Year: 1872

IKE KESOLIc Ot The WEEK.


THE 0HoEUs-THE oRCHEsTRA-THE AUDIENCE.
[FROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THB TRIBUNE !


Boston, June ga Boston musician is re-
ported toave prophesed that the Jubilee of would
be either e last OF its kind the beginning OF regu-
Lar series e gigantic festivals such the world
never yet witnessed Certainly some curious problems
affecting tho possibility OF establishing these enormous
and grotesque easts at regular periods 10 depend
for solution upon the experiment of the present Sum-


In the first place, there is the question: How large


chorus can be got to sngn reasonably good time and
tunei This Mr.. Gilmore has not answered. His present
force is evidently too great. 1t began well the first
day but it has not improved during the week, and
doubt whether it produces greater effect than the
chorus Of 1869. Take all the singers who
can be brought under the conductors influence,
all whose voices, suppOsIng them TO utter the notes
simultaneously, be simultaneously heard, and you
get the greatest chorus that be assembled
Every hundred that you add to this extreme number
only weakens the effect II the useless members sing,
they will sing out OF tune cut OF time, and the
strength Of chorus every musician knows, depends
very largely upon Its unanmity; crosscurrents OF dis
cord destroy not merely its harmony but its power II
the useless members do not sing they do mischief In
another way by expanding the dimensions of the choir
and pushing its really valuable component too far
asunder. The chorus Of 1869 too big, though 1t
only little multitude OF thousand. The chorus OF
1874 is not large as IL pretends TO be, but IL





and that 1t is not reader to 10 astray
than its Epredecessor is owing to the fact
that 1t is composed OF better materials II has IN the
Handel and Haydn Society aud some other famous
organizations solid foundation which the FIRST Jubilee
lacked and most Of the other associations embraced
in II have apparently prepared for the festival by long
and careful training. Simple hymns IL has generally
succeeded in singing very well. once twice it has
shown magnificent power and majesty. Mendelssohns
fourpart song Farewell TO the Forest" has given
with great precision and some approach 10 beauty Of
expression but that OF the crack pieces OF the
Handel and Haydn Society and suspect that during its
performance most OF the outside associations kept their
mouths shut No chorus OF moderate ntrieacy has
been successful, and "God the Queer" is still
failure after two days trial 1t is almost pity that the
Handeian chorus advertised teraywas omitted; "A


we like sheep have gone astray" would have been a
most appropriate thing for these ladies' and gentlemen
10 sing, The choral efscts in word have not been
harmonious, stupendous. II the great multi
tude could have been divided into three chors each In
turn singing four FIVE days and then going home.
persuaded should have heard not only better mu
sic, but bigger noise The fate of the great drum
ought 70 be warning TO Mr.. Gilmore hereafter This
iusrious instrument bulls In Maine and IL abou,
the size of a small bedroom When il was done side
Of the factory had 10 be taken down 20 permit
It's removal 10 was sent TO Boston on an
steamer, and drawn through the streets
in triumphal procession by four prancing
steeds, followed by the aceamaons OF the populace
Gorgeous patriotic and artistic devices painted all
It, and place arranged for IL the center OF
the great orchestra. Polyphemus himself could not
have struck both heads OF this instrument at once but
the drummer had place al side where he could Just
reach up and strike It in the middle. When the band
to rehearse. however unexpected trouble was
discovered. The drum had a magnificent tone but 10
would not keep time The vibrations were 30 long in
getting across that mighty skin that the drummer
though never 20 prompt seemed always fraction OF
second behnd-hand The voice was IKE the yoiee
OF thunder but also like thunder, It came some ,.me