Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-03-06
Development Of Orchestral Music in America

nual expenses An important fea-
ture of the organization is the pension
fund for superannuated members.
Mr.. Russell pays tribute TO the
powers OF Frederick Stock who was
chosen 90 succeed Mr.. Thomas Mr.
Thomas's relations to the people N
Chicago were SO cordial and personal
that DO seemed impossible Co carry the
day by hliug his place by a perfect
stranger from "a distance But Mr
stock whose work as MI Thomas's
assistant was already known. stood
ready to engage in tho difficult task OF
suppiautiug AR. Thomas Failure was
predicted 1u many hands hut the only
thing that failed was the prediction.
Tho PIttsburE orchestra WAS formed
under the Couductorship Of the late
Frederic Archer. who was an Organist.
He was succeeded by Victor Herbert.
who. in turn, was succeeded by Emil
Pour. AIr. Russell thinks that the
wonderful development Of the Pitts
burg orchestra ~ late rs Emil Paur's
greatest achievement.
Fritz Scheel was tho first conductor
of the Philadelphia orchestra He died
Zen 1901. and, after an interregnum Of
digquiet. carl Pohhg became the con-
I ductor He has raised the orchestra
to place boz the front rank among
tht Orchostras OF America
Mr. Russell makes the statement that
New York which In point OF priority
ana tho number Of orChestras rlghtful-
Iy heads the list. comes. in point q
merit certainly below Chicago and
Boston. and perhaps sull lower" He
relates the long list Of achievements
az the Philharmonic society and of it's
various conductors. He intimates that
certain conditions Of its organization
would prevent leaders from accom-
plishing truly great things with the
orchestra at present. lie speaks of
Mr. Safonoms custom Of leading with
nut a baton. and notes the prevalence
OF unfayorable opinions upon this prac-
tlse. which has been warmly defended
hy the conductor
The Kew York symphony orchestra
he speaks of as the most promising Of
the metropolitan organizations. and
gives great praise to Mr. Damrosch
for his earnestuess and zeal and his
power of making good programs.
The writer refers moro briefly 90 the
Peoples symphony orchestra, under r.
X Arpus. the Russian symphony or
ohestra. under Modest Altschuler. and
the Nulpe orchestra under the d.
rection Of Arnold Nolpe. New Ha-
yen.s excellent symphony orchestra.
under the Oonductorship Of DIT H0ati0
d
had a fine orchestra under Frank Van
der StuCken. has al the present time no
orchestra, due 10 a conflict with tho
Musicians union, a movement is on
foot however. 10 organize "a new or
Chcstra Minneapolis and ST. Paul
have their Orchestras which give rogu-
lar and Wcll-attended concerts under
tho leadership Of Emil Oberhofcr and
Walter Hothwell, respectively Harley
Hamilton conducts tho Los Angeles
symphony orchestra which was or
gauizod by tine aid OF private c0ntri-
buttons. and Tor which "a guarantee
fund has now been aisrd. and also N
Wnmaus orchestra Of 90 members.
Seattle has "a young symphony Orches-
era. also maintained by n guarantee
subscription fund provided by tho CiU-
lcus Michael Kegrizc a. The COM
duct0r Max zach. formerly a NOM
bcr of the Boston symphony hus sue
pcssfuIly conducted tho So Louis or
ehestra flr several years
Mr. Russell speaks Of the great oiu-
oat0u8 value Of alI of this work ANA
refers On tine Illuminating and extern
sivc program notce prepared for each
concert which arr now customary at
our great orchestral concerts This is
another uf thc very valuable ideas
which originated with Theodore Tho
mas Tho article iF Timely for f Is
WoIl chat Americans should w|k" up
t0 tnr extent and quality of their pres
Ont orchestral development