The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17

orchestra Of the Music Club disband-
ing. Mr.. Meyer, the conductor, had
very attractive offer last fall TO go to
another city. but was prevailed upon
10 remain here and keep the orchestra
together, with the prospect Of funds
being raised by subscription and by
giving concerts sufficient TO compen-
safe him and other professionals who
assist in the orchestra for their serv-
ices and time.
Mr.. A. B. Levy. Mr.. Edwin Putzel
and Mr.. Sligo Mohr, who undertook 10
raise a subscription, were only par
TALLY successful, and it was anticipat-
ed that a public concert would prove
of sufficient interest TO the community
to induce them to attend it and thus
add to the fund already raised. The
result Of the concert last Tuesday ev-
ening, however, did not bear this out.
Especially noticeable was the absence
of the members of the Music Club.
The hall was barely half filled. This
fact could not fail to attract atten-
ton and cause much comment. When
it was recalled that on every occa-
sion when the orchestra has appeared
before the club, when there has been
no charge for admission, the hall has
been packed by the members of the
club and their friends. This orches-
ira has been one of the biggest and
most successful musical organiza-
lions that the city has ever
had. 1t has certainly added more to
the Music Club than anything else has
done. There has never been a local
orchestra here before which has given
programmes of an equal excellence and
as capably, and when it is considered
that this one has not been in existence
two years, its success has been eX-
traordinary. But it will have to be
abandoned unless some plan can be
devised and carried out at once for
continuing it.
Mr.. Meyer again has an offer which
will take him from Savannah, and I'M
less some arrangement can be made,
he will leave the city on Feb. 1. The
other professionals in the orchestra,
too, who during two seasons have
worked hard and faithfully towards
the success of the orchestra. must be
recompensed in some manner. The
amateurs give their time TO music for
their pleasure, but music is the sole
source of livelihood of the profession
ais. In spite of this a number of them
have given willingly for two seasons
much of their time towards the sue
cess of the orchestra, with no COM
pensatiOn except what might come
from public concerts. The time has
now come when some definite step
must be taken if the orchestra is to
continue. A committee consisting of
Mr.. A. B. Levy. Mr.. Edwin Putzel.
Mr.. Sligo Mohr, Mrs. J. J. Gaudry and
Mrs. w. P. Bailey, will take the mat
ter up and endeavor to devise some
plan for continuing it. 1t has been
suggested that fifty persons might be
found who would contribute 81 per
month during the next four months,
and there may be others who would be
willing to contribute larger amounts
in one sum. Already there have been
several who have contributed 800 and
S25 cash from time to time since Oct
l, and there may be others here who
would be willing to do likewise. Ger
tainly this orchestra should not be al
lowed to fall through.
The next artist concert of the Music
| Club will take place at the Lawton
Memorial on next Thursday evening,
when the world famous 'cellist, Kari
| Grienauer. will be heard in Savannah
| for the first time. This will be the sec
ond artist concert of the club this sea-
| son. AS in the case of the other art
| lists who have appeared before the
| club, Grienauer comes South to play
| especially in Savannah. and in but one
other city in the South.
There are very few great 'cellists in
the world. and it but seldom happens
that one Of them appears here. The
cello is the most pleasing of any OF
the string instruments, and, in the
hands of great artist, appeals to the
innermost feelings of the soul. The
programme which Grienauer will give
follows. and is particularly we'll
chosen one, and comprises the best mu-
sic written and arranged for the cello:
Cello Concerto, A minor (Golter-
MANN.
Melody in F. (Rubinstein).
Eur Guitarre (MoszkowskD.
Good Friday Spell' C'ParsifaI)
Wagner WilhelmD.
Serenade (Herbert).
"Tarantella" "copper".
"Berceuse" (Godard).
Dance of the Elves" "copper".
Revere" (Schumann).
Cradle Song" (Schubert).
Airs Baskyrs" (PiattD.
The box office for reserved seats will
be opened at McArthur's Music House
at O'Clock on Tuesday morning. On
that day and the following, members
of the Music Club may secure their
seats upon presentation of their men,
bership tickets, and may also purchase
such extra seats as they may desire,
and on Thursday morning at o'clock
the box office will be opened to the
public. Next Thursday is the date for
the second regular January meeting
OF the club, but on account of this
artist concert. the meeting has been
postponed to the following Thursday.
At the orchestra performance last
Tuesday evening Mrs. Laura Mehr-
tens added new laurels to her wreath
by her performance of the Mendelssohn
Caprice Brilliant" and the orchestra
did remarkable work in playing the
orchestral accompaniment. Mrs. Mehr-
tens performance was brilliant, inter
esting, and technically perfect, and the
orchestra went through the entire
number with her twice in succession
in a professional style and without a
flaw. This was, of course, the most
interesting and elaborate number on
the programme That this orchestra,
made up largely of amateurs, has been
brought to a point of proficiency
where it can play an accompaniment
to a piano soloist is the best evidence
of what it has accomplished. Those
who attended the concert last Tues
day were so pleased with 1t that there
has been a great demand for its repe-
tition, and this may be done between
now and Feb. 1.