The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-17
FEELING THE PUBLIC PULSE.
That Is What Mrs. DOrr Says the
Schubert Club Is Doing.

To the Editor of the Globe:
There are many who remember with
delight the. superb effect produced at the
final concert of the library series, last
season, by the combination of chorus, or
cheStra, organ and the soaring, overtop-
ping voice of the great soprano artist in
the church scene from "Cavalleria Rus
ticana." The applause was instantaneous
and overwhelming, compelling an encore,
Similar effects are planned and will GER
tainly be produced in the great choral
and orchestral concert of the Schubert
club series. the first of which will be
given at the Peoples church on Dec. 8.
Each concert of the entire series is
planned with a, definite purpose in mind
The Schubert club has certainly been
largely instrumental in educating the
public-that public which wants to be
educated-to nice discrimination in the
matter Of individual artists, but, owing
to the heavy expense and the enormous
labor attendant upon the giving of choral
and orchestral works, ST. Paul has had
little opportunity to hear or to under
stand them, The Schubert club hopes to
so impress the public mind during the
present season with the superiority of
this class of concerts, where a wel-train-
ed chorus, professional orchestra and
splendid Well-played organ, all under
the skillful direction of master musi-
ceptions of the great composers, that such
a series may become an indispensable
feature Of our musical life In all Of
the large cities, and in many Of the
smaller ones, especially in the East,
choral symphony societies are supported
by public benefaction, being reckoned in
a broad sense, as are libraries and col
leges. There are few cities fortunate in
a Higginson or even a Carnegie, but
there are many where capital is combined
in small amounts to achieve. similar hap
Ply results.
The Schubert club, Notwithstanding it's
heavy losses last sao5on, has dared to
maintain the. chorus another year and
to engage a first-class orchestra, suitable
artists and thoroughly adequate con-
ductor to give series of concerts for
which it has asked no guaranty from the
business men or private donations erom
single individual. There is no question
but that 1t will give a satisfactory re-
turn for the money expended for season
tickets in its three choral concerts alone
but, uncertain as to the extent of the in
terest felt in choral work, the Schubert
club, following the advice of several of
our most successful business men, has
included in its series the Thomas or
chestra and a recital by that incompara-
BILE pianist, Rafael Joseffy. 1t would have
been possible fer the club to give ten ar
llSlS IeCildlS OF d very nlSn order at a
smaller expenditure of money than for the
five concerts it has planned but the edu-
cational value to the community would
not have been SO great nor do we believe
that the actual pleasure experienced by
the concert-goer, the stirring of high emo
lions and of lofty aspirations in the in
dividual listener, would have been so
surely attained in any other way
The Schubert club feels that 1t has
earned by its arduous and unselfish la
bor covering many years, and it's I'M
questionable public spirit the support Of
the loyal citizens of ST. Paul, whether
they be unsteady inclined or not The
officers of this year are feeling the pub
lie pulse and testing the hold that the
Schubert club and it's aims have upon
the regard of our best people It would
be a most satisfactory Endorsement of it's
work In the past and the greatest posi-
BILE encouragement and stimulus for fu-
ture effort if enough season tickets could
be sold before the opening concert to
cover the actual expenses thus far in
Cured Every additional dollar would
then be set aside to the perfecting of the
last concert Of this seasons series and
towards the permanent establishment of
the chorus. Shall the Schubert club be
sustained and encouraged, or will st.
Paul, blind to her own best interests
lose another golden opportunity?
Louise B. Dorr