Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-18
SYMPHONY CONCERTS
Mr.. De KoVen Discusses the
Orchestra Reorganization.
REASON FOR CHANGE
PROF. sANTELMANN EXPRESSES
HEARTY SYMPATHY.
1t Has Been Demonstrated That There
is Ample Musical Talent in
Washington.
REASON FOR CHANGE

Symnbonv orchestra concerts are to be
f.,ture in Washington during the coming
season A series of five concerts are as
sured and If the present plans OF Mr. Regl-
mad de Koven materiaize the public VIII
h, given an opportunity to listen to several
Sunday afternoon concerts of the best
music at popular prices.
The outcome of the labor difficulties which
Involved the Marine Band and the civilian
musicians composing the Washington SYM
phony Orchestra-the withdrawal of the
Marine Band-has resulted in the reorgan-
lzation of the orchestra under the name of
the De Koven Symphony Orchestra. the
personnel of the organization being made
up entirely of civilian musicians.
Now that the new organization has been
perfected a discussion of the situation by
Mr.. de Koven is made possible. and when
asked regarding what Washington might
expect from him this winter he responded
enthusiastically.
My position in the matter has been first
last and all the time that Washington
should have a symphony orchestra" he be-
gan. However. when came to Washing
ton last season l had no idea OF the con-
tending forces in the way of musical or
RanZa tons here, which have been simply
playing ping-ponG with me ever since.
first enlisted the financial support or
number of the music-loving residents OF the
city. and with the guarantee fund which
was thus established | felt encouraged to go
on. Being new to the city, l was entirely
unaware of any local difficulties as to or
ganiza TONS and the first orchestra was
chosen without reference to any faction or
organization by a committee consisting of
the leading musicians of the city and chosen
absolutely without any word or suggestion
from me- simply because l was unacquaint-
ell with their merits. l found out almost
Immediately, however. that notwithstanding
their interest in the project many of the
musicians of the city were forbidden by
the laws of their organization to take any
active part in the organization.
Paderewski's Opinion.
But we got along and gave a concert
which was sufficiently good for Paderewsh
to go back to New York ard declare en-
Enthusiastically that it was the best concert
and the best orchestra for the time it had
Tvhearsed that he had ever heard. Shortly
after this concert l learned from the public
press that the American Federation of Mu
slcians had issued boycott against me and
my organization because / had employed
i, u-uniOn men, or rather, that l had en-
pluycd enlisted men in the orchestra. This,
of course, was a very difficult situation for
me To combat, and had it been purely per
soual one l should have felt much more
flee to act But any action | might take
in the matter involved not only myself, but
my llbrettist. my managers and my publish
ers, 50 that l was obliged to be circumspect
and not arouse any unnecessary antagon-
ism. Various interviews were held with Mr.
Gompcrs, president of the American Fedora
uOn of Labor. and with the officers of the
local musicians union, with a view to re-
conciling differences, but none of these
seemed 10 bring matters to a definite head
and ] became convinced after conferences
with several of the more prominent guaran-
tors that, were the concerts to be abandoned
thiS season, it would be exceedingly
difficult in the future. not to say impossible
to again raise a guarantee fund to support
"A symphony concert in Washington.
Therefore, when ! came over to Wash
iugton from New York a week ago ii was
with the earnest desire to have the matter
~ the organization of the orchestra ar
ranged in some satisfactory way, not only
L" the organization of musicians, but the
members of the Marine Band. The latter
organ cation. headed by Professor Santtl-
mann, had shown every interest in the
work. Mr.. Santelmanns attitude from the
first has been one consistent with his known
p,SItiCu as an artist and a gentleman, and
when the question of orchestra or no or
chesird seemed to be the outcome it was
certainly due in either case that the mem
beers Of the Marine Band should not be dis
charged or dropped in any manner which
would IN the least reflect upon their high
professional standing