St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-02
How Minneapolis Has Pro-
crossed Of Late in This
Direction.
The DanZ Orchestra and Ex-
position Bands as Eduea-
tional Factors.
The Organization Of Societies
That Followed as a
Result.
Some Of the fortunes That
Are Now Inflicted by
Amateurs.

ton of Minneapolis, excepting in few
Isolated cases, was sadly neglected. Do
not understand by this that it's people
were remiss in the pursuance of musical
studies that usually fall to the lot of
the younger members of a primitive
society. The young ladies, all more or
less, pegged away at piano practice,
and the usual number of young men
with high pitched voices took vocal
lessons and posed as tenors. The idea
intended to be conveyed is that the peo-
pie had not been educated I'D to a
higher standard of instrumental work,
and were content to sit and listen to the
sober strains of "Hail Columbia" or
"Old Grimes Is Dead" executed by an
abbreviated orchestra, without much at
tempt at rhythm or harmony.
Minneapolis drifted along in the same
primitive fashion in regard to music for
some years. the monOtony only varied
by the visit, once in while, of cOun-
try town amateur band. on an occasion
of unusual moment, when they came to
assist in some torchlight procession or
campaign speech, and gave soiree
musicale before their return to oblivion
and their native wheat fields.
1t was not until about 1882 that any
attempt at musical awakening was
made, and that was owing to the advent
of Frank DanZ from New York, where
he was for twelve years the first violin
istl Theodore Thomas orchestra. He
succeeded in establishing a very fair
orchestra, which he labOred with I'M
ceaSingly, and in a short time was en-
abled to give some very creditable rem
ditions of the work of some of the great
masters. Minneapolis did not take
kindly at first to the new state of affairs,
and it took a thorough course of instruc-
ton, covering considerable space of
time, before they began to really appre-
clate the superior class of music that
was being furnished them.
As a direct result, people had Just
come to that pass when they would be
susceptible to grand awakening to the
superior merits of high class instru-
mental work when the exposition
opened. and the famous Mexican band
gave forth its stirring music to the ears
of an audience that were already Begin
ming TO hunger for something of the
kind. "A Juror was created at once. and
music and composers was the one topic
for conversation in social and even busi-
ness circles.
Next came Liberati with his excel
lent band. followed by Cappa. and last.
bat not least, Col. lines, with his great
aggregation of musical artists.
During all this time Minneapolis had
not been asleep. The awakening had
come, and grand musical revival took
place. Musical societies were formed,
and even the churches took the popular
fever and began to collect the best local
talent and form it into quartettes, some
of them going so far as to import new
talent. until the musical part of the
church service became as much matter
for consideration as the quality of the
sermon to be preached.
The GOun0d club was organized in
1885, and, Its membership being con-
fined to the people of the very best
social standing, it had far-reaching in
f1uence, and assisted not little in the
improvement of the popular standard
of music. In 1886 Lachmund's Juvenile
orchestra appeared upon the scene, and
has been in existence ever since, being
a factor in the musical education of the
rising generation. In the same year a
concert bureau was organized for the
ureS, with SOlOiStS to complete pro-
grammes, or for full musical entertain
ments.
In 1887 the Apollo Glee club was or
ganized. the Flour City Cadet band, the
Exposition chorus, the Ladies' quar-
tette, Plates East Side band. and the
Philharmonic society was reconstructed
and placed upon more modern basis.
In 1888 the AOlian club was started,
also the Choral club, with ladies' quar-
tette, the Hollow Cove Banjo club, the
Mandolin anu Guitar club, and the pop
ular Sappho Ladies' quartette, which
has earned for itself an enviable repu-
tation In the short space of time they
have been together.
Latterly higher class Of music has
been so much appreciated that at the
Sunday afternoon concerts of Danz's
full orchestra Harmonic hall has been
found hardly large enough 10 accommo-
date the audiences that have gathered.
Yet, with all the Improvement, Mime
apolis still lacks one thing in the mu-
steal line, and that is really superb
brass band that can render high order
of music in style that could gain for
itself more than local reputation.
Certainly the city should be able to sup
port such one, and it would be worth
the trial.
There are one or two amateur bands
in the city that are practlcing with
,laudable end in view, but it will be
many years before they can attain the
desired degree of proficiency. Mean
f~ ate i'G ne e Of