12
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
and kept up to the highest mark of practice ; but even such bands as these
were at a disadvantage, for other bands of the sheet-iron persuasion ceased
not to perform in their immediate vicinity.
It is a theme worthy of the serious consideration of those having authority,
how to dispose of several street bands in one procession, so as to cause the
least amount of torture to the spectators. If there be anything worse than a
provincial brass band, it is two provincial brass bands playing at the same
time, particularly when one is playing " The Star Spangled Banner," and
the other is whooping it up with " Shoo Fly." Yet this has been the fate of
Baltimore during the past gala week. There have been bands from Pitts-
burgh, from Harrisburg, from York, from Cumberland, and even from obscure
and unknown villages, who have tooted and banged during the past ten days,
until the Goddess of Harmony has been compelled to wear cotton in her
ears. The term ''dulcet," as applied to the art, is a horrible mockery, and
the music that
"Softer falls
Than petals of blown roses on the grass,
Music that gentler on the spirit lies
Than tired eylids upon tired eyes—
Music that brings sweet sleep down from the blissful skies,"
seems a reminiscence of the remote past. Not of this kind surely was the
" Star Spangled Banner, " when sung by 200 voices of the consolidated Ger-
man choral societies at the Schutzen Park. Berlioz gave it as his opinion,
formed after a ripe experience, that music in the open air is impossible. All
the precious qualities of tone, whether vocal or instrumental, seem to evapo-
rate in open air. The abyss of space drinks up the resonance and leaves only
the harsher vibration. Still, on patriotic occasions, one must not be over
critical, and so your correspondent delivered himself up to be thrilled. Two
hundred voices, with pronounced German accent, thundering out its " Star
Spangled Banner," was certainly a sensation.
One of our choral societies has ceased to exist.
The Baltimore Glee
Club, a society of young gentlemen, who for several years have given charm-
ing concerts to select and fashionable audiences, is reported disbanded. The
•word "given " was put in italics because that club never charged admission,
but bore all the expenses themselves, and fashionable society always attended
the entertainments with that cordiality and unanimity that Baltimore invari-
ably shows to a free treat.
But it is further reported, upon what authority your correspondent can-
not at present ascertain, that the Baltimore Glee Club goes over in a body to
the Wednesday Club. If this be so, it will not be a death, but an apotheosis.
They will pass to a higher sphere.
One thing, which it is already decided the Wednesday Club will give
during the coming season, is the oratorio of " Elijah." As soon as the bustle
of our century-and-a-half fete is over, the study of the chorals will begin.
There can be little doubt that it will be handsomelv rendered, for a more
difficult work by Handel was performed last season. A chorus that can phrase
and shade a fugue of Handel, need fear nothing, except, perhaps, Bach.
Though the rehearsals of "Elijah" are to begin soon, yet the performance
will not be until during Lent. Who are to be the soloists is not yet announced,
and probably not yet determined.
ALASTOB
GAEL'S NOTES FROM BURLINGTON, IOWA.
BURLINGTON, la., Oct. 4, 1880.
October, 20th, 1880.
Both of our music houses seem to be busy, especially Mr. James A.
Guest, who is wholesaling a large number of pianos and organs.
Our Orchard City Band has a benefit next week. Success to them.
CAUL.
THE NEW OPERA HOUSE.
HE plans for the new opera-house at Madison avenue and Forty-third
street have at last been adopted. J. Cleaveland Cady, of No. I l l Broad-
way, is the architect. The plans are described as preliminary, and no ar-
rangements have yet been made respecting the interior decorations, uphol-
stery, &c. The board of directors adopted designs and specifications for
the building, at the same time directing the executive committee to conclude
the purchase of the land and proceed with the work. E. P. Fabbri is chair-
man of the committee. The plans are for a structure of pressed brick, with
terra cotta trimmings, fronting 200 feet on Madison avenue and 190 on the
side streets. The walls will be 90 feet high, surmounted on the side of the
main entrance by a pitched roof and tower, the whole 110 feet in height.
