The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-05-06
Tribute to Thomas.

Tho programme book Of the seventeenth
festival contains a tribute 10 Mr. Thomas
which Is worth reproducing mere;
The opening concert OF the festival is
intended as q tribute to the memory OF
Theodore Thomas, who was musical dlrt'-
tor of the association for a third OF II
century. In the course OF an extended ar-
ucle on tho Cincinnati Festivals Grove
Dictionary of Music and Musicians, the
standard English authority says: Ire
most notable OF tho regularly recurring
musical meetings in the United States ore
those hold biennially in Cincinnati, .
They had their origin I'm 1873, have been
from the beginning under tho artistic d.
reotion of Theodore Thomas, and have be,
yond question eNerted a more powerful
sutudon OF their kind" In his au,ooiog-
irsphy. published after his death, Mr.
Thomas says II believe the festivals
have now such hold on the people that
they viii not allow them to be discon-
tinued." The determination OF the asso-
citation to realize Mr.. Thomass hopes and
aspirations was declared In the Following
resolution OF the board OF directors at
their first meeting after his death, which
occurred on January 4. 1906 Mr.. Thomas
hos been musical director Of the festivals
from the beginning He conducted the
nrst concert OF the first festival on Tues
day evening, May 8, 1878. and every con-
cert of every festival thereafter until he
laid down his baton after the memorable
performance Of Beethovcns Missa Solen-
mis- and the Ninth Symphony, with which
ne brought tho sixteenth festival to a
glorious close on saturday nlSDl, hhS II,
1904 What he accomplished for the edu5
cation OF the public and for the cause OF
music In this city during those years OF
service is not recorded in any written an-
nails and cannot be; II is part of the his
tory Of Cincinnati and OF the lives of her
citizens which he enriched and made bet
tor and purer and happier by Inspiring
them with IN appreciation OF the highest
and best forms of music, and by reveal
ing TO them the ineffabc beauties OF the
art to which he devoted his life with
noble and unselnsh purpose. His upright
character his high ideals, his sound judg-
ment matured by years OF study and la
Dor, his indefatigable energy, his courage
and patience In times Of trial, his catholic
spirit his faith in the people and his con-
fidence in the ultimate triumph OF his ap-
peals to their Intelligence and Of his ef-
forts to raise the standard of art in their
midst arc the qualities of heart and mind
which have endeared him to his asso-
ciates and have laid the foundation of his
enduring fame as q benefactoT OF man.
kind He came to US when he was
young man; he gave to US a large part OF
his life; he has gone full of years and
honor He fought good fight and kept
the faith we deplore tho loss of our
leader and mourn the death OF our friend
In tho shadow of his death we pledge our
selves to continue the work which he be
gan, and to maintain the Cincinnati festi-
vals on the plane OF excellence where he
placed them and in the spirit OF con-
scientIous cndeavor and high artistic pur-
pose with which he endowed them.-Nc~
York Tribune.