The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-08

gotten either of those most interesting
and i'm pressive events. for with his band
he took part in both and he chatted most
entertainingly with the Gossiper about
them. The idea OF peace jubilee was
born In the brain OF that most brilliant
OF band masters, the late p. 3. Gilmore.
He went TO Boston to unfold his scheme
and first he met with little encourage
ment, but after months and months OF
hard work and enthusiastic advocacy OF
the scheme he finally had the pleasure OF
seeing it's realization made possible
through the pledging OF the necessary
guarantee fund.
II was In 1867 that Gilmore Hrst began
work upon II and 1t was two years later
before active steps were taken in the
enterprise. Then what was known as the
coliseum was built in Boston for the
Jubilee concerts. 1t was vast structure,
having length of 500 feet and width
of 800 feet. A chorus organ with l0il
pipes was also specially constructed for
the occasion. And then came the organ
ization of the chorus and what a magnif-
cent one It wasl There were represented
in 1t some 10S singing societies with q
total OF 1881 voices. They were all
trained singers and even one who did
not have the good fortune to listen to its
work can conceive OF what vast volume
of harmony IL was capable OF giving
under the skillful and masterly baton OF
tho enthusiastic Gilmore. Add to
this an orchestra Of 1904 pieces in which
Ole Bull lead the first violins and Carl
idea OF the stupendous proportions OF the
first peace jubilee.
1t opened most auspiciousIy June ID,
1863, and continued five days. And In
connection with the performance OF the
gigantic chorus and orchestra the bells
of the city peaied, cannons doomed,
while so anvils were beaten by 100
brawney men daily. The jubilee was a
success even beyond the hopes or expec-
tations OF its protector and conductor
Mr.. Gilmore. The entire cost of the un-
dertaking was paid out OF the receipts,
which were enormous and futher than
that, every dollar that bad been sub
scribed to the guarantee fund was paid
bBck. Moreover, Mr.. Gilmore, when all
this had been done had still as result Of
his enterprise, energy and genius, for
nothing less than genius could have con-
ceived and carried TO successful con.
clusion such a gigantic undertaking, had
handsome profit amounting to more
That in brief IL the history of tn first
peace jubilee. The second was on
grander scale and was carried out quite as
successfully, but tho financial results
were unsatifactory and from that point
OF view the enterprise was failure.
Again the indeiutigable ana indomita BILE
Gilmore was the moving spirit. A new
coliseum was built, this time $50 feet
long and $50 feet wide. Gilmore went to
Europe TO secure famous military bands
and at first Ii looked as though he would
not succeed. When he made application in
London TO have the band of the Grenadier
Guards take part In the jubilee, he was
met by the statement that the organiza-
ton was composed OF enlisted men, who,
once they set foot upon American soil,
could no longer be under control of their
own government, and could remain or
return as they saw ut. But Gilmore was
not to be baked by any such obstacles
and bis persistence and perseverance won.
The members OF the Grenadier Guard
band we're put upon their honor TO re-
turn to England after the Jubilee. and
with that understanding they came and
participated in the greatest musical event
IN the history OF the world. In the
same way Gilmore secured the Kaiser
Franz Grenadier band OF Berlin, the band
of the Gard Republicaine of Paris and the
Emperor Of Germsny's cornet quartet.
Inc chorus NJ the second Jubilee was
double in size that OF the first, number
ing over 20, 600 voices. while the orchestra
was about the same-1000 pieces. A diff
Guilty presented itself when 1t came to
directing this vast army OF singers in the
difference in the speed with which sight
and sound travel, and TO obviate 1t, con-
ductors were stationed before different
sections OF the chorus, and in this way
absolute precision was obtained. Grand
and inspiring the singing OF this vast
chorus must have boen, and one cannot
but regret that homage or lack OF oppor-
tunity prevented bis hearing IL. Ii was at
tbs jubilee that the famous contest OF
bands took place, and II was at II also
that Franz Abt, the composer, and
Johann Strauss, the waltz king, person
allv conducted the performance of some
OF their own compositions. Opening on
the 18th OF June, 1872. the second jubilee
continued until the Fourth Of July. but,
as already stated, IL was u failure finauoi-
ally. A good many believed that this was
Cue TO the lavish expenditures made in
preparing fer and maintaining IL, but