Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-04

There is every prospect that the Worlds
Fair will give tremendous impetus to
chorus work throughout the country. A
most gratifying response has been received
from the choral societies already invited by
the Bureau Of Music to take part.
r It will be remembered that the plan, as
announced in the circular of September "a,
included, FIRST, the Eastern Festival Chorus,
to be made up of about 20 leading societies
In the Eastern cities and Canada, in two
seetions, to be heard during q week prior to
July and another week after August; and,
second, the Western Festival Chorus, to
comprise about 16 principal societies within
. radius just long enough to include Pitts
burg, which should give three-days' festi-
val about the third week in June.
1t is with reference to this latter chorus
that Choral Director William L. Tomlins
has just written to Director James P. Nc
culluin, of our Mozart Club, letter read
ing in part as follows:
So many Of the Western societies have ac-
eepted and the membership represen ted Is
SO large that it will be necessary to divide
the chorus into two Festivals. This arrange
ment seems imperative from the iact that
the Festival Hall has been reduced in sizes
and also because some of the societies must
comes II at all, before the end of June and
late date. For these reasons we shall en-
deavor to arrange>two Festivals Of 1000
voices each, one June 23y25, the other July
l2-M From your letter 1 judge the later
date will be the more acceptable
The mozart Club has determined to go in
July, and expects to 90 with strong
enough chorus to justify it in appearing
dsH vItb Isofs tSa or alter sne three festival
holds in readiness to assist those societies
that desire such separate hearing.
x@s
And now, after arranging these four great
festivals for the veteran choral societies OF
the country, the Bureau of Music comes out
with plan for enlisting the younger socie-
ties now organized and any number of
small choruses to be called into being by
this invitation. The official circular OF No
vsmber is, sent to TIE DIsPAroH contains
this languages:
1.-THE Bureau OF Music is desirous OF ar
ranging for q three days Festival of MUSIC,
IL isas shs e; 9Tas9ro tS FORM 70 be given in AnEnst
and in association with the Exposition Or
chestra and distinguished soloists.
"The programme will consist OF three or
four OF the more familiar works, including
Hsydn's Creation Rossinis 'Stabat Mater
and selections from Gluek's 'Orpheus.'
'tAll societies not invited to cooperate in
the Festivals appointed for the month of
june 1898 are hereby cordially invited to
Festival Chorus, 1t is also the earnest wish
OF the Bureau of Music that communities at
present without an or2anizeI chorus will
take steps at once to organize for the DUR
pose of an appearance at tine Exposition as
herein indicated.
''The only conditions of membership that
the bureau will exact are:
"First-Regular rehearsals and thorough
on the part of each society OF
the work chosen.
"second-Care that each chorus is proper
ly balanced.
"The bureau desires to form chorus of
not less than 1000 voices for participation
in the proposed August Festival. ANY city
or town that will agree to furnish a quota
of not less than 80 voices will be eligible to
membership under the conditions named
Should the total number of applicants
largely exceed 600 the bureau will arrange
for two festivals in August. having the
same programme, with possible classifica-
ton OF Eastern and Western sections.
Gas each branch of the proposed chorus
must organize and rehearse as an indepen-
dent body. withoutany expense to the E1-
position, choosing Its own officers and dlrec-
tor, and receiving from tile Choral Director
Of the Exposition only general artistic
oversight, immediase action should be
taken by those communities which may de-
tion To all regularly organized oraLorio
societies not invited to participate III the
June Festivals, CODY Of this circular is
specially addressed. #-,..-s.
"TEe bnreau asks the widest publicity fOS |
this announcement, which, 1t is hoped, will |
give stimulus to the practice of the greater |
choral works, and create an efficient arm Of |
EXPOSITION music"
While the bureau cannot provide for the |
of any of the singers it makes the |
'aIne otter in this as in the two former cir |
,ulars, namely, to arrange for the singers |
he lowest possible railroad rates and 70 |
Ind them satisfactory and convenient loog. |
ng at from 81 upward per day. The bureau |
will also make an effort to aid in buying |
copies OF the music for those communities |
20 whom this item of expense would be q |
,arrier.
This third choral body ought to be Joined
,y such existing organizations as the Ale
,heny Musical Association, w. A. Laf-
erty, director; by such choruses as
yere organized by Mr.. Jos. C. BreiI in the
Cast End, by MIR. w. S. Weeden in Alle-
heny and by Mr.. Morris Stephens in Mo-
longahela City, and. also, by those of our
icrman singing societies that have a we'll
'alanced feminine auxiliary. A large num-
'er of towns in this section ought readily to
10 able to organize a chorus of over 20
ingers who would be only too glad to go to |
he Worlds Fair with such economy and
cldt.
This present plan is all that was needed to
omplete tile scope of the choral demonstra-
ions. Now all manner or chorus singers
Torth having at all are provided for and