The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-24
by EnNEsT II. cosby.

Richmond may now claim a local
symphony. orchestra. It is about fifteen
years since the old Mozart Association
Orchestra was disbanded. and during
all this interval no instrumental asso-
citation of players has been in exist
ence. and the only orchestral music
that has been presented in this city
has been that given by the orchestra
which assists the Wednesday Club in
Its annual festival. 1t is only within the
past few years that this organization
has devoted an entire concert to the
orchestra and artists, SO that during
much OF this long interval of time no
symphonic music has been given In
this city.
The orchestra, which has recently
come int existence. through the efforts
of an enthusiastic and devoted anna
teur. now numbers about twenty eight
players, and the instruments are so
larry well balanced. A glance at the
represented by this or
ganization reveals the fact that there
are six first violns. four second violins.
two violas, two violoncellos and one
double bass; the woodward section
contains an oboe. three flutes and two
clarinets, while the brass is represented
by a French horn, two comets and
two trombones, The artillery section
percussion instruments) Is well sup
Piled with two drums cymbals and
tympani. and the usual accessories that
are found in this department. of all
well-equlpped orchestras. Even to the
most casual observer it must be evil
dent that with such resources. many
of tho very finest symphonies may be
given. At a recent concert the famous
italian symphony" of Mendelssohn was
peri and while 1t has been made
familiar to degree BY means of a
suffers the fats of all other compost
tons which are conceived for the or
chestra and adapted" to other means
of expression, namely, the loss OF its
charact eristic tone-color No piantstic
skill can reproduce the delightful yelled
qualit1 Of the viola, to which Is as
signed superb solo part In the Won
derful "andante' OF this symphony,
and it is not only interesting. but edu-,
cational as we'll. to hear this particu-
lar portion Of the work given by the
Instrument for which lit was written.
So with many other portions of this
work-the effects obtained by combin-
Ing the different instruments can only
be given IN the orchestra where the.
various types of instruments are found.
The educational value of such an or
ganizationis therefore not easily over
estimated.
It should be noted that the orchestra
In its present form has been In exist
ence only for a. few months, but it Is
the direct result of the efforts Of Mr..
u. A. Hoen and a few OF his musical
friends. who have beenaplaying cham
her music together for aSnumher Of
years. During this time many beau
itiful works have been performed In
private, hut the public lat large has
been deprived OF the pleasure of this
class OF music on account OF the very
limited number of concerts given
Around the little group of chamber
musicians has gradually gathered the
players that have been more recently
banded together into the larger orr
.ganizaton, and 1t Is probable that
within the next few years Richmond
may be able to boast of very large
symphony orchestra. In uhis connec-
ton 1t is we'll to recall that Dayton.
TO-, which is smaller than our own
city, has a very fine local orchestra Of
sixty musicians, and II this can be
accomplished In the Western town.
why no, also In the Southern city,