The architecture is a mixture of Italian and composite, without too much
ornamentation. The auditorium will seat between 3,000 and 3,100 persons, and
will be divided into the parquet, or orchestra, the parterre, or first row of
boxes, two additional tiers of boxes, a balcony, and a gallery. There will be
110 boxes altogether, with small salons, or ante-rooms, opening out of them.
Each box will seat five persons comfortably, and can be made to accommo-
date six. The height from floor to ceiling of the boxes will be 7 feet
8 inches. There will be 788 seats in the parquet, 580 in the balcony, and
seating room for 1,180 in the gallery. The interior will be plain, no money
being wasted on decorations. Special attention will be paid to heating,
lighting, ventilation, and means of exit. From each tier there will be three
exits—one on Vanderbilt avenue, one on Madison avenue, and one on Forty-
third street—two of which in each case will be separate and independent of
all others, each being carried directly to the sidewalk and surrounded by
closed and. independent walls, thus preventing all counter streams of people
and choking up of passages. There will be four independent entrances to the
parquet. The total width of the staircases connecting the floors with the
street will be 58 feet, viz : one of 12 feet in width, one of 4 feet, one of 10
feet, two of 6 feet, and two of 8 feet. In addition there will be a stair-
case 5 feet in width, connecting with all the floors. All the staircases will
be of iron, slate, and marble, and fire-proof throughout.
T
PRIZE COMPOSITION.
H P H E Musical Festival Association in Cincinnati has issued a circular,
X offering a prize of $1,000 for a musical composition. " The fifth
festival of the Cincinnati Musical Festival Association will be held in Cincin-
nati in May, 1882, and, in pursuance of the policy adopted by it in connection
with its last festival, the association offers a prize of $1,000 for the most
meritorious composition for chorus and orchestra, to be performed on that
occasion. Competition shall be open to all citizens of the United States,
irrespective of place of birth. The following distinguished authorities have
kindly consented to act as judges in conjunction with Theodore Thomas,
viz. : Herr Kapellmeister, Carl Reinecke, Leipzig, and M. Camille Saint-
Saens, Paris. Works offered for competition must not occupy more than one
hour in performance. A full score, and piano scoi-e, accompanied by a sealed
letter, must be placed in the hanis of the committee on or before September
1, 1881, and should be addressed to ' Committee on Prize Composition,
Musical Festival Association, Cincinnati, Ohio.' The scores must not con-
tain the name of the author, but must bear a fictitious name. The accom-
panying sealed letter must bear the same fictitious name on the outside,
and also a return address, and must contain within the name and address of
the author. No letter will be opened until a decision has been reached
awarding the prize, and then only the letter of the successful competitor.
The other compositions and letters will be returned to the return address in-
dorsed on the outside of the sealed envelope. The author of the prize com-
position shall own the copyright of his work, but the association shall have
the right of performance at any and all times, and also of publishing such
copies as it may require for its use free from copyright. The scores sub-
mitted of the successful composition shall belong to the association."
than politicians are entertainments and music teachers in Bur-
X lington at present. We have no less than fifty teachers,and all apparently
have something to do. Prof. Rogers, the new organist of the Congregational
Church, has already established his reputation as an organist and pianist, and
we predict for him great success here. He is a thorough musician, and plays
understandingly. On September 26th, Sunday morning, the choir sang the
best we ever heard them, the selections being appropriate and good. Miss
Nelson's solo was a perfect gem. Miss Spencer, the contralto, surprised us
with a beautiful solo, and we know she can do even better as soon as she
overcomes her nervousness. The music in the song was marred by the solo
of Mr. Lehr, which was sung so wretchedly that even some of the old stand-
bys, who seem bound to accept everything as good, smiled and then frowned
at him. We cannot help but think he sang so purposely, for it doesn't seem
OFFENBACH'S FUNERAL.
