New-York tribune., 1906-04-29
CINCTNNATI FESTIVAL.
JOHN COATES.

The May Music Festival. which will be held IN
Cincinnati this week. is the seventeenth bien-
nial affair OF fits kind. Sixteen Of these festi-
vsls. covering the space between 1878 and 1904.
were conducted by Theodore Thomas. Their
origin Is traced 20 a conversation which took
place IN the house of NM. George Ward Nichols.
where Mr.. Thomas was dining in the fall OF
1872. She. who was Mrs. Nichols then, is Mrs.
BeIlamy storer now. and Mr. storer one of
the sctlVe promoters OF the hrst festival. He
vss secretary OF the first board OF directors, Of
which Mr.. Nichols was president In view Of
what has been accomplished since IL is inter
esting 20 look back upon the record OF the first
meeting: This effort IN the cause OF music
is the first IN the Western part of the United
States having such high aims. so large a scope
and so great magnitude. The movement
for the festival has brought 10 our knowledge
the existence OF musical societies unknown be-
fore except In their own neighborhood: II has
caused the formation OF many more which need.
ed only this incentive TO become organized in
nuences for good; it has aroused an active in
tsrest in its success among lovers Of music in
Europe well as in America, and in the West
an earnest and. IL is 10 be hoped, an abiding
enthusiasm"
There were over one thousand singers In the
hrst chorus. which was composed OF a large
number OF societies from Cincinnati and neigh
boring cities and towns. This plan was followed
IN the second festival also, but since 1873, when
the third festival was held In the new music
hall. whose building had caused temporary
suspension OF the biennial rule, the festival
choir has been a local body, which was kept
together simply for the sake OF the festivals.
The programme book Of the seventeenth fes-
tival contains tribute to Mr.. Thomas which is
worth reproducing here:
The opening concert Of the festival is intended
ss a tribute TO the memory Of Theodore Thomas
who was musical director Of the association for
third Of century IN the course Of an ex-
tended article on the Cincinnati Festivals
Groves Dictionary Of Music and Musicians the
standard English authority, says: THE most
notable OF the regularly recurring musical meet
lngs In The United States are those held bien-
nially In Cincinnati, Ohio. They had Their origin
In 1873. have been from the beginning L..der the
artistic direction of Theodore Thomas and have
beyond question eXerted a more powerful infiu-
ence for musical culture than any institution OF
their kind" In his autobiography, published
after his death, Mr.. Thomas says: ''I believe
the festivals have now such hold the peo-
pie that they VIII not allow them 10 be discon-
tinued." The determination OF the association
70 realize Mr.. ThOmas's 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 1905:
Mr. Thomas has been musical director of the
festivals from the beginning. He conducted the
first concert Of the first festival Tuesday
evening, May o. 1913, and every concert or
every festival thereafter until he laid down his
baton after the memorable performance of
Beethoven's Missa Solennis and the Ninth Sym
phony. with which he brought the sixteenth fes-
tival 10 q glorious close on Saturday night. May
II, 1904. What he accomplished for the edu-
cation OF the public and for the cause Of music
in this city during those years Of service is not
recorded in any written annals. and cannot be;
81 is part Of the history OF Cincinnati and of
the lives Of her citizens, which he enriched and
made better and purer and happier by inspir-
ing them with an appreciation OF the highest
and best forms Of music, and by revealing to
them the tnenabe beauties OF the art to which
he devoted his life with noble and unselhsh pur-
pose HIS upright character his high ideals.
his sound judgment matured by years Of study
and labor, his interchangeable energy, his courage
and patience in times Of trial. his catholic spirit
his faith in the people and his confidence in the
ultimate triumph OF his appeals TO their intelli-
gence and of his efforts 10 raise the standard of
art in their midst are the qualities Of heart and
mind which have endeared him TO his associates
and have laid the foundation Of his enduring
fame ) a benefactor of mankind.
He came 20 when he was a young man; he
gave 10 rs a large part OF his life; he has gone
tull OF years and honor. He fought good fight
and kept the faith We deplore the loss Of our
leader and mourn the death Of our friend. In
the shadow OF his death we pledge ourselves 10
continue the work which he began, and to main-
tain the Cincinnati Festivals on the plane Of ex-
oellence where he placed them. and in the spirit
Of conscientious endeavor and high artistic pur-
pose with which he endowed them.
The compiler of the book also pays tribute
20 Frank Van der Stucken. Mr.. Thomas's sue
cessor. saying. among other things:
IL would have been an easy task for any
man 20 follow Theodore Thomas and to get the
confidence OF musicians and the public which
Thomas enjoyed dean of the profession In
America MI. Van der Stucken soon won the
chSTus, who caught the infectious spirit of his
zeal and with a devotion 20 rehearsals which is
touching have accomplished results that some
thought impossible Since October 1e, 1905 Mr.
Van der Stucken has held mass rehearsals every
week and also separate part rehearsals for men
and women. He has trained the chorus himself
without the assistance OF a chorus master The
orchestra is the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
oe which Mr.. Van der Stucken has been con-
ductor stree 1898. augmented to festival pro-
portions by players fron other cities principally
from the Pittsburg Orchestra.
There wex ample reservation made for errors
both Of commission and omission in the article
on fret performances OF compositions by native
born American musicians recently printed in
The Tribune. one oversight comes TO mind OF
a group Of works sufficiently important TO de-
serve mention here. however. They were tho
four compositions which took the National Con-
seryatory prizes in 1898 and were given a hear
ing at concert in Madison Square Garden
Music Room March 80 of that year The
works were a Rural Symphony by Henry
Schoenefeid. a pianOforte concerto by Joshua
lard and a cantata. The Dream King and His
Love" by HorauO w. Parker DR.. Dvorak con-
elntAd the performance Of the pianoforts con-