Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-16
THE MUSIC WORLD.
Pittsburg's Immediate Need of a
FirSt-ClaSS Orchestra.
OUR GOOD AMATEUR MUSICIANS.
Orchestral Players Should Band Themselves
Together for
The PRACTICE OF HIGH-CLASs MUSIC

What musical Pittsburg now most keenly
needs is an orchestra. We have in our
theaters several "orchestras," by courtesy,
counting ten or dozen men apiece; there
are two or three "orchestras" chiefly occu-
pied in supplying from three to ten players
for dances and for occasions where music is
incidental-in which latter class may fairly
be included the so-called summer-night
concert, at which, though nearly score
of players and a solo singer or two are
engaged, the terpsichorean wind-up seems
to be the ultimate object to most of those
who attend. This is about the sum total of
professional activity in the orchestral direc-
ton. OF amateur ''orchestras" We have
three or four, each counting some 20 or 25
players, including few professionals for
the less grateful instruments. At the head
of this amateur list stands the Mozart Clubs
orchestral department, which at some con-
certs musters 80 or 35 instruments.
But Pittsburg has yet no orchestra at all
worthy the name. In each of the organi-
cations alluded to-valuable as each is in
its place and as far as it goes-there is
lacking some one or more of the elements
absolutely essential to a true orchestra.
Some 40 instruments, at the very least,
must be had for even the less
elaborate scores; Berlioz and Wagner occa-
s1onally demand q hundred or more.
Each player must possess a satisfactorily
thorough mastery over his instrument as
well as experience in ensemble PLAYING in
the higher class of music. There must be
conductor accustomed to the practical duties
of his post, conversant with the standard
orchestral works and well enough acquaint-
ed with the nature, range, etc., of each in
strument to be able to adapt or arrange
music for his particular force of players.
There must also be regular rehearsals of
some frequency at which the presence of
every player is compulsory.
These elements are all must be's;' each
and every one of them is indispensable to an
orchestra, properly so-called. Such an or
ganization on some permanent basis is the
prime need OF the day in the musical life of
this city.
1t can never be formed, as suggested BY
an esteemed local weekly, by drawing from
the amateur organizations. While there
may be some few amateur players who
would be in some respects quite as compe-
tent as most of our professionals, yet even
these could not be depended on for absolute
regularity at rehearsals or to be properly
subject to the rigid discipline so
essential in an orchestra. These amateurs
work has been and is of the greatest value
in our public musical progress; but this lies
in the awakening of interest and apprecia-
ton for orchestral music among themselves
and their friends, far more than in training
themselves as permanent and active factors
in public orchestral concerts of the higher
class. The latter kind of work is and must
be professional. Volunteers did ineStimable
service in the sudden crisis at Johnstown;
but when it comes TO organizing tine relief
work permanently other material must in
the nature of things be sought.
No, the needed orchestra cannot be per-
manently and effectively constituted except
from professional ranks. In this city even
most pre-: :essionals must gain needed ex-
perience in the regular rehearsal of high
class music in full score before they can