The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1905-01-12
Theodore Thomas Dead.

'ioh 1uo ucdIu vi InoOQOr IhOmaS
in Chicago, the American world.
OF music lost it's greatest artist
who has Iaoored indefatigably
for more than half century in the
interest of all that is purest and
noblest in the greatest of arus. Born
in north Germany of musical fam.
lily, trained by his father in gaining
complete command OF the violin. and
lnheriting an artistic temperament
of the highest order. young Thomas
came to this country at IA tender age
and entered upon a phenomenal
career, mounting the ladder of fame
step bv step, After playing in the
old Italian and German opera orches
tras of New York for several wears.
be emerged into the concert room of
that city curing the early sos when
he associated himself with number
of other talented artists like William
Mason, the pianist, for the perform
ance of classical and modern ,.ompo-
|sitlons. The field for such music
In those days was as yet rather bar
rem and the returns through the box
office ere lmeager enough, it may
imagined. During that period of
hardshi and privation, the artists,
Mr.. Thomas among them, were ia
the habit of dividing the field among
themselves, with Mr.. Thomas per
haps visiting Union or Madison
Square during the earliest morning
hours and distributing the programs
for the evening recital on the chairs
and benches, of the little park. before
the patrons were about, while his
associates visited other localities in
a similar manner. Mr.. Thomas
played the violin principle, of course
and thus he gradually drifted into
the conductor S chair OF an orchestra.
An interesting episode in the car
eer of Mr.. Thomas, in Milwaukee
fingers fondly in memory. It was
late in the sos, when concert
company visited US, introducing the
young viclinist as a so'oist, when he
played Oh quartet" instrument,
which unfortunately lacked the car
rying" quality of a solo violin; yet
the youthful artist won the success
which he so richly merited.
A few years later Mr.. Thomas
achieved grand orchestra and since
that time his name has become
household word in musical circles.
Personally, when not on duty, be-
was one of the most cordial and So
cial men in the profession. but the
moment he took up the baton or in
strunent he was the most uncom-
promising of artists, and as drill
master he had few equals. His pro-
grams exemplified the best 10 music,
classical, romantic, modern and
ultra modern. He made the Amer
lean people familiar with the best OF
all these schools, including the dance
melodies of Strauss and other mas
tiers. On his concert tours he was
by some of the leading /
soloists Of the time, including Annie
Louise Cary, contralto, and Julia
Rive King, pianist, TO mention only
two prominent American products.
Some Of the greatest European Gel
ebrities appeared uLder his baton,
and during Mrs. Thuber's brilliant
but i'll fated and brief years of Am
erican grand opera Mr.. Thomas off
ciated as conductor. America owes
much to Mr.. Thomas and his uncom-
promising artistic attitude or mus
ic, and the stamp Of his grand I
personality has been indellibly i'm
pressed upon musical art for several
generations. Milwaukee Sentinel. |