelihood of success in taking
the first practical step. ,.
Nothing is more needed by musical Pittsourg
than large hall, with its consequent blessings
of great music for great audiences az very
little a head: no worThier or more pressing OBJ
ject for agitation could be asked.
Indeed, there is pressing need OF two new
halls for musical purposes: one, Tor tne uses
already referred TO, seating not less than 5000
people; the other, with capacity OF ABOUT
2OOO to be used for occasions as have been &C
commodated at Old City Hall during the Mo-
zart Clubs tenancy. The clubs lease termln-
ates in few, months and that historic hall VIII
then be withdrawn from musical uses, leaving
the city absolutely destitute OF any auditorium
at all suitable and available for the constant sue
cession of high class concerts that could not MI
with people or with sound music hall OF really
large proportions. Some such hall as this, It
is pretty plainly intimated. will form part OF
Mr. Carnegie's proposed free library buildings
somewhat as already built for Allegheny, but
upon larger scale. The larger music hall, for
choral or operatic festivals and other biggest
public gatherings, is what has been planned for
from the first to complete the Exposition
plant. The music hall agitation always has had
and always will have the earnest support OF
this and other columns of this paper.
But--w1th a big B-these music halls so
badly needed could by no possibility be ready
What can be done in the mean time to ad-
vance the cause of music for the masses?
That is the questionable question of the
first step, now practicabe-that The DISPATCH
responds 20 with the popular concert crusade.
Present conditions. the means and resources
at hand, are the prime factors in any practical
scheme that looks for early realization. The
main Exposition building offers the only place
large enough for any scheme to provide music
for the people, in the broader sense. How can
it be used most readily and effectively?
Not in winter. IL would cost too much to put
in heating appliances and keep them fired up;
and. besides, it would not be well at the out
start TO compete with tn theaters. Again, it
would entail too much expense to have the big
place fitted up again, for the May Festival,
with full stage, boxes, amphitheatr1cal seats,
etc., so as to be suitable for formal concerts
upon the conventional lines.
The readiest and most effective use to which
the Exposition building could be put. in the di-
rection indicated, would be TO arrange two or
nadez concerts next summer "A commo-
dious band stand could be cheaply
erected in the center Of the main floor. Clus-
tered about it-not too near. but in good posi-
ton for seeing and being seen, as well as for
hearing-could be placed a few hundred CON-
Portable reserved chairs to be sold at, say, 50
cents each. To either side of this central re-
served portion could be placed any conven-
lent number of benches for the accommoda-
tion of the promenaders to whom all the rest
saw S5 cents admission. Similar ac-
commodations could be provided In the
gallery for an admission fee of
plentifully distributed: in the gallery, smoking
might be permitted. The grounds surrounding
the building should be improved so that the
promenaders could pleasantly extend their
stroll into the open air and along the riverside
Indeed for pleasant evenings it might be well
to have an outside band-stand and make it
altogether an al JreSc0 affair.
The music would. of course, have to be almost
entirely instrumental: yet it might be some
what varied. Some fTst-class brass and reed
band, like GimOres. Cappa's or Innes', might
be secured for the opening weeks; then week
or two from good local orchestra, Gernert's
Toerge's OF Guenther's augmented to at least
40 men; then, say, similar period for the
Great Western Band; and. finally, get Theo-
dore Thomas to bring his orchestra from the
regular Chicago summer season and repeat the
same thing here. With the varying combina-
tions and soIoists within these various organi-
zations sufficient variety ought to be had. If
more be-Wanted the occasional introduction OF
a male chorus or of some deep cheSted solo
singer might be made.
Enterprises of the same general character
have long been established institutions else |
where. London's Monday pops" the summer
promenade concerts given by Gilmore at Man.
haitian Beach, by Seidl and his Metropolitan |
Opera Orchestra at Brighton Beach, by Neuen- |
dorf and the Boston symphony play
ers at the Boston Music Hall, and by |
Thomas and his own orchestra in Chi |
eago-these and many others have |
amply proven that great success and public |
good mag be had in this line of work In |
Pittsburg the same thing has been clearly indi-
Gated by the summer concerts and opera FORM |
erly given at the old Exposition, and by the |
popular attention recently bestowed upon the |
playing of the Great Western and InnesS
Bands at the new Exposition.
The surest way to bring about a great popu-
lar demand for suitable music halls grand con- |
certs and operas is to begin with some simple |
practical scheme fitted to present resources |
and to present needs. That is the immediate |
object Of the present agitation. so far as the |
journal that began it is concerned.
The Pennsylvania Female College does wisely |
in eschewing the common practice of giving |
frequent pupils concerts''-a practice chiefly |
useful for advertising the school and largely |
perniclous to the pupils in many ways. The |
usual Christmastide concert was given last |
Tuesday evening at the institution named but |
without calling upon single one of its pupils |
for assistance.
The programme was filled out BY the men,
bers of the faculty themselves, with outside |
assistance. So unanimous and enthusiastic |
have been the comments heard by the writer |
upon the playing of little Miss Ethel Jones' |
one of MI. Cuttings private pupils, that special |
mention should be made Of it even in this |
hearsay notice OF the occasion. The pro-
eramme follows:
Piano solo-''Suite op. 81. Finale, .Bargtel |
Violin solo-s'Fantasie'' vieuxtemps |
- Miss Mamie Reuck -
Vocal solo-'Two Songs. BUYS
Mrs. Edith B. Coster
Plano solo 'Berceuse'' Chopin
Mr.. J. h. Cuttings.
Mrs. Edith B. Ooster. 'e'e''eO
xy,oltn soIo-sIal '.Slumber song: .Hauser |
flohn SUN (b) 'sAlazurka'' 80. Wieniawski /
Miss Mamie Reuck.
piano SOLO .Rs psOdie No. e. Liszt
Mr.. j. b. Cuttings.
Vocal SOLO Mignon'' Thomas
Mrs. Edith B. COster.
Piano solo-tsConeerto g. Minor'' -. Mendelssohn
Miss Ethel Jones.
Orchestral Part IL Piano.
Mr.. j. B. Cuttings.
Solo e1Lulu& .huDl06te1u
Mrs. Edith B. Coster.
"a
This Is the week of the first regular meeting
Of ne new Pennsylvania State Music Teachers'
,Assocfafion. For three days-Thursday. Fri /
iav and Saturday-Philadelph will enjoy the /
unwonted sensation Of being the musical CEN