Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-05
REIGN OF FOREIGN
MUSICIANS ENDING
AMERICAN ARTISTS READY TO
FILL PLACES
Dean of New England Conservatory Of
Music Enthusiastic Over Tall
ent of His Country
men

ST. LOUIS Feb. 4-The time is near when
orchestras wholly composed of American mu-
sicians will be the rule. rather than the ex-
ception in this country, Is the firm belief of
Wallace Godrich musical conductor with the
Boston opera company
Boston Opera orchestra have been drawn from
among the residents Of Boston says Mr..
Goodrich, "and I expect to sec the day. and
that before very long, when to import an
orchesra from Europe would be an act COM
petely unjustihed by the existing conditions.
II am ready to admit that a few years ago
a thorough American orchestra American IN
the sense of having American musicians as
its members, was not to be thought of. Why
should American musician have studied the
oboe, for instance, when he felt that he might
never have an opportunity to utilize his knowl-
edge to any practical purpose? There were
symphony orchestras In but very few cities,
and these. much as they would have desired
to do otherwise, were compelled of necessity
to seek their material abroad.
1T is different today. Where some years
ago Boston and New York and Chicago were
the exceptions in boasting orchestras of re-
nown at present symphony orchestras are
maintained in a large number Of cities, and
with the increase in the number OF orchestras
has come the opportunity for the American
musician
''The New England Conservatory of Music.
of which Institutions faculty l have the honor
of being the dean, paved the way with the
formation of its orchestral concerts about ten
years ago, and several of its graduates are
found at present occupying important positions
in the orchestra of the Boston opera house.
Development Process Similar
''The process noticed in this country as far
as the development OF the native musician goes
is very similar to that in other countries.
Time was when German orchestras in
cluded many foreign musicians. Today, If
such found in a German orchestra tt Is
not because there is a lack Of German musi-
Clans but because they have exceptional abil
ity. Frances orehestras depend almost en-
tirely upon French musicians. few years
ago it was my privilege to hear performance
of la Boheme' at Covent Garden which,
from the orchestral point of view, was
markable and, much to my surprise, ] was
informed that the orchestra was composed en-
tirely of Englishmen. The surprise occasioned
at present by the fact that our opera orches-
ira consists mostly of Americans will be small,
indeed, in comparison to the surprise one will
experience a few years hence being in
formed that musicions had to be imported to
form an orchestra in an American city,
II want to make clear one point. do not
advocate putting American musicians into
chestras regardless of their ability. Neither do
mean to convey the impression that / would
exclude foreign musicians, Both these thoughts
are foreign to my mind. What want 10 say
Is that the chief reason for looking to Europe
for our supply of orchestral musicians will soon
disappear because OF the formation of or
chests and who will gainsay that the Ameri-
can has the needed ability to make himself an
important factor in the world Of orchestral
music?''