possible for a singer, who pretends to be good, to sing from a half to a quar-
ter off the pitch. Mr. Lehr should confine himself entirely to quartette or f I ^HE funeral of Jacques Offenbach was celebrated at the Madeleine on the
chorus singing until he cau at least sing in time. We trust he will (like the X morning of the 7th,with great pomp and ceremony. The hearse, drawn
gentleman he is) take this just criticism in the same kindly feeling as it is by two horses, and hung with black and silver trappings, left the house of
given, and try to improve his careless singing. Last Sunday we noticed mourning on the Boulevard des Capucines at a quarter to 10 o'clock. I t was
a new basso in Mr. Lehr's place—Mr. Joy, formerly of the Baptist choir. loaded with wreaths sent by the theatres of Paris and of nearly every
Why this change was made is a mystery, and a great mistake. If Mr. Joy European capital. Among them was a tasteful offering from the Galeries
was*put there for ornament (that is about all he is good for), we had rather St. Hubert, Brussels ; another from the London Alhambra, and another from
have Mr. Lehr back to fill both requirements. Mr. Dillen, the new tenor, as the Opera Comique, inscribed in letters of gold with the words " Les Contes
a singer, is not a success, and the directors should get either another one in d'Hoffman."
his place or some one to help. If he was as much of a singer as he is a gen-
The service began punctually at 10 o'clock. The church was tastefully
tleman he would be a valuable acquisition to this choir. The music on the hung with black and silver. In the centre was a handsome catafalque draped
morning named was not up to the standard, the constant changes in this choir with black and surrounded by silver candelabra. The funeral procession was
keeping them " b?-oke up " most of the time. Sunday evening a Mrs. Dan- preceded by a detachment of soldiers of the line with fixed bayonets, who
iels, of Detroit, sang a solo. She has a moderately sweet voice, not powerful took up their position at the side of the altar. The deceased was entitled to
enough for such a large room, and her articulation is very bad.
military honors, having been a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.
The mass was admirably sung by Faure, Talazac, and several other great
Miss Nellie Hall's benefit was a failure. The concert was only fair.
Prof. Richards' playing was decidedly rusty, owing doubtless to his neglect artists of Paris. Faure made a profound impression by a masterly rendering
of practice during his late trip abroad. Prof. Roney, a new comer, did not of the " Pie Jesu." During the service several fragments of the dead com-
surprise us with his piano solo, it being only ordinary. The Misses Kline poser's " Contes d'Hoffman " and " Chanson de Fortunio " were executed.
sang a duet, which was the most enjoyable of all, and they received a de- The cortege left the Madeleine about half-past 11 for the Cemetery of
served encore. Miss Nellie Hall's friends applauded her efforts, though we Montmartre, followed by a large number of the friends of the deceased.
heard nothing but an ordinary ballad sang in an ordinary manner. We are Among them were nearly all the artistic celebrities of Paris.
at a loss to understand why Miss Hall has gone east to cultivate her voice.
Mr. Rogers, assisted by Miss Nelson, Miss Gay and Miss Spencer, gave
EMBAKKAS DE RICHESSE.—One of our conservatories announces two
a charming little musicale, at the Congregational Church parlors, on Friday harpists as teachers connected with the institution. Are there so many
evening, Oct. 1.
people in New York desirous of learning this instrument ? If it should be-
Gustav Heyner's Orchestra, we learn, is making rapid progress. Now come the rage, the harp may take the place of the piano in the drawing-room
if L. will only keep them together and supply the music at the theatre for a little while. From Scylla to Charybdis ! But how nice it would be for
(which is galling), the community will rise up and bless him.
sweethearts! Imagine him blowing the cornet, and her squeezing the strings
Mr. Frank Wilcox, who wanted to chastise your correspondent, has left of the harp, and in the expectoration of their musical feelings their souls be-
the city. We advise all correspondents to look out for him and not say come united, and they become purer and nobler beings. The mere idea of
anything about his favorites, for he carries a big boiler and can generate such happiness brings tears into our eyes, and we forget for the moment
what sufferings the ear would have to bear.
lots of steam.