Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-31
THE MUSIC WORLD.
Why the Exposition Society Must Go
to the East for Its Band.
NEED OF LOCAL ORGANIZATION.
How the Chase of Dollars Leads to Extrav-
agant Advertisements.
POINTS OF GENERAL INTEREST

The decision of the Exposition Society to
continue in the future to employ Eastern
military bands, instead ofreturning 20 local
talent, could have been forecast by anyone
familiar with the conditions of band and
orchestral music in this community.
Il is not q question so much of men as OF
market. 1t would not be difficult to organ
ize a complete military band here; the few
outsiders that might be wanted could
easily be had. But such a band,
when organized, would need much
more than few weeks engagement at the
Exposition each year, to pay for the work
OF properly preparing such a series of pro-
grammeS as that one engagement would re-
quire Outside the Exposition there is here
but small market for the services of the
whole force in concert programmes.
Flrst-class ensemble music, whether
through the medium of a brass band or of a
complete orchestra, cannot support itself
without large and constant public patron
age. The Boston Symphony Orchestra, for
instance, did not become selfsupporting
even in the musical Hub of the universe,
until Mr.. Higginson had generously paid a
half-dozen yearly deficits aggregating, per-
haps. 500 600. OF course that is unpar-
alleled liberality; the coat might have been
cut much more closely according TO the cloth
and still have fit right we'll But it points
the moral that outside financial aid must be
literally extended to all such enterprises, if
they are 70 exist at all
To he Srrre he 1o1ararr do nouch 10
bring things to the point where men of
wealth will think it worth while to provide
the funds If they would cease their squab-
bling over mere points of union partisan
ship, would inaugurate liberal policy and
themselves encourage all manner of orches-
tral efforts, whether the man at the next
stand belongs TO the union or not, they
might beget the confidence of that exceed
inglv shy bird, the capitalist.
In many respects the time is ripe for
permanent high class orchestra in Pitts
burg. The need for it is surely ripe enough
and the general public, including those
holding the purse strings, are more than
ever sensible of that need. IF all the ac-
lively musical people would Join harmon
iously in agitating the topic we could, in
all probability, have good orchestra or
ganized to open the next season.
-
ACase of Misguided Zeal
1t is positively funny to read the circulars
sent ont bv managers whose zeal o'erleaps
their discretion, heralding the advent. of
this or that musical attraction As a gen.
eral thing the less meritorious the perform
ers, the more sweeping and superlative the
managerial vocabulary. But the same style
Of advance gush too often finds its way into
the circulars of high-class artists.
For example: Miss Marie Decca is giving
song recitals here and there under the man.
agement OF one Francis Leon Chrisman.
who is doubtless responsible for the |
advertising methods adopted. His |
circular bestows on Miss Decca the ques- /
tionable title of ''The American Jenny |
Lind, and begins with the very doubtful |
assertion: 'NIarie Decca is the greatest |
lyric soprano in the United States. if not |
in the world. After many more similar
superlativeS the programme of the song
recital which, it is said, presents in turn
the most charming and Characteristic songs
OF all nations" is thus printed:
PART FIRST.
g.. English-''lt Was a Dream ...... Cowen
!, j. Scoich.,,'Coming Thro' the Rye
Mile. Dccca renders these songs as they are sung
IN their respective countries. Her dialect singing
> French a. a la Fontaine'' ......... .Taubert
b. ,Serenade, r''Sing, Smile.
e first of these is one Of the dainiiesi and most
aiistjcally written of all the French chansOnetes
One almost the maiden smiling TO her i'm
ag, IN the waters OF the fountain.
The ''sercuade,' is something exquisite, and the
studied the song with the composer, and her in
depreciation ofitS beauties Is pronounced critics
l. ne eNceedinggy original and unique
-This is the song that Jenny Lind made famous.
dci il that her voice is wonderfully alike that of
the swedish Nightingale.
PART SECOND.
!. Italian-Bolcro C''Sicilian Vespers'D .. Verdi
This j. the piece dc resistance of the song recital
When Verdi heard Mile. Decca sing in Paris he
enthusiastically exclaimed: 1t is voice beyond
=. >panisn-'.La Manola'' ............ Bourgeois
Mile. Ducca sang this l''The Cigarette GfrI'')
] I.v"lv cautivated the foreigners by the piquancy
and dash with which she rendered it'll
"a. What Are They to Do?" ..... Randegger
%. "HOmG, Sweet Home .............. Payne |
The first Of these selections is piece of good ad-
wee to the lovers and sweethearts in the audience.
philanthropist (who brought the remains of John
It"warG Payne. the author of Home. Sweet
riryy, heard Mile. Decca sing the song 50 sweetiy
ana svnpathetlcally did she render it, that Mr..
as well as biography containing his autograph
1t is doubtful which is more amusing. the
naive comments bracketed in
this programme, or the charming indiscrinl-
with which a German composer is
classed as characteristically French, a Swiss
piece dubbed German and Londoner's
song made to represent American music.
Small wonder that a local contemporary. |
irving TO reprint this programme, got
Comm Thro the BYE" down as a French
piece, Just as though it were 'Comin' Thro'
the Co@nac."
Such stuff is calculated rather to iniure
han to help the success of any true artist.
Miss Decca may we'll excaim, save us from
our friends,
1t Is 10 be hoped that the circular referred
10 is not being sent broadcast through this
community to advertise the recital to be &.
given by Miss Decca February IL at Carnegie
Hall, under the auspices of the prominent
7oung society women who are trying by
series Of entertainments to raise fund for
at the Pennsylvania College for
" omen 10 say nothing of the deserving :
1biect, Miss Decca herself is far above this {
Kind oi circus trumpeting Her previous
appearances here have made us all aware of
he exceptional vocal resources. the artistic
tvle and the engaging personality that nave
placed her well up among the country's best
opranOS. The further fact that Miss Deeca
peaks Hucntiy French, Italian. German
nd Spanish, as well rs English, is an i'm
portant qualification for a programme of
pleasing songs in those tongues.
/ er recital Will no doubt be successful and j
ntertaining, in spite of her managers we'll