The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-13

Either one Of three first requisites is i'm
possible of abatement modification if
appreciate measure of success is achieved.
These requisites are on a par of necessity
adequate capital, a leader of pre-eminent
musical scholarship and force, and the
right quality of musicians with which to
compound the orchestra itself. This quality
must be pure genuine and unalloyed. Moth
ing less will do. These constituents Sc
cured, then proceeds the initial work of
unifying and the eternal work of perfect
ing. A musical writer once asked Victor
Herbert: What, most of all, is required
to make an ideal orchestral And his reply
was: Work work, eternal work in the
rehearsal room, granting you have the right
components.'
~ he idea of founding a great permanent
orchestra in Pittsburg sprang in the gift of
Andrew Carnegie to the city of Pittsburg
Of the splendid Carnegie Music Hall. Lii
brary and Art Gallery. and the idea took
practical and applied form upon the open
ing of that great institution in 1895. Sew
enty of the richest and most influential
men of Pittsburg many of them magnates
of the steel interests, united to establish
a permanent symphony orchestra. whose
ORGANIZATION was perfected and incorpor-
ated, and the Pittsburg Orchestra became
a fixed institution The membership was
first limited to fifty carefully chosen play
ers. Later under the direction of Victor
Herbert membership was increased TO sew
enty-three regular players
N''Victor Herbert was secured from New
York to conduct the orchestra in the third
year of it's existence. The selection Of in
strumentalists was necessarily made from
the Musical Union Of New York, whose
home is the famous old Homestead and
whose membership was at that time 5000,
but is probably much larger now. The
membership might include many musicians
not actual residents of New York city, but
whose professional residence was the old
Homestead Thus the Pittsburg Orchestra.
while belonging TO PittshUrg, came, as
matter of fact, from New York and the
permanent home of a majority of the MEM
bers continues TO be New York. Victor
Herbert upon accepting the leadership of
the orchestra, became at once a resident
of Pittsburg, and has a beautiful home
there. He is proud of his adopted city, as
the city is of him and his successful or
ganization.
"Mr. Herbert formed his orchestra OF
seventy-three upon rigid and uncompromis-
ing lines His profound knowledge Of or
chestral requirements and his ample ex-
perience with great orchestras OF both Eu-
rope and America fitted him pre-eminently
for the work of making fine organization.
i'm spite of the fact that it is the latest and
Youngest of the three larger permanent
orchestras of this country. His acauaint-
ance with instrumentalists was vastly TO
his advantage, as, from his younger DAYS
ir Europe TO the present he has been in
constant contact and in service with prin-
cipaI organizations and players. lie took
ample time for selecting the men he most
desired and for the most part was success
full in securing them, sooner or later
From the very first the expenditures
have been directed with the idea of making
it one of the best orchestras in the country
The rich men of Pittsburg became enthu-
sastic for music. and season after season
the regular week-night concerts were as
important a part of their life as the daily
directors meeting at the bank. But. while
the purpose of the orchestra is TO devote
itself avowedly TO the Pittsburg season. il
has constantly been given opportunity TO
appear elsewhere during the regular sea
son-November TO March-and New York
Washington. Baltimore, Chicago and in
Vulnerable lesser places have enjoyed its
music from their own platforms The ex-
penditures for the season just closed pitts