Evening journal., 1898-11-01


UNC-IHE ARTICLE IN FULL.
Appended is the senseless screed
which appeared in a recent issue Of the
Musical Courier, and which has
aroused so much comment in VII
mtngton musical circles:
MUSICAL HISTORY OF WHINING
TON, DEL.
There are very few cities in the
Union of the size and population of
Wilmington that are not further ad-
vanced musically than it, The esti-
mated population Of Wilmington is TO-
600 souls, some OF which are musical
and the balance otherwise. Up to the
year 1870 Wilmington had no musical
history whatever. 1t has been said that
Jenny Lind once visited here, but no
authentic proof can be secured 10
verify the statement. One of the
earliest musical organizations ever fos-
tered here was the Diamond STATE
Band, in which the names of Joseph
Stoecl1le and George Ellinger were
prominent, the leading clarinet
and cornet player respectively. This
was way back in the early seventies.
The population were all engaged in
money getting and paid little heed to
music in any shape, and so far as 1 can
learn the band rehearsed in the rooms
Of fire company for want Of beuter
quarters.
The first public place Of amusement
was the Odd Fesgows' Hall, which still
stands at the corner OF Third and
King streets. 1t has been the scene
of many a 'Fbum" show and the finish
OF several. The principal place Of
amusement in the city is the Grand
Opera House, built in 1872. This is a
very large and comfortable playhouse,
with a very large stage and ample ac-
commodations. For twenty years 1t
was successfully conducted, and some
great artists appeared on the stage
there, and in fact 1t is so conducted
now, but no Great musical attraction
has appeared there for FIVE years.
may say ten years, with the exception
of one appearance Of the
Seidl Orchestra. There are two
other theatres. the Bijou, opened aOoug
1886, and the Wonderland Theatre
giving vaudeville shows and continu-
GUS performances. The latter is pa
tronized principally by children. The
Bijou is for rent!
Now for a resume of earlier events;
The first musical club OF any import
ance that attempted the study o.
classical music was the Beethoven
Club, organized March, 1877, by few
local amaaeurs-J. N. Carswell, w
Stewart Almond, John Greiner, Johr
d. Kurtz and Walter Bacon. They hal
rooms in the Grand Opera House, Of
Masonic Temple, as it is called. Thei
first concert was given June IA, 1881
The program contained the following
Sonato, op. 13..............Be Beethoven
Waiter Bacon.
Concerto. op. .Kreutze
John GTeiner.
Trio. piano, violin and cello. .Hayu
Third Air, Varie. DE Berio
Henry Albert.
Concert March. for piano. Kuh
j. d. Kurtz.
The members were as follows: Henr
Albert, first VIOLIN; Walter Bacor
first violin; John E. Greiner, secon
violin; Edward Gambrill, viola; c.
Shields, flute; J.. D. Kurtz, piano an
cello.
This club continued to rehearse III
til the next season, when the piano
player went to Leipsic. one Of the vic
hnists went to Baltimore to lead a
orchestra and another went away I
study law, which caused the club I
disband. After this a few years cam
the Philharmonic Orchestra, made L
OF amateurs and conducted by z.
Rhoads, then prominent singin
teacher, and afterward elected mayo
However, he drew more inspiratio
from Boch than he did from Bach, an
he really was not a man of ability, an
this orchestra lasted only a short Tin
and then went to pieces. In the mea'
time, the band fever had laid ho.d
some Of the musicians, and the Nv
principal brass bands Of the city we
formed, the First Regiment al
Hyatt's Military Band, which win
described later In addition TO tn
the Millard Club WAS formed for q
study OF choral works, with c.
Rhoads as conductor and Ferdinai
Fu.mer as aocompanist. Fulmer ~
a fine musician and he was virtuai
leader Of the club. He Is now dea
Like the Philharmonic Orchestra, NJ
lard Club went up also. From its ash
sprang the Tuesday Club, also co
Quoted by Rhoads. This club went l
Rhoads is dead also. Very brief,