New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-09


IsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Albany Nav Sit is the opinion of many music
lovers whom | have met in Albany that this city
has less musical spirit than ought to be the case
IN view Of its wealth and general culture why
this should be no one seems able TO explain
hut the fact seems TO be verified by the circum-
stances that travelling concert companies give the
city wide berth, unless they be military bands
In which case they and give concert with
much success. Perhaps there is left too much OF
the old Dutch spirit which built the town In the
long ago. Music sprang up in New-York AFTER
English influences became dominant. and was
brought to high state of culture after the Ger
mans came in numbers and brought their gods
with them.
II is scarcely more than a hundred years ago
that Or. Burney complained that nothing in the
way OF music to be heard in Holland save the
jrglng Of bells and Of ducats. 1t is pretty far from
then till now. but If men develop queer kinks in
their inteects to-day because their great grand
fathers ate cheese. 1t may not be Impossible mat
the musical apathy Of Albany. of which nave
heard much is due to the indifference with when
the Abanians Of the last century regarded the
art
II were TO Judge by what | have heard and
am this evening. however. ! should hesitate to say
that Albany lacking In either the willingness
70 cultivate music or appreciation OF It's higher
forms. Under the direction of Mr. Arthur Noes
the fourth festival OF the Albany Musical Assoca-
ton had its beginning In lIarmanus- Blocker Hall
The association has been under Mr. Mees's
direction for four years. ever since his coming to
New-York from Cincinnati suggested the adyisa-
bilily Of resurrectlng the association, which, after
a htful career OF few years had gone 10 sleep
somewhere about 1854 Mr.. Mecs has been n factor
in all the Cincinnati festivals since ls'S and when
he came East he brought with him not only
splendid equipment OF technical skin In chorus
training but also devotion 10 the loliicst ideals IN
music II IL owing to that SKIN and that devotion
that Aibany's exhibition OF choral culture seemed
10 lovely and impressive at the opening concert
OF the festival tonight.
or course a visitor from Ncw-York IL inclined To
omit from consideration some OF the clements
which are locally interesting lie viii care little
for tho orchestra. because II IL foreign agent.
which can be had for hire. Is II capable. SUFFICIENT
unto It's task? Vol. II 20 It may be dismissed
with record OF simple appreciation. The same
ia true OF the solo singers In this instance the
orchestra OF between forty and nfty men IL com
posed of the hes, OF Now-Yorks instrumontalis's'
and Ia an excellent band. which could scarcely be
bctterei unless were TO aim at greater iuli-
ness richness ard homoscnety OF tone. by III
creas,ng It numerically. especially by adding two
or three double bases. The solo quartet was
comnosed OF Miss Eleanor Meredith, who comes. ]
believe from Pitsburg; Mrs. Carl Alves. OF New
York: Mr.. Ben Davies, OF London. and MI Erlcs-
son T. Bushnell. None OF these needs introduc-
ton TO the musc-lovers of New-lork except MISS
Meredith. who could she acquire some of that de-
Mghtful steadiness and purity OF tone when al
ways characterzes Mr.. Daviess singing, without
loss Of the earnesness and honesty OF EFFORT "hich
she showed tonight, would be a welcome acquisi-
tion in concert rooms.
But IL is the work OF the chorus which asks at
tention The annual festival concert of the Musical
Association offers the only opportunity which AL
banians enjoy TO hear choral performances Win or
chesral Accomplishments. 1t Is here as IN 80 many
other cities Of the United Staies-if an orchesra Is
10 take part In a concert 1t must be brought from
And,
Rut the association does not follow the example OF
the Worcester. Mass choir and content i'sei WIZ"
giving festival once year. going WITHOUT music
the other ffty-one weeks. 1t has adopted "'S7'
course. In each season II gives two concerts al
which portions of the works which make up 'he
Nav festival scheme sung with good SOLO Singers
but because OF cruel necessity win planoior'e "c
Compartment. In this way both audience ana SING
ers are prepared for the festival proceeding which
Is as necessary It is beautiful for the ideais OF
., ssoc,a,ion ara as high as those OF any organza-
ton In the country and in no respect reiiect eiher
the want OF appreciation or apathy OF winch Inc
musical people complain
CHORAL culture does not secm to have much OF
history here. The town heard Its hrs' orator'o III
1910 "a whole century after choral activity had
begun In New-York). and the Accomplishments oi
the last four years outweigh In value ana 'i''poi
lance at least those Of all the decades that
the preceding three festivals shows m OF
st Paul" SEijah," The Messiah. The Damha-
ts Sq 81 ,4om anq and Renz not bad
record that but liar bsars now DARED
TO put entire symphony IN MS progIa.lne. our r
has had 10 content himself with u movement x Ui
two Tonight the scheme embraced Horauo ,o w
Parke[s Hora Hovi,viina anl Including the
chorale the guild choruses and the iinaie nor
row afternoon the women OF the cnoir, WIZ s'ls
What falls to their shsIe ds IN ahe Ngh Dream
na bsh the ssss ss TSlk Go 10 ST.
thew" That surely is not milk for DaDes nor rosic
al Yale which sung this evening ana suns IN
a style fully good. should Say, as that % any
Of the other performances wh;ch ,ne worh a vnces
II Is entirely symmetrical eltner nuHeIlca'y
or in quality 80 far It's different parts are con-
eerned The dcuy whien al american ,a n TENOR
and bass-also afiiicts this choir but ~ IS ",,
happily unique In being comparatively neifcient IN
its altos TIE rule Throughout me cntea % . g.,
IL that the alto part OF me chor 10 'he NneS' q"
body and quality OF tone ,-., -. a.. .-o,o
Here the palm belongs distinctly 10 the soprano
which IS thoroughly excellent, gooa IN attacn,;
the disagreeabie witness which so many choirs
disclose when unwsey forced on the high tones by
ndscreet conductors AZ Ears ol 'ns eno5 s,
IN their eagerness TO make ny IN eherFy wnat my
lack in numbers. forget that great essentla a,t
h9mogeney Of quality mr. Mess bs 1ogees %nd
brought out some capital effects IN Professor PARK
er's work. especially IN the climaxes INC Solos Solos
the orchestra for which 1t Is possible that the
hall which Is beautiful but acoustcaIly oe'e a.
i've may have been TO blame. Ihere was d ,a irs
audience. and much enthusiasm as AIp qa ua1eS
to show IL - "
MELBA SINGS IN HARTFORD
Hartford. May s-Tbe sixth May Festival OF the
ryos,,.- Hall Choral Irnion was brought TO n sue