Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-03
THE MUSIC WORLD.

peetus and the Finances -PfttsburE ~
Cleveland Meeting-Fun From Genius.
Doubling Thomases-or, to speak more
correctly, those who have doubted MI.
Thomas surely ought to be satisfied for the
time being upon the perusal Of this, the first
Official utterance to the pubic emanating
from the Worlds Fair Bureau Of Music, Of
which he is the ruling spirit,
Recognizing the responsibility Of his po-
sitton, the Musical Director groups all In.
tended illustrations around two central
ideas:
First-To make complete showing to the
world Of musical progress in this country in
all grades and departments from the lowest
| to the highest.
second-To bring before the people Of the
its highest forms as e1empltned by the most
enlightened nations Of the world.
In order TO carry out this conception Of the
unexampled opportunity now presented,
three oo-operAtive conditions are indis-
pensables
L The hearty support Of American mu.
s1cians. amateurs and societies for particfpa-
tion on great festival occasions Of popular
| music. and for the Interpretation of the
most advanced compositions, American and
foreign.
II. The presence OF the Exposition of many
Of the representative musicians OF the world,
each to conduct performances OF his own
principal compositions and those OF his
couhtrymen. all upon a scale Of the utmost
| cOmpletnoSS.
III A provision on the part Of the Exposf-
| tfon authorities Of the means necessary for
| carrying out these plans In the erection OF
the halls indispensable for successful per
| formances, and in the engagement of solo
artists, orchestras and bands.
| Consideration OF these three lines Of IN
quiry has taken much time, but progress is
sufficiently advanced to permit the Bureau
of Music tho following preliminary an
| nOuncement:
The halls have been of1cially agreed upon
| and fhair nrdor Thnra vUfn
be advantageously situated within the Ex-
position Grounds:
"A recital hail for quartet concerts, ETC.,
| seating 500 people.
A music hall, with accommodations for 12o
| players, 300 singers, and an audience of 1000.
festival hall for performances upon the
| singers, and an audience of 1000.
The music hall will contain concert OF.
| gan, and in the festival hall will be placed
| an organ for chorus support.
The Commissioner to Europe, who was
| sent to tender the invitation or the Exposi-
| tton to the most distinguished composers,
has returned with an encouraging report,
| which assures a series of international con-
certs, unprecedented in point OF scope and
character.
The invitation of the bureau to choral So
| cieties to cooperate because Of their love Of
art and the pride they have in the opportun-
ity the Exposition will afford to show to the
world the artistic level of the United States
| in music has brought many assurances Of
support. 1nasmuch as it would be mani
festly impossible for the same chorus to
take part in all choral performances, the
of the entire country.
The Musical Director assumes that thou
sands Of singers and music lovers will visit
the Exposition in any case, and that they
will prefer to appear as contributors, thus
comforting an Importance upon their so
cieties and their homes not possible under
being directed and guided as they must in
combined effort. necessary preparation for
their appearance at the Exposition will
in some parts Of the country, are now being
wasted for want of commanding object Of
work.
posed may be seen from tho following tenta-
tive classification:
l. semi-weekly orchestral concerts in
!. semi-monthfy choral concerts In Music
Hall.
s. Six series Of International concerts,
from four to six, in Festival Hall and in
Music Hall.
l. Three series Of orator1cal festivals BY
united American choral societies in Festival |
5. Concerts in Festival Hall. under tho |
auspices Of German singing societies:
6. Concerts in Festival Hall, under the |
auspices of Swedish singing societies.
I. Six series OF popular miscellaneous fes-
tival concerts by American singers.
8. Twelve children's concerts by Sunday
lied children's choruses.
0. Chamber music concerts and organ re-
citals.
10. Popular concerts Of orchestral music
will be given daily in Festival Hall during
the six months of the Exposition.
To successfully carry on such a series Of
performances as is outlined above a large
corps of musicians will be needed, some of |
whom will be engaged for the en- tire period
of the Exposition, others for single and
It can be truthfuIly said that plans of
equal scope, having only the elevation of
sed IN tn mSc maTe never % s oeIEre oesn pre-
Their appeal should be universal, for in their
fulf1llment all may participate. The
humblest music lover is asked to believe
that there is something for him at the Expo
siJion, and he is assured that the Bureau Of
Music will do all in its power to help him Sc
cure it.
The complete success which the musical
director seeks can be secured only by tho
loyal cooperation of individual artists, large
and small choral and instrumental societies,
and organized amateurs In general. Such
cooperation he earnestly asks, and in subse-
quent papers, to be issued by the bureau,
details OF organization and appearance at
Exposition will be given. The natural gra- |
dations of art will be observed in organizing
all departments Of Exposition music. In |
the humber and less specialized ones--those
appealing to universal tastes and talents
masses will be the rule, thus permitting the
largest possible cooperation of singers and
players. In the higher grades, appealing to
|
formers will naturally be more select, until
in the highest of all, the purely representa- I
tive forms of the art will stand forth at the
hands of their ablest exponents
Regarding the standard of performance to
be observed in all departments of Exposf-
tion music, the musical director holds that
while cooperation is asked of all grades of
attainment every musical illustration there
produced must be justifiable upon artistic
principles; that is to say, it must be what it
honestly purports to be- The ounce or the
pound Of progress will be regarded as art,
and every step from the lowest to the high |
est will be acceptable, provided 1t faces in
the right direction, thus fulfilling its true |
use and popular ministry.
Rrnr.u THEo THOMAS, Musical Director.
,t WLIs,o ! WIN. NJ. ToMLINs, Choral Director |
oS "oSio GEORGE H. WILSON. Secretary.
In addition to the above, Secretary Wilson
bureau: "Thee Musical Director desires to
include in the programmes of Exposition
concerts representative choral, orchestral
and chamber works by native American
composers. All scores received by the
Bureau of Music before October IT, 1892, will |
be submitted to committee who's. names
are shortly to be announced. The favorable |
of this committee will be |
final and insure performance. Both printed
and manuscript music may be sent"
It was also announced during the week
that the General Executive Committee has
approved an appropriation OF SIZE, 900 for the
purpose of providing orchestra music during
the Exposition, and the further expenditure
tinguished composers who are coming over
to conduct their own compositions in those |
concerts.
1t Is needless to comment upon the su- |
perb scheme above outlined further than to
express the general feeling Of entire SYM
pathy with the objects, hearty approval of
5he measures and complete confidence in |
the men at the helm.