The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-22
ITS CHORAL FAILURE
CINCINNATI MAKES A FAILURE IN IT'S
MUSICAL FESTIVAL.


The May festival chorus will hold its first
rehearsal at Tomlinson Hall tonight, and
each OF the singers will be allowed to bring
three friends. all other outsiders not being
admitted. On Sunday afternoon the chorus
will have rehearsal with the orchestra and
such OF the soloists as are here then. wnen
none others than the chorus singers, officers
OF the festival association and newspaper
people will be admitted, this restriction be-
ing necessary to prevent any such annoy
ance as was caused last year by the pres
ence Of many people at the rehearsals. The
chorus is doing a great work this year, and
much Is expected of II at the festival.
The musical critics from the Eastern cities
who are attending the Cincinnati festival
agree that the presentation of the oratorio
''Franciscys.' on Tuesday night, was prac-
tically failure. The work of the chorus is
said 10 have been particularly bad. MI; n.
Z. Krehbiel, the critic of the New York
Tribune, one OF the best musical authorities
in the country. after scoring the work or the
chorus and the orchestra as well, says: In
spite OF loyalty to the festival enterprise.
the audience must have realized this even
ing that choral affairs are in woeful stage
in Cincinnati. A great wrong was done the
art OF music, a monstrous injustice TO the
the city and Mr.. Thomss's reputation had
the oratorio been stricken from the pro-
gramme and concert OF miscellaneous
s-Three years ago. wnen Mr.. Walter Dam
rosch produced FranciscuS at concert OF
the Oratorio Society. in New York, 1t was
esting character of the work, but tonight
Mr.. Thomas and the much-vaunted Cincin-
natl festival forces left il book with seven
The failure az the Cincinnati chorus. which
is but repetition OF that OF two years ago.
must be humilisting to che managers Of the
the Cincinnati and Indianapolis festival
choruses say that that OF this city is in
initely better
at the Big Four ofice. It is not as large as
1t was last year. when an extra concert was
given. but the directors believe that II will
days. There are yet many excellent seats
in all parts Of the hall for the various con-
certS
One Of the Festival Stars.
Harper's Bazaar OF last week has this to
say OF the gentleman who has been secured
as the piano soloist of the indianapolis
music festival next week:
There seems to be no manner of doubt
that Mr. Edward A MacDowell has been
Columbia College to fl the chair of music
recently created in memory OF the late Rob
ert Center. The appointment IS an admir-
able one and 1t Is TO be hoped that Mr.. Mac
Dowell will accept the professorship, as his
influence cannot fail to be of great service
to the interests at stake.
In severing his connection with Boston
where he has resided for the past few
years, and where he Is highly esteemed
the young composer must inevitably expert
ence deep regret, also a sense of loss in Civ
ing up occupations peculiarly associated with
the place and people; but Mr.. Mcdowell is
after ALL a New Yorker and we predict that
he will gain quite much he can lose
by transplantation. His development has
been unusually sound and true to his natura
gifts, essentially refined, graceful and ro-
mantle I'm their tendencies. In entering a
larger field his devotion to lofty standards
and high ideas will yield fruit and reflect
an influence beneficial to his creations. fol-
the large-hearted characteristics OF the mar
demand wide outlets. The belief that a
chair OF musical aesthetics Is also TO be estab-
lished at Columbia College (from the fund
which Mr.. William Steinway proposes tc
raise for this purpoSe) lends an additional
interest to Mr.. PaderewslSPs noble gift OF
$4,000. the sum intrusted to Mr.. Steinway
In the interest of American composers, and
the inspiration for the still more extensive
plans quoted above. $500,