New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-25
THE CINCINNATI FESTIVAL
LOCAL PRIDE AND THE TRUE MEASURE
OF THE CHoIRs MERITS
DIFFICULTIES PLACED BEFORE THOSE WHO
WOULD FORM AN UNPREJUDIcED EST
MATE-A FINE PERFORMANCE OF
THE NINTH SYMPHONY
rBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRrBuS.1

fBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRlBCNK)
Cincinnati May 2L-Apropos Of nothing OF special |
interest beyond the boundaries Of Cincinnati, but /
simply to quiet vague sort of apprehension
seemingly felt within them. that the gayety OF
the nations Of the earth is in danger OF eclipse /
unless the fact be known, let 1t be said that inc
/ opinion Of The Tribunes correspondent touch'hs
the positive and comparative merit Of the choir
OF the festival now I'm progress Is not mat OF
great many people In this city The local news |
papers within the last two days have offered an
amusing illustration Of the extent 10 which local
patriotism, combined with the ingenious conVicuoh
OF the superative excellence of everything whch
bears the festival stamp and chidlike confidence
In everything said in praise Of the city ana its
beautiful playthng. can 60
That II is possible that some OF these things are
said by persons who hope that thrift may io'iow
fawnlng docs not seem to be thought OF Tor
moment Yet the evidence Of this Is rs obvious as
the hills around the city and the inslncerlty OF inc
sneakers is Of record in the books OF the FestiVM
Association Itself. Mr.. Thomas has praised the
chorus ana somebody, with a tomerty which can
only be born OF concelt. envy and wicked WISH 10
mt blot on the escutcheon OF the city's fair fame
hos minated that the chorus IS no better than 1t
ought to b. OF course. 1t Is much better: better
indeed. than the local standard Of Judgment calls
| for.
If It we're possible seriously to discuss SO silly
matter 1t might be said that what pJther there Is
crows ont of A difference IN opinion concerning
what measure ought 80 Do applied in the estiina-
ton Of the choral work Of the festival some OF
those who look upon the festival as an INSTITUTION
! whose past entities IL to BE- called not merely a
local but n National affair. set standard FOR all
its departments which corresponds with that con-
cer,ion They would have the choir not merely
as rood as the chors OF other festivals ana OF the
! choral societies Of Chicago. Boston Baltimore
| Ncy-york ana other cities afflicted with shrink
ing nnodcsv that they DO not attempt to give ies''-
,.ais tut content themselves with annual series OF
oratoro concerts but better. They would IKE 10 see
! Cincinnati continue 10 DO what II once dld' nancy
FIX A standard of performance which the rest Oh ''o
/ country would strive 10 attain. In this way y mas
/ boen thought the Cincinnati festivals would 90
honor TO their traditions and hop 10 advance chora
culture in the United states. But this. IT appears
is q vrong and wicked wish. II Is wrong 10
| come here with a knowl ige of what IS do'"s J."
other parts OF the country, ami II - wicker 10 us
,urb the local standard Of judgment which u D'sel
| unon the safe and comforting assumption 'hht
/ whichever f. is absolutely right, and comparison
/ therefore. ls out % the question
Naturally the temptation is strong to say that Tor
| rcople who want 10 hear the Kind OF choruS S'nh
inc that Is heard a. the festival concerts. that -
| ~. MIMI OF chorus singing they want To hear Eut
| This does not SEEM after ALL to absolve re-
,,,yor who ls concerned about letting the musica'
roop,e OF the East know what l. going on mere rom
applying the other standard AMI Ignoring MI I'm
coins dic:urns applied - art. even The one touchs
tc proper length Of the legs Of the Apollo HelVeir
/ o,l f,- thelr benefit - must be said. though III
/ fearz that the eleventh festival does not ren''~'
the promises Of the past n'r.do creh' u tne mus
| cal talent which the city contains. N"'t '''
Thomas sees ~ - say does not seem 20 SIGNIFY III
view OF 4 lltte experience = four years ago "''
oYgh, r,ln TO h. In the public IN 'mory Then an
/ ,xrression OF disappointment called out the same
cor, ~ foolish pother that is wrcnching the into
lectuai- q professional ani i.y ~Tii,Ts ' the
rescue w.h the lriec..s5rs rhe presl-
- Irl
10 impiiic Improper motives 90 The reviewer ~ 'ls
Tirccrg So-IcroI complete rcorganizanon u ne
chorus and stated officially. IN ,Iec'' , ma anj
Sir Thomas had becn surprised mat "ot"a' '''''
The inc.Gen, ought to b, told here commentary
on the present unhappness II Nigh. ,'s," All fo
with the chorsiers "h2 l'D't ~ t,e.n- by the.
make the festivals poSsihl'. hu', JIie.''h ,, sr.
