The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-05-26
THE TIME GIVEN To. MUSIC
Compositions of Highest Order and Ex-
cellence to Be Rendered at the Festival.
What Professors of Music Have to Say of the
Progrsmme-A Talk with Theodore
Thomas-The Full Rehearsal.
THE MUSIC

Professors Regard tho Programme of High
est Excellence-Festival Of Great Promise
The high character of the music, both
vocal and instrumental. selected for this
musical FESTIVAL. together with the great
variety, meets with enthusiastic approval
from all musical experts and lovers OF
music. Consider the programme as good
throughout remarked Prof. Robert A.
Newland. when asked for an opinion. 1T
is undoubtedly to be the most magnificent
musical event this city has ever seen, or.
for that matter. may ever see. Theodore
Thomas is recognized as y master. and his
reputation is not bounded even by this conti-
nent. Professor Barus has prepared the
chorus with the most exacting and pains
taking care.D
What do you think of its quality as COM
pared with the chorus of last yearf"
Il believe it the best-trained chorus he
has ever had. There Is better material in
it. He has had an opportunity in selection
that he did not have before. At the first
festival many came in who could not sing
much. but from year to year. in making up
the chorus these nave been thrown out.
while the better voices have bad the bene-
fit of education derived from previous fes-
vals.o
What can you say specially as to the
I'm the first place there il Rossini's mas
terpiece, the glorious 'Stebat Mater In
which the central jewel is the 'Infiammatus'
solo and chorus. The soprano there has q
grand opportunity at high c.. The fact
that this was sung at the festival a year
ago ought to enhance it's value to q crlti-
Cal audience, as the previous production
will strengthen it on this occasion"
What of the overture to 'Tannhausers'"
THAT is a choice example of Wagnerian
music, of which Theodore Thomas is the
prophet in this country. for to him more
than all others is due the credit of popu-
larizlng in the United States the work of
Gated the people to enjoy Wagner's grand
themes. j have never heard Miss Howe
sing. but the bell song from 'Lakme' will
certainly give US opportunity to Judge her
cult ! have been told that she does it de-
Eghtfully. AS to the Able LISTS Hun
garlan Rhapsodie No. g it is what might be
popularity understood By the term pot
pourri. 1t is one of this composers four
teen rbapsodies and Is q throwing together
of q number of Hungarian melodies. The
Lord is Great by Rhigini, for chorus
and orchestra Is undoubtedly one OF the
greatest choruses ever written. 1t might
be described as sensible muslc, full of
grandeur, not chopped up like q fngue, but
straight-ahead Work. Prof. Barus has
labored faithfully with this chorus, and
left nothing undOne to make his part of
the programme a success. Ihave no doubt
the festival will be one to which we shall
hereafter look back with pleasure to recall
it as the brightest event in the musical
history of Indiana"
Prof. Alex. Ernestinoff. who has himself
directed a number of musical events of
magnitude. was asked what he thought of
the number selected for the festival. "As
q general thing" was his reply, "the or
chestra pieces to be played will surpass
anything ever before attempted in this
city. These are not only good in them
selves as selections, but they represent va
rious schools. and are almost without ex-
ception the most brilliant numbers of the
night we have as orchestra music selec-
tons from Wagner, Grieg and List. As to
Wagner's 'Tannhauser' of course 1t
is supert1uous to say anything. That
is recognized every where as one OF
the greatest things ever written. The
Suede by Grieg. is entirely new to this
country. 1t was first performed two years
ago, at the G~ewaDdthaus. In Leipsic. and
has received the highest praise from the
most eminent critics in Europe. The Hun
garian Rhapsodie.' by List. is one of the
most brilliant expeditions OF that class OF
music extant, and requires. to play 1t, an
orchestra like that moved by the directing
baton of Thomas"
What about the matinee Instruments
toni"
AT the first matinee we will have the
symphony, No. o. of Beethoven. This
has been given here before; still it is, with
probably o single exception. the greatest
symphony thatmaster composer ever wrote.
The overture to Antony and Cleopatra by
Rubenstein, is new. The 'Marche Finale
by Chopin. is a piece that has often been
heard in its original ~shape-that Is, as q
piano cOmposition-but no doubt Mr..
Thomas. having arranged 1T for the Orches-
ira, will bring out it's beauties in q new
gulse and give us increased pleasure. The
Invitation to the Dance by Weber. ar
ran ged by BerlioZ for orchestra, Is another
number on the programme that is not we'll
known. 1t takes the mind of q BerlIoz and
his knowledge of orchestration to bring
such a work out in it's full beauty. Theo-
dore Thomas will give this a grand interpre-
tatiOn, no doubt"
"W hat of the Wagnerian numbersf'
"'Waldweben. "Siegfried' and Ride of the
Valkries' are the greatest and at the same
time most characteristic of Wagner's pro-
auctions. OF course Mr.. Thomas is q mas
ter exponent of this kind of music. On
Wednesday evening will be given the three
selections from Goetterdammerung."
mo profanity" mildly interpOsed the re-
porter.
These three pieces will be the orches-
tral gems of the evening, and they will
be q rich treat to lovers of instrumental
music. At the second matinee the vorspiel
to the Meistersinger will afford speciai de-
light. 1t is the most artistic introduction
ever written and grand iii it's conception.
A fine number will be found in the SYM
phonic poem .Pbaeton.' by the French COM
poser Saint Saens. On the third evening
Schumann's magnificent work Symphonic
No. 1. b Hat will be given. Take 1T all in
ali, the festival will be the grandest
musical event ever known in this State,
and not to be excelled anywhere as a poDu-
- - ynD~l DX h N o.a rna&