The age-herald., 1900-02-18
ALWAYS SET 4 HIGH STANDARD
He Was fine Pioneer in Symphony Music and Has Done Much for the Art-The Power of
 the Baton.
Ry WILLIAM RYAN

The announcement that Theodore Thomas with his splendid Chicago orches- ira will give concert in Birmingham In March Is one of great interest to all lovers of music and calls to mind the fact that Thomas has done more for musical culture in America than any other conductor who has appeared on the concert stage. He has been the pioneer In symphony music and mo one less devoted to his art or less plucky would have held out and triumphed, for the early years of his life were years of struggle. He started as young vio- linist with high ideals and from the time he made tour with Jennie Lind, when he was scarcely out of his teens, he has never lowered his standard nor in any way cheapened himself or musical art.
 Early in the sixties Thomas gave cham Der concerts in New York and in 1868 or 1869 organized the first permanent concert orchestra in the United States. The older music lovers of New York delight in reminiscent talk of those early days when Thomas, the young conductor, gave his .tpopular' concerts in Central Park. The programmes were light compared with those of few years later, but no mediocre music ever found it's way on any of his bills.
 When Thomas began his concert tours in the 70s he had an orchestra of 45 men. This was considered quite large band at that time but in recent years the Thomas or chestra has never numbered less than 63 or 64 The full orchestra in Chicago num- bers about one hundred men. For the southern tour next month there will be ex- actly GA performers, the distribution of the instruments being as follows: Ten frs. ,il1tn cellos 5 basses, 1 harp, fiutes clarinets, 1 bass clarinet, oboes. l English horn, bassoons, contra bassoon, trumpets, 4 French horns, trombones, bass tuba, set of kettle drums and 1 set of drums and oymbals. This is the largest orchestra that has ever been "booked" for Birmingham.
 Up to tine age of B or 40 Thomas had to make out with small income, but after he had educated the concert-going public to appreciate artistic music his audiences grew large and profitable and his income increased proportionately. The New York Philharmonic paid him large salary for many years. As conductor of the present Chicago orchestra Thomas salary is $15,OO0 for twenty-eight weeks. The highest paid member of the orchestra is the concert meister, who receives $100 per week-the regular price for all first class violin lead CTS in symphony orchestras. It is said that the next best paid man in the orchestra is the principal clarinet player who receives $50 per week.
 There are now four great orchestras in the United States Boston symphony with Gerlcke conductor, the Chicago which Thomas directs, the New York Phil harmonic which Pauer directs, and the Damrosch which Walter Damrosch directs. Besides these there are half dozen other good orchestras. Most of them are subsi- dzed but the four named are now self-sup- porting. The older musical people can re- member when this country barely supported one. Up to twelve or fifteen years ago all of the members of first-class orchestras in the United States were foreigners-mostly Germans. But it is noteworthy fact that today many of the best players are native