The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-08-25
| MUSIC AT THE FAIR.
THE BEST TALENT OF THE
WORLD TO BE DRAWN UPON.
Four Fine Halls Will be Provided
Distinguished Composers ana
Musicians to Participate
Range OF Performances.
"yHE fact that Theodore Thomas

is musical director OF the
Worlds Columbian Exposition
is assurance 4: sufficient thai
music of the highest order and an ex-
cellent programme will be provided,
The best musical talent of the world Will
be drawn upon; fine halls will be pro-
vided; and something like half million
dollars will be expended to make the
musical features of the Exposition sue
cess. Two of che halls or auditories
will cost each 100000, and S175,0oo
has been set apart for an orchestra oil
100 skilled musicians, who will be
drilled by Theodore Thomas. This
orchestra will be the nucleus about which
will be formed the grand choruses.
The halls have been officially agreed
upon and their construction ordered.
These will be advautageously situated
within the Exposition grounds:
1. A Recital Hall, for quartet, con-
certs, etc., seating 500 people.
2. A Music Hall, with accommoda-
tions for 220 players, 800 singers, and
an audience of 1000.
3. A Festival Hall, for performances
upon the largest practicable scale with
200 players, 1000 singers, and audience
of $1,000.
The Music Hall will contain a fine
concert organ, aud in Festival Hall will
be placed an organ for chorus support.
The appointed Commissioner to
Europe who was sent to tender the
invitation of the Exposition to the most
distinguished composers has returned
with an encouraging report which in
sures series of international concerts
unprecedented in point of scope and
character.
The invitation of the Bureau of Music
to choral societies to cooperate because
of their love of art and the pride they
have in the opportunity the Exposition
will afford to show to the world the ar
tistic level of the United States in music
has brought many assurances OF support.
Inasmuch as it would be manifestly i'm
possible for the same chorus to take part
in all choral performances, this work will
be divided among choral societies of the
entire country.
The entire range of the performance
proposed may be seen from the following
tentative classification:
First-Semi- weekly high grade Or
chestral concerts in Music Hall.
Second-Semi. monthly high grade
choral concerts in Music Hall.
Third-Six series of international con-
certs, choral and orchestral, each con-
sisting of from four to six in Festive
Hall and in Music Hall.
Fourth-Three series of three con-
certs each Of oratorical festivals by uni
ted American choral societies in Festival
Hall.
Fifth-Concerts in Festival Hall I'M
der the auspices of German singing So
cleties.
Sixth-Concerts in Festival Hall un-
der the auspices Of Swedish singing SO,
cieties.
Seventh.-Six series of popular miscel-
laneous festival concerts by American
singers.
Elghth--Twelve chlldren's concerts
by Sunday schools, public school and es
pecially organized chilaren's choruses.
Ninth-Chamber music concerts ant
organ recitals.
Tenth-Popular concerts of orches
trail music, to be given daily in Choral Hal
during the six months of the Exposition
TO successfully carry on such a series
of performances as are outlined above q
large corps of musicians will be needed,
some of whom viii be engaged during
the entire period of the Exposition
Others for single aud series performances
Regarding the standard of perfor
nance to be observed in all depart
ments of Exposition music the Musica
Director holds that while CO cooperation i
asked of all grades of attainment
every musical illustration there produced
must be justiflable upon artistic princi
pies. That is to say, it must be what il
honestly purports to be.