MUSIC AT THE FRISCO EXPOSITION

Evening Star, Issue 15513, 8 June 1914, Page 2

MUSIC AT THE FRISCO EXPOSITION

AN EPOCHAL CELEBRATION,

[Specially Written for tub ' Evening Star,']

It is the determination of the Exposition authorities to make, the world's jubilee of 1915 an epochal institution in the history of art in all its manifestations, and to aid in the furtherance of man's culture and refinement. In its deeper significance it is believed that this super-exposition will be as commanding in power and uplift as it will be in its unexampled material and tangible elements. Mr Georgo W. Stewart, formerly a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, aoid for many years a promoter and manager of instrumental organisations throughout the. east of the United States, js the director-in-chief of the department of music. He recently spent several months in making a tour of the principal musical centres of Europe, and found there the liveliest interest in the Exposition among artists in all lines of musical endeavor. He secured tho co-operation and the promise of attendance not only of large choral bodies, but of'military bands, from England, Germany, and trance, of great organists, and of great symphonic bodies, in addition to world congresses and conventions havin.r to do with music generally. These bodies will bo supplemented by similar organisations from other foreign countries and from the Americas.

A great crystal-domed festival hall, to be devoted wholly to music, is set down hard by the main entrance to the 635 acres devoted to the Exposition grounds, between the great south gardens and the 430 ft high Tower of Jewels. With its Travertine marble walls and huge dome, it will balance the crystal palace of horticulture, which, covering five acres, faces it across tha tropic gardens. In its design the festival hall b studied from the Theatre des Beaux Arts type of Blench architecture. The main auditorium will seat 300 persons. A pipe organ will bs installed, commensurate in beauty, size, number of stops, .and quality of tone with its magnificent setting. There _ will be a continuous season of organ recitals, to be given by the greatest organists available— Gorman, French, English, and American. A choral congress will meet during the currency of the Exposition, and in it will be heard several of the world's most renowned oratorio organisations. But gigantic organisations, dear to the lovers of art by wholesale, will form no part of the music plan. No unwieldy choral mammoths will trample the field of harmony, but there will be heard dignified and adequate interpretation of the masterpieces of oratorio at the time of the prize contest*. Among others, the Teutonic Saengerbund and the Eisteddfod will be features.