Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-26
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To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
In reading in your columns an Interview
with Mr.. John B. Larner in reference to
the destruction by FIRE this morning OF the
Y. NJ. C. A. building, he expressed the
thought that perhaps the fire was bless
ing in disguise, and went on TO speak of
the needs of the association in the way of
a larger and better appointed home, and of
the means and resources of the association
for erecting such a building.
The idea occurred to me at the moment,
and I want to bring it to the snotice OF
those who will have charge Of the planning
of the new building. that. in my judgment,
this is theiopportunity, presented to us I'M
expectedIy through fire and smoke to give
the city of Washington another of its great
needs, namely, the much-talked-of modern
music hall. capable of seating at least 2,5Vo
people, and equipped with large pipe
organ, where the Choral Society could pre-
sent to us its works of sacred oratorio.
where the Boston Symphony Orchestra
could give us their five annual concerts
without the drawbacks consequent to using
the small building now employed for that
purpose-a place where Seidl might bring a
large body of artists for our edifcation
without the certainty. of loss, which has
heretofore been his portion, and where We
could hear Damrosch and his magnificent
body of men, not to mention the many fine
because they cannot perform In small
hall at moderate prices without loss.
l think that the public has not begun to
take this matter of a hall to heart as yet.
They certainly do not know how earnestly
the officers of the Choral Society have to
work to enable that organization to give to
our people the music 1t does; the board OF
directors surely do not work for any per-
sonal gain or glory, for there is none in 1t.
Few persons outside of the organization
I have any idea of the amount Of tedious
labor involved in seasons work, and the
anxiety, not to mention the risk OF per-
sonal loss among themselves in case of
financial failure, is hardly realized, as I
have said: and what Is this done for except
for the love of the art and the desire to
give our people the chance to hear the
grandest class of sacred music?
Isn't It pity that the greatest difficulty
we have at this moment to overcome is
that of providing suitable place for next
| seasons performances? We are met by the
managers of the only suitable halls of size,
the Grand, the National and the new La
fayette Square theaters. with the state
ment that they cannot give us single nights
and break their prospects of whole
weeks engagement, while everyone knows
that there are sufficient performances
among our local people not to speak OF the
half-week engagements of many OF the
foreign companies coming here each sea-
son, to enable. manager to provide for
them all by devoting little more OF his
! time to making schedule that VIII in
dispose of the matter with the answer I
have quoted, and an organization whose
claim Is that it is not money-making
scheme, whose purpose is not to fatten the
purses of anyone, but to advance the in
terest Of the worlds most beautiful art, to
tell the story Of the Messiah" and Of
Elijah" of est Paul. and Of the RE
demption" in song and melody, to famil-
iarize the people with the sacred works of
the great masters of music, such an or
ganization is left out in the cold. SO to
speak.
1 am told that there are serious doubts
| entertained of the continued existence of
| the old Georgetown Orchestral and for
want of a few hundred dollars a season
| to carry them over certain contingencies;
in this city, where as much as $4,000 was
spent OF one musicale during the past sea-
son. this organization, which has done SO
much good In it's own line, should not be
allowed to die for want Of SO little.
In a letter have tust received from Mr..
! Walter Damrosch he says: TOO much
cannot be said in favor of the enterprise of
a new music hall for Washington: it is
necessary for the continued growth of it's
| musical taste and trust that your efforts
| in favor of SO worthy an object will sooa
| be crowned with success
AS have said, I don't believe the public
have given this matter Of the musical needs
of Washington any serious thought. we
have lots of good public spirited people of
wealth here, and the needs of the Choral
| Society at this time happen to be the needs
| fore hope sincerely that If the matter Of
| new music hall and a new Y. NJ. c. A.
! building can be united In any way, 1t may
l.be done. We who represent the musical
| efforts and the music without asking a
cent Of gain or returns for it; all we ask
| is the support of the people who have the
| means to make it possible for US to produce
| 1t. d. G. PFEIFFER
July "a, 1895
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