The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-05
DEATH OF THEODORE THOMAS.
VETERAN ORCHESTRA LEADER
DIES IN CHICAGO.
Attack or Pneumonia, Following the Open
Ing Of tho Permanent Home or Ills
Orchestra, Proves Fatal-His Long
Record I'm the Field OF Music.


Record in the Field OF Music.
CHICAGO, Jan. 4.-Theodore Thomas. the
orchestra leader died shortly before q
O'Clock this morning at his home after a
hard fight with pneumonia. contracted
while the veteran composer and leader was
experimenting tho completion of the new
home of the Thomas orchestra.
For hours before death claimed the dis
tipgshed musician he had lapsed into a
semi-couscious condition. At the bedside
were Mrs. Thomas. two sons, who hurried
here from the East; the nurses and Dr. c.
F. Ely, who had sat in the sckroom oil night.
just one week ago on last Friday the new
home OF the orchestra that Theodore Thomas
had created had been opened. In gratitude
10 this great orchestra maker, Chicago had
subscribed the fund OF $3.50. 900 and erected
this temple consecra ted 10 the art OF music.
Two dnys later an attack Of grip developed
into pneumonia. On last Friday and Satur-
day the orchestra played without its leader.
Theodore Thomas, the dean OF American
conductors Of music. was born in Essens
East Fresland. on Oct II, 1895. He be-
lonGed TO a musical family, and. according
TO the German custom. his father gave nIm
instruction In the art. His father was vio-
linist and violinist young Thomas became.
He played in public at the age of q. thus
entering the long list Of Teutonio wonder
children
In 1slj the family came TO this country,
and during the ensuing two wears Nr.
Thomas made several appearances as a
violin soloist. In 1851 he made tour through
! the southern States. On his return TO this
I city he became "A regular orchestral player
He was in the orchestrnS which supported
Jenny Lind Sontdg, GIisi and Mario. Arditi
/ was the conductor q part Of this period and
| under MIN lhCmas rose 10 the place of con
! cert master. He sometimes oifciated ne
/ conductor ana thus fCreshadowed his
| future career He also played among the
I vioiins OF the Philharmonic Society. He
retained his post in The opera I'll 1901 when
other enterprises fegan 20 engross his
time
1t was In 1855 that he united with Dr.
William Mason, the pianist. who survives
him, Joseph Moseuthal formerly conduc-
tor OF the Mendelssohu Glce Club; Carl Berg
mann, once a celebrated conductor and the
first advocate OF Wagner in America; G..
Mat2ka. violnist. subsequently first vio-
lin under Thomas, and f Bergnef q 'cellist
sti.l living in this city IN beginning series
OF chamber music concerts which had
I powerful influence on the musical taste of
New York
In 1884 he began his first series Of sym
[ phony concerts az Irving Hall in this city
I thus launching on his noted career AZ II
conductor These concerts were continued
tll 900. when they were abandoned. They
were resumed IN 1872 at Steinway Hall with
an orchestra of eighty men aud continued
] here till 1878. IN 'haf yett Mr.. Thomas
was chosen 10 be the first resident Of
/ the new college 81 music at Cincinnati
I and he gave up his concerts hre.
Re was NOT permitted 10 absent himself
for long however for he wa elected con-
ductor Of the Now York Philharmonic So
! cicfv. a position which Ge had occupied III
+ the season OF 1-17-1s md he returned
He bod taken charge 81 the concerts Of the
BROOKLYN Philharmonic in 1862 and he
conducted them UP 20 the time when no
I left New York for Chicago.
II was In 1890 that he started HIS famous
summer concerts. These began at Terrace
| Garden. and in lS6S were removed 10 Cen
tral Park Garden His first concert tour
/ With orchestra WA made IN 1889. the band
/ numbering hfty-fopr men. In 1883 he
took larger orchestra all the way 10 san
I Francisco and al successful season
II was in these days that hie reputation
a conductor and maker OF programmes
went across the eea. His industry In mnk-
ing known the sterling works of the classic
masters and hi- intense energy IN preaching
the gospel Of Bach and Beethoven were
equailed by his readiness 10 recognize
merit in what was new He was an earnest
advocate of the WaRnerian ideas.
In 1852 he organized and conducted
great music festival In the Seventh ReGi-
ment Armory. producing important works
with o chorus Of a thousand voices. an
orchestra OF 800 and famous soloists. In
1851 he gave a series Of great Wagner con-
/ certs also IN the drnOry. introducing TO
this public such distinguished Nagneriau
! singer a. NinEelmaun, the original Par
Rial. Scaria, the great ba-so, and Materna,
the original RTJnrhHic. The nucleus OF
the chorus used Ia these concerts was the
New York fhonIs Society, which Mr..
Thomas organized and directed For
time IT WIS "a dangerous rvnl 20 the Ora
tOrio Society.
I'm 1856 wis formed the American Opera
Company which gave it, first perform
! nnce Mt the Academy of Music on Feb. -
MIR Thoun- and Gustav Hinriohs were the
conductors. and the Thomas Orchestra was
engaged Ia "a body, Among other operas
proaucad by this organization with Mr.
Thomas in the conductors char were
Deibc-'s ~Iakme. suhustein'- Nero"
and Nicolai'4 Merry Wives Of Windsor"
Ina 1855 MIR Thomas lei, Now York 10 take
charge OF the Chicago Orchestra, which
! had heen organized purpo'ely for him.
/ Hi- concerto in this city hau begun 10 lose
7 favor Aggressive younger conductors
and the Immense popularity Of Seidl and
the Wagnariau drama had drawn away
/ some of MIR. Thomass patronage
! 4 farewell dinner WIS given IN his honor
at Delmonco- and he shook the dust of
.
known in the Wc4t. for he he'd been CON
Z ductor of the Cincinnati Music Festivals
since 1873 and he conducted all the ensuing
| ones These festivals had attracted at
tention all over the world, and Chicago was
/ ready TO give Mr.. 1homHs the support he
! had lost here.
( The Chicago Orchestra was backed by
a yearly guarantee fund and under Mr..
Thomass drilling II reached place second
onlv TO that held by the Boston symphony
orchestra The hand visited New York
n few years ago but was not then at it,
best The Chicago Orchestra Is now housed
in ita new home Orchestra Hall. on Michi-
gan avenue, Chicago. which was opened
ic-s than two weeks ago for IL first con-
cert. That was his last appearance in pub
lie as a conductor and The occasion wa ap-
nroprinte. as the ltoll and the enthusiastic
audience that filed il we're tributes 10 Mr.
, Thornas's great work for pluric.
MIR. Thomas Wac always catholic in his
tastes. and his survey II the field u music
had apparently no limitations. lie was
accented as an authority on tho reading
~ Haydn. Beetho' en-. Bach, Sohupert
Schumann and MoHrt II" was also a
notable Interpreter 81 Wagner He intro
need Tsohakowsky TO American audiences
! tuentv YEAR ago al h- S,ouway Hall
4 .,,lor.s mud no Wis one Of the first 10 ureach