The Detroit times., 1914-11-20
Detroit symphony Orchestra
Scores Hard in Premise

II all new undertakings could BIZ
speeded on their way with the au
spiciousness that attended the hrsi
concert OF the first season OF the DE
troit Symphony orchestra, Thursday
afternoon. In the Detroit opera house
there would be an encouragement tc
further endeayor that could lead only
TO ultimate complete success. The
orchestra, and its yery-mnch-alive
conductor, Weston Gales, should take
heart In the fact that the audience
which greeted them. was OF goodiy
size. musically sympathetic, and ap
preciative or the circumstances under
which Detroit's first really serious ef
fort TO establish a symphony orShes
ira is surrounded.
IL was not just merely provincial
pride In made In Detroit" article
that caused SO many persons In tho
audience. Thursday afternoon, "a
praise the orchestras work SO highly
TO applaud with enthusiasm conductor
and players, and TO stand at the close
OF the program and give round after
round OF hearty hand-clapplng as the
musicians and director bowed &C
lknowledgment. The simple fact oi
the matter Is that Il was recognized
that Detroit has An exceptionally good
orchestra right now, with possibili-
ties In It's players, and conductