New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-02
WORLDS FAIR MUSIC.
PLANS FOR CHORAL FESTIVALS.
EASTERN AND WESTERN SOCIETIES INVITED
MISCELLANEOUS coNCERTs-LETTERs
OF DECIINATTON.


OF DECLINATIoN.
The Bureau OF Music Of the Worlds Columbian En-
position has issued circular setting forth some OF
the details Of " musical entertainments OK magni-
tude which have been paned for next summer. Con-
corning the orchestral concerts for which an appro-
prtaton of $4,000 been made. there Is nothing
10 report, save flat TO Judge by the last circular
that sum IS TO BE applied wholly to the maintenance
OF Mr.. Thomass Chicago band. II Is expected. how
over that the New York Philharmonic Society and the
Boston symphony Orchestra Will accept invitations
which have been to them and each give several
concerts The Chicago Orchestra is TO be Increased
to 100 men and cooperate In the choral concerts
Invitations have been sent to sixteen Western ana
nineteen Eastern choirs TO cooperate In the choral
concerts The Western division is to consist OF as
many OF the following societies rs accept tie Bureaus
| invitation namely Ann Arbor Union City Musical
Society, Cincinnati Festival Association. Cleveland
Vocal society, Columbus Arion Club Dayton Philhar
monte society," Des Moines Vocal Society," Detroit
Musical Society," Indianapolis Festival Association.
Louisville Musical Club Milwaukee Arion Club, Min
ncap)lis Choral Association, Omaha Apollo Cub P'tts
burg Mozart Club Richmond Philharmonic Society ST.
Paul Choral Association and ST. Louis Cnorai anu
symphony Society. These societies are expecteh 70
combine for three days festival to be held about
the third week. Of June, at which the principal works
to be performed Handels Utrecht Jubilae,' the
first part OF Memberships st. Paul. Bachs cantata,
"A Stronghold Sure, and selections from Wagners
dramas, Hnndels Israel In Egypt and JUDAS Mac
cabaeus' and Beroz's Requiem For the 1esuVal
It Is expected that the CHOIR will number $500 and
the orchestra 200 The individual societies are further
to be permitted to give concerts III order TO display
their skill. To this end the Music Hall OF the EXPO
son and the Exposition orchestra are to be placed ut
their disposal but 1t Is stipulated nat each society
giving such a concert must furnish balanced choir
numbering ut least eighty voices for unaccompan'ed
music or I6O voices II the music chosen demands an
orchestra for It's proper Interpretation.
Following are the Eastern choirs that have been
invited Baltimore Oratoro Society, Berkshire Musi-
cal SOCIETY," Boston Handel and Haydn Society, BROOK
yn Choral Union Buffalo Festival Association, Hart
ford Uosmer Hall Choral Society, Mddlctown Choral
Society Willimantic Choral Union, Hampton County
Festival Association, Montreal Philharmonic Society,"
Newark Vocal Society, New-York Oratono Society,
Portland Haydn Association, Philadelphia Chorus'
Providence Arion Club, Reading Oratono Society,
Toronto Philharmonic Society, Washington Choral
Society and Worcester Festival Association How
the societies in this list which accept the invitation
arc tn take part I'm the musical demonstrations Is not
sol forth with entire clearness by the secrearys cir
cular II seems, however, that they are expected
10 arrange among themselves for cooperation as
whole or in groups some time after August. NO
programme has been laid out for festival as In the
case Of the Western singers but the same privileges
the character Of the music to be performed the circular
invitation states:
II is thought best to give special prominence NJ
Festival performances to the standard works, particu-
larry OF Bach and Handel leaving to individual So
clctcs the task Of presenting composers OF la'er
day As all included In this invitation are familiar
with the standard works. this arrangement VIII permit
single societies the necessary time in which to pre-
pare for a separate appearance.
The singers Will be expected to pay their own ex'
penses but the Bureau of Music promises to arrange
for reduced railway rates OF fare Ia task in which
the railway companies VIII anticipate IT., and. through
the Bureau Of Public Comfort, guarantee satisfactory
and convenient lodging places
Invitations have also been sent TO the Boston
Apollo Club Brooklyn Apollo Club, Cincinnati Apollo
CLUB New York Mendelssohn Gee Club. Philadelphia
OT,heus Club, Francisco Lortng Club and Spring
field Mass Orpheus Club to join in festival con-
cert at which the music to "Oedpus URANUS" BY
j. X. Paine, Dudley Bucks columbus" and Max
Brrlch's "Frithjof" shall be performed the American
mpOsitons under the personal direction OF the COM
posers. Besides those enumerated there are three
other choral departments to be mentioned National
ClOrs Of German swedish and Welsh singers res
pectively the Chicago Apollo Club and its auxiliary
combined with the Chicago Festival Chorus (in all
. 800 singers, and a chorus Of sunday school children
Among the works 70 be performed In the course OF
the six months Of the Exposition are Bachs ST.
Matthew passlon" Ianders Messiah Mendels-
sohns "Eliah." Beethoven's "Choral symphony"
Mozart's Rcquiem," Brahms a German Requiem"
verdi's Requiem" Gounods Redemption" Macken-
zic's Rose of Sharon" and Sullivans Golden
Leg nd"
The announcement concerning International
serts Is follows:
LIMITATIONS to representative European composers
10 visit the Exposition as guests and TO conduct pro-
cramme, of Their own compositions have been sent
through the courtesy Of the state Department ana
OF resident American ministers abroad. Acceptances
have already been received FROM Camille saint
Of France and DR.. a. e. mckenzie, Of England
who will visit the Exposition in June and September
res De- lively. Each OF these distinguished musicians
will appear rs conductor Of his own choral and In.
strumenal compositions and it is the privilege OF
thc Bureau to announce, In addition, that Camille
saint Saens will take part in several concerts Of
chamber music. and will appear Interpreter Of his
own panoforte conceros, and rs organist. Among
the German musicians invited were Dr. Johannes
Brahms and DR.. Joseph joachim. both OF whom find
impossible to accept. Their letters Of regret are
publ shed this day by the Bureau"
This does not bear out very brilliant promise.
Moreover NJ SantSaens has stated that II Is doubtful
that he can come. The letters OF declinatiOn are
rs follows:
LETTER FROM JOHANNES BRAHMS.
Ischl August "a. 1902.
IJonorcd Sir: In answer to subsequent communion
tions from your Burcal beg to report TO you what
| had the honor to convey verbally 10 your repre-.
sentative Above all that l feel the deepest ana
llvellest satisfaction the honor which your Invitation
CONVEYS. but at the same time the confession that
cannot come To II resolution 70 accept II. l need
not tell you In detail how entcing the OFFER IS. but
Il would be lncxcusabe for me TO be tempted into
making promises At the last moment my resolution
would fall me and would have to ask you to relieve
me of nv promises. You must therefore excuse
citizen of the old world who cannot undertake so
great Journey rs easily you do and confer the
honor represent German music nj your Exposition
on some of his colleagues.
With the creates, admiration and esteem. Yours
truly, jon. bhAii"''
LETTER FROM JOSEPH JOACHIM.
Tarnsp August 70. lSO2.
IJonorcd Sir: The idea to gain Insight Into the
dovclopmcnt Of music In America. where l have so
many pleasant connections through former pupils who
have returned there for their life work. was very
.nticng and the temptation to do this very great
under such agreeable conditions, rs your hattering
invitation and the munlcent hospitality OF your
FELLOW citizens offered 10 me- . ,
II | were free that Is. without the duties which
assumed In my connection with the MSlcai ,cn1H t