The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-09
NAMES MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
The Portland Public VIII See What 1t
Means To Us.

NNAN
York is in attempting the great musical
festival to be given in Portland in Oc-
tober and to embrace the best singers OF
all the choruses in the cities and towns
west of the Kennebec, employing also for
solo talent not only Names gifted singer
Nine. Nordica but other artists of
natural repute, and one of the most
famous orchestras in the world, the cele-
brated Seidl's of New York.
In answer to this question we have Mr..
Chapman's own statement. l am of the
impression, he says, that state that has
produced three prina donnas, like Cary,
Eames and Nordica, whose voices have
enthralled all the great European capitals
as well as the musical lovers Of their own
country and that has shown, by the
chorus work it has displayed in the past,
and the patronage it extends to all worthy
musical enterprises, will prove most
fertile field for musical education. A
musical festival that is annually held at a
fixed spot creates an interest in the art
that is attained in no other way. Mr..
Chapman cites the great English festi-
walls, and that held for some time now at
Worcester, Mass, as instances of great
musical educational advantages obtained
in this way. Not only do these festivals
develop and encourage the musical
characteristics of the people, they are also
of great pecuniary value to the cities in
which they are given. The great chorus
of a thousand voices gathered from the
various towns and cities will bring to the
city in which the festival is held-Port-
land and Bangor-a following such as is
obtained in no other way. All these
people have to pay for their living during
the festival, as well as for their tickets of
admission to the concerts, and will fill
+ he hotels and boarding houses for a
week. Then there is the great number of
musical people, who have means, and
who always attend any great musical
I motion. These people come from hum
dreds of miles distance, from other states
as well as our own. Do you believe for a
moment that cities like Worcester or Gin
many years if it was not source of
pecuniary profit as well as a great musical
educational agent.
1t will be noticed that Mr.. Chapman
does not come before our city government
and ask for appropriations for this festi-
val. He proposes to take upon himself the
herculean task of making this gigantic
enterprise success. The Haydn associa-
ton will take upon themselves the care of
the members of choruses from out of
town while the festival lasts. Even the
stage which will hold the chorus at the
will be paid for by the proprietors of the
affair
The plan of the festival has been out
lined in the PRESS, but we repeat it.
Mr.. Chapman proposes to give five con-
certs, three evenings and two 1patinees in
the Auditorium in this city in October
next. The chorus for these concerts will
number fully one thousand voices. There
will be an orchestra of at least sixty
pieces, and for this Mr.. Chapman stated
that he had received the promise of Anton
Seidl and other concert masters of New
York to give him full assistance. The
aid of Nordica and other great artists has
already been secured, as has been before
stated.
Mr.. Chapman states that the Maine Mu-
steal festival has already aroused a great
deal of interest among the musical people
of New York and many have signified
their intention of being here during the
festival week. An evidence of this in
terest is shown in the fact that Oliver
Ditson & Co. have in one week issued
book of choruses for the concerts selected
by Mr.. Chapman and including fourteen
numbers of oratorio, opera and other
works.
The concerts will all be different. One
night will be devoted exclusively to
selections from the standard oratorios, an
other to grand opera, while the third will
be popular and will be devoted to the
national airs of various nations and other
ohoruses Of q so-called popular nature.
Maine composers exclusively, and it is
Mr.. Chapman's intention to have the
soloists all taken from the ranks of the
Maine choruses. At the other matinee a
celebrated New York musical critic will
give an address on music and musical
history, and Sullivans 'Lost Chord
will be sung by chorus of ladies'
Subscriptions will be opened soon all
over the state giving to each subscriber a
ticket to each of the five concerts for IS
for the course. This subscription will be
kept open until April or May 1, and all
subscribing before that time will have the
choice of seats. A new subscription will
then be opened for month or two for
what is left of the hall at 81 for the
course. After this subscription is closed
what is still left will go at so for the
course.
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