Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
THE MUSIC WORLD.
Suggestions as to the Carnegie Build
ing at Schenley Park.
TIE HALL SHOULD SEAT 5000.
A Plan to Give the People Of the East
End an Organization.
NEWS NOTES FRoM VARIOUS SOURCES

Renewed interest in the music hall to be
included in the Carnegie Library building
at Schenley Park is naturally aroused by
the commissions finally choosing an archi'
tect and his general design. Also, it may
be said, by the failure of the latest attempt
to turn other buildings of various kinds
into music halls on occasion. How differ,
ent those Allegheny concerts would have
been in the right kind of hall
One quality of the right kind Of hall
not stopping to talk about acoustics, which
must be cared for first, of course-is to ac-
commodate the people. Not merely give
them room to get in. Accommodate
them; suit their wants and their
pockets. Rich people will pay
more to be seated in fashionable
prominence; poor people will pay as little
as possible, and, irrespective-of price, would
rather not be seated prominently, in the
midst of a stylishly dressed throng. Be-
tween the extremes lie other grades of pay
ing capacity and personal preference.
But they all have one thing in common.
They all like music. That capacity, thank
heaven, cannot be cornered or mon oDolized.
And yet its higher phases of enjoyment
and exercise can be, and in this community
constantly have been, made impossible or
inconvenient to the less wealthy classes.
The new music hall ought to remedy this
1t is the key to unlock the musical future
to the masses In every community where
the right kind of facilities have been pro-
vided, all classes can and do share the en-
joyment and benefits of the very best mu-
sical performances. So it will be here if
the new hall, now to be built for the future,
has large enough capacity Cat least 5000
seats, of which, say, 1000 should be so sit
uated as best to suit the people paying 25c
to soc apiece), and is so arranged with tiers
of boxes and balconies as to give seats of
every grade of prominence and expense, and
thereby bringing the music equally within
reach Of ali tastes and pocket books.
Building up in tiers this wav presents
several distinct advantages over the plan of
spreading out on the ground floor. 1t is
possible thus to bring more people within
the same distance from the stage, and,
moreover. those in the higher tiers can
hear much better than if at the rear of the
lower floor. 1t facilitates exit at the
close and, also, in intermissions. or our
people only knew the unspeakable relief
and refreshment of going cut, ladies and
gentlemen alike, for promenade in the
foyer between acts! 1t thus makes easier
the exchange of social courtesies for those
who wish it, while at the sametime 1t lets
those who do not wish it keep more to them
selves. And, if the house be only partly
filled, the empty seats will be either wholly
out of sight or much less obtrusive and de-
pressing
1t is to be hoped that the building
adopted will admit of such arrangement Of
the interior of the music hall. And that it
will be large enough. Not one seat less
than 5000. For every decrease in number
means so much more apiece; and, as every
merchant knows full well, every upward
step of prices contracts the area of patron
age in startling ratio.
And this hall will Inevitably enlarge the
area of patronage by the mere fact of its
existence, so that it must provide for a
wholly unprecedented increase in the con-
ranks.
OF course considerations of cost and archi-
tectural feasibility may prevent the realiza-
ton of these ideas, but il should be borne
in mind bv the commission that to lay the
great musical opportunities of the future
vide open to the great mass of the people,
S one of the most deserving OF the objects
hey are striving to attain.
~.
III LILO E68s 4nus
The following communication, received
,y the editor of this department, presents
subject well worthy the consideration of
he music-loying people of the East End:
DEAR SIR-The East End is now way back
n music. Allegheny and the city have their
clubs, but the East End has
ZONE. therefore intend to organize club
similar to the Mozart and Allegheny clubs,
Ind follow line of work not to interfere
With those mentioned to any extent. l in
end to bring out the more modern works
Ind not to forget the much neglected
American composer. l intend to take
charge OF the organization gratis and DO my
,est. VIII you kindly assist, through your
in aeitating meeting for organiZa-
ion, to be held in Rosser & Lang's photo
,raph studio, Frankstown avenue, East End,
opposite Citizens cable car station, on
Thursday, January 81, next, and oblige,
Yours truly,
The object proposed by Mr. Breil is GER
ainlv a good one. That section of the
ity ought to do something OF and for itself
nusically. There are charming lines of
composition for smaller choruses to study,
nd the lack of their cultivation here has
ften been deplored. The proposed chorus
you'd have clear field in exploiting those
departments.
~
Literature for the Art Lovers.
Among the exchanges has arrived the
bird issue of Mr.. w. S. B. Mathews new
nonthly magazine, "Music," which puts
nal quietus to the impertinently peril
acious query, Can any good come out Of
,hicago?
The newcomer is suitably and delight
ully artistic in its get-up, with the heavy
aper, wide margins and clesr-cut portraits.
is subject matter, however, is the strong
oint. Articles of broad philosophy, pro-
ound emotional content and practical sci
ntifc value give the number solid and
ignifed quality, which is relieved and |
frightened by a sprightly, continued ro-
lance and variety of lighter, descriptive |
ieces, all worthy of their surround !
ngs. Details cannot be given, but
he richly suggestive impressions of /
,eethoven's Sonatas" by Frederick Fl. !
lark, we'll remembered here, and will be |
Interested to hear that Emil Lebling in a |
areful, though summary survey of the |
-orld's living composers names Il Pittsburg
I'd among the half-dozen native Americans,
aying: "Among the song writers of the
resent day, Nevin is particularly attrac-
Ive."
Mr.. Mathews has struck out in a new and
lost promising path. IL this gait be kept /
D he will lead us where it is worth while
} follow.
~
A Clever BIt of Criticism.
A very quaint and cunning bit of music
riticism was it that Mr.. Philip Hale, of
,oston, wrote of a recent song recital by