The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-26

| ductor the rent OF Carnegie Han, inc uu-
yertising, printing Of programmes ana
tickets. salaries Of soloi-ts. cost Of music
and minor incidentals.
Taking all these matters into considera-
ton. !; looks as II the wisest course for the
society would he to encourage the Efforts
Of the excellent women who wish TO rai+e
a fuud for the engagement Of Mr. Vein
gartrcr II such fund can BE- raised, 1t
VIII insure the settlement in America Of
one Of the very best conductors and mu7l-
c.'us of Europe
llie enGagcnont would arouse sufficient
public interest 70 offset the evil effect OF
returning TO tho one conductor aY5tem
after employing the star plan The fund
world relieve the fathers II the necessity
of halarding their own earnings In further
ing the proiec. Ard il the end the fund
might be 81 increased as to establish the
-ooer" on a permanent basis without
binding ID 70 the acceptance Of any OF the
objectionable conditions which caused II to
reject tho last scheme Of that sort;
Whether We require permanent
orchestra or not in this city s. OF course
a question open to discussion one eminent
conductor recently said that when every
city OF importance in this country had ac-
quired a permanent orchestra, then all
permanent orcheatras in America would
80 out Of existence.
when the time comes, he said. that
the Boston orchestra cannot visit Baln-
more or Washington because the orchestTas
Of those cities supply their needs. then tue
Boston orchestra will have 10 got out OF
business. for Il cannot live on Boston alone
The samc thing will happen TO the Kansas
CITY orchestra and the Philadelphia or
chestra and all Others. These orgnn1a
tions mast he able to 20 abroad ard earn
u few dollars away from home.
There is much reason in this. The Boston
symphony Orchestra gives in the current
session los concerto only half of them
take pldca In Boston Even the intel
lectual Hub Of the Universe would not wish
for los orchestral concerts added 10 all its
other musical entertainments. From this
point Of view we would be better OF without
. a permanent orchestra. just as we are now.
We have our Philharmonic and cur New
York Symphony Society and we receive
visits from tie Boston gentlemen. We
ret variety which would be denied TO us
If We had only one orchestra and one con-
ductor.
If. however. n fund could he raised which
would enable the Philharmonic Society to
engage such conductor as Felix Vein
gartner and yet not be compelled to give
moro than ten or twelve concerts in season
( the present state Of affairs would simply
be changed for the better without being
radically altered. II is not the purpose
/ of the writer 10 argue that this slight change
would le the test thing that could come
into the musical life Of New York, but from
/ the present outlook il seems TO he the most
available outcome which can DO regarded
as beneficial
The history Of orchestral movements
in New York has been n record Of make
shifts All Of them have been the results
OF hopeless struggle against an impossible
situation That situation was created when
the Philharmonic Society was organized
and will lie preserved as long IS 1t exists.
for the plan Of this organization is illogical
and therefore neces sariy productive Of
poor results.
The members Of the Philharmonic Society
are well trained musicians andare sincere in
their attitude toward their art. 1t is not
through any lack OF honesty on their par
that the Philharmonic Society is not the
/ ideal orchestral institution. Tho real rea-
sons have been stated 80 often that it seems
/ idle TO enumerate them again; yet for the
sake Of the present point it may be done.
| The men who play together in the Phil
! harmonic concerts do not play together in
! any other performances They perform each
season eight programmes and rehearse
three or four times for each. This is not
enough 10 bring an orchestra into that
! condition of homogenety which would
/ make il A plant ms rument for conduc-
| tors use.
| Men who are not up to the level Of merit
required by an orchestra Of the first rank,
but are members Of the society, cannot he
displaced
/ The orchestra is the source of power
/ Il elects its own officers constitutes its own
government. hires its own cond lctor and
can get rid Of him at the end Of a season
simply by declining TO elect him for the
next year.
In such conditions il is out Of the cues
tion that thoroughly good performances
can be secured or that discipline can be
maintained The tail is able to wag the
dog and that is the summing UP OF the
. situation.
Nevertheless th, Philharmonic Society
is here and is likely 'o stay It. honor
able record and its high achievements
demand its continued existence. II is "a
pity. therefore. that il cannot be reorgan-
izcd on q wholly row basis as 4 permanent
orchestra 1t is altogether improbable
that it wll be. for that would mean the
retirement Of all members not up TO the
standard They are hardly likely 10 vote
themselves out of Office
The next best thing. then. would be tie
establishment of fund sufficiently large
TO enable the society to engage such con-
ductor as Mr. Weingarner and to increase
It's number Of concerts 1t would thus
improve its own efficiency and command
position Of more vital importance in the
musical life Of the country
The foregoing was written before the
publication of the news that 4 fund had
been raised simply to enable Mr.. Vein
gartner to conduct some special concerts
here next year, This will. Of course. pro-
vide some interesting entertainments, but
it viii have no bearing on the orchestral
situation. That win remain az it Is unless
the excellence Of the concerts moves people
to subscribe money to keep Sr Vein
gartner here W. J. HENDERSON.
NOTES or Music Events.