The San Francisco call., 1905-08-18
WALTER DAMR0SCH SOUGHT
BY STATE UNIVERSITY.
Famous Leader May
Take Chair at
], Berkeley.
Is Asked to Become
Head of Music
Department.

BERKELEY, Aug. 17.-Walter Dam
rosch one of the most famous figures
in the musical world, former leader of
the Metropolitan Opera a-house orchestra
of,;New York, exponent of the Wag-
merriam cult master of all the knowl-
edge that makes the art of the musi-
clan, is to I'LL the newly created chair
of professor of music at the University
of California, unless an unexpected
I obstacle should be interposed to render
: fruitless negotiations that are now in
progress between Mr.. DamrOSch and
the authorities of the State University.
The news that SO eminent musician
and instructor should be sought to nil
a university department., that is as yet
10 have its foundations laid on the
| Western edge OF the continent, and that
so ambitious a plan is meeting With
apparent success, has caused a gasp
of astonishment 10 come from those
who know of the difficulty attending
I attempts to bring the lions of either
hesliterary, musical or scientific world
10 the Pacific Coast.
1t is now understood that the univer-
sity authorities contemplate making
the new department of music at the
State institution notable in every
way-to make it stand head and shoul-
ders above that of any other institu-
tion in the land. Until DamroSch'S s SER
vices are secured beyond any chance
of disappointment, the university men
decline to regard the matter as set
tied.
The possibilities that man of Mr..
Damrosch's intelligence is able to see
in the position of musical master at
great State University, adjacent to
great city, are understood to have ap-
pealed to him, as they might to any
savant who appreciates a commanding
position in a great field.
Damrosch doubtless understands that
his place as head of the university's
music department would be merely the
beginning of activities which could in
cIutfe the conducting of symphony or
chestras in San Francisco, the lectur-
inc: on musical subjects in various coast
cities, the expounding of Wagnerian
and other music in such ways as the
master might see fit to engage In. All
of these possibilities, with others that
are perhaps known only TO the parties
most directly interested, may be con-
sidered to have Influenced Damrosch
to give favorable ear to the university
authorities proposal. n
1t is because the salary attached to
faie sehaf ef synusic at the. suhiversity-
$4,000 a year-is not exceptionally large
that the foregoing considerations are
supposed to have won Damrosch's at
tentiop The moneys that SO famous a.
musician and conductor is able to- make
In the CITIES of the. East. and Europe
naturally exceeds the salary offeredNby
the California institution, but the finan-
ciai temptations of the East are con-
sidered to be offset by the other op-
portunities mentioned. =
The last Legislature created the chair
of music at the State University and
appropriated $4,000 yearly for the sal
airy of the man chosen to fill the chair.
President BENJAMIN Ide Wheeler at
once opened communications with emil
nent men who might help TO carry out
the university's ambitious plans with
respect to the advancement of musical
culture here.
A matter of contracts which Mr..
Damrosch has made with other enter
prises is understood TO be all that re-
mains to be settled before his accept
ance of the university's offer is an
nounced. There appears to be no ques-
ton of Damrosch's personal wish in the
matter.