- ui,ic' c,n9cgncncc In Mr. rhomas's eyes. D,ea
the choral army bcg!n % NaNcr uH' TX H. -" ,,i,
arr. yyfir,. N their feet by the storm 81 noise ~ le
hy tn.i instrument ana the superb hllI nr
| -, 10 .'f.es Irse'' ~ she llcriioz "l'qucn.
y.h ~ army of instruments supplemented hy fou
| IN work ~ the chorus. which VIII never once %
hrari Win bc s., frantic as 10 threaten destruction
The choir is Al nl-balauced body The sopranos
are nearly, II not quite. two ana nail ui's r''
numerous than The tcnors and the hassos are 80
weak that they are seldom henr,l a. com.
OF having the mems voices h'ai''' l', ,''i,,nC ~
ncls ihe sacrifice OF everything 20 more Noluh. Vl
tone That The Ems , are sn.e'@ ceysaYeI large
task also much larger one than iesuFal ,h.hr
prepara9ns for each feya and d theTs g Is g fS
rally music IN each scheme whlch IL OF "ub'' , ~
familiar To- the majority OF the singers. n ~.
iIimgs must be considered in prononncns. e .S,
h fs,i,l scfs n STANDARD OF judgment for Itself
iv ' the rretensions made In its behalf ElJah
T.: q familiar work and was sung without dramatic
coect Mr. Parker "Iiora Novisslma" on Wednes,
day better. ihourh Mr Mees; "n o, ,a
me organ followed the directions or the cohPoS'''
and aave the choir adventurous help -.
A. this evenings concert G'cE @t,,ins labor
but better ihan either Of the works previously Per
formed though the effect. partly because OF me icy
less singing. parity because 81 the srn,'y rv
GUS tone Of the compOston, was ho. pti u.
ihn choir I'm Becthoven's Ninth symphony. winch
ended the concert Here T. IL pleasant 10 SPEAK IN
rlishtncnf l. vas 40 wonder that the singers %ers
, On their me,ie The splendid orchestra hai se' nlsn
t He and devoted guidance It played the three move
inen is wien preccdc The choral finale 1t was ar
hour In which the incifable nyaterles ~ NV 80
were disclosed In which all worshlppel within y, ~,
sanctus Hanctorum the gores OF the supreme I's sh
Of the second festival In 1910 were Iec',,l az" 1r,,
dlsappontments Of the preceding days were 'o''''
The evening prefaced in the afternoon o
Nv an entertainment. with miscellaneous pio,,
gramrnc u which The chief feature was brnhms
Fourth symphony ana w rre1c who won his way
Z 10 popular favor with group oil inc IoiN ~ -,
Fast Madame Eames also sang ana mae so s ~
her opera air what she had forfeited IN Puro rnrl"
Z Nv her comparative incnicicncy In orhtorlo Woih
She also the soprano In the 500 guafrs s a ye"
Ninth symphony. her associates being MT
Ben Davies and Watkin Mills. H. T. N
Q TIE INDICTMENT or "BAT" SHEA 'ALD'
o Troy. May 2i-JudgAIioughton. OF Saratoga couh
c ty presided to-day In the Court OF session. al"
! ard argument on the motion TO dismiss the III
dictments against John McGough. because OF a'ese'
improper influence Of the Grand Jury Mc"ouhi
i was indicted by the present Grand Jury TOT hssau'
I in the first degree In shooting William foss NJ III
a thirteenth Ward election. The alleged Improper !"
k oue,ca ,vos \ circular letter sen; by the Commute
y Of Public Safety TO persons whose names appeare'
l. - - c., ~. i., or 400 informing them O