The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-04
A COSTLY SESSION.

The South Wales musical festival.
from which so very much was expected
has been held. and the guarantors are
left to pay every penny Of their respon-
sibility. There is q deficiency OF nine
hundred pounds, and nearly the whole
was promised to Cardiff. These are
hard facts. and unfortunately, there is
no explaining them away. The festival
was organized for the people OF the
southern portion Of the prinicipality.
and 1t remains a very regrettablc fact
that they did not support it. The Welsh
people scarcely needed the festival at
all. for whilst the performances were
going on at the festival to empty seats,
an eisteddfod and singing festivals held
in various parts were all crowded. Nay,
more significant than this is the fact
that on the Tuesday afternoon when
the Welsh works occupied nearly the
whole of the programme, and Mr.. David
Jenkins and DR.. J. Parry were present
conducting their own compositions. the
attendance was worse than at any 9TH
er time.
This concert was one Of the worst
patronized that We ever remember to
have seen. The members Of the choir
We're twice as numerous as the audi
ence. 1t was q concert with a band
and chorus Of over a thousand perform
ers with two Welsh composers conduct
ing, and an audience of probably less
than five hundred. Naturally, the
small attendance and the financial dis
aster Of the festival have led some mis-
guided individuals to hastily apportion
the blame for the most regrettable re-
suit. We have been sorry to see it laid
at the door Of the Cardiff people. who
have been charged with neglecting the
Welsh festival on account of jealousy
for the Cardiff triennial meeting. But
just see how absurd and unjust this Is.
Except for the generosity of Cardiff
citizens, who desire to see Welsh music
succeed In every direction where there
is promise, the festival could not have
been held. Nearly the whole of the
guarantee fund was subscribed in Car
diff for festival in which the whole of
South Wales was interested, and which
was organized to show to the world
| what could be done with big choir of
Welsh voices. The choir was drawn
from large number of different CEN
tres, and one would have thought that
this fact alone would have secured the
interest of the various centres In the
musical and financial success of the
festival. Throughout the festival there
was displayed a lamentable want OF in
terest. not to speak Of enthusiasm, in
the gathering; for whilst the national
festival was neglected other and small
cr things were patronized In a striking
manner. 1t Is true that the last concert
when the Elijah" was performed was
a big success 30 far as the audience was
concerned. but 1t would be difficult to
say whether that large audience assem-
bled to hear the work Of Mendelssohn,
to listen to the singing OF Edward
Lloyd and Andrew Black, or to support
the festival. 1t has to be admitted that
the festival Is premature-the people Of
Wales do not want 1t, or else they would
have supported it by their presence
Muslcally. the festival has proved little
We knew what magnificent voices are
to be found in Wales, practically in un-
limited numbers. 1t would have been
as easy to bring together choir of five
thousand voices as Of one, but would
they have the musical knowledge and
the training which such a musical fes-
tival as that attempted demands? We
do not believe they would. 1t Is we'll to
be candid and plain spoken on this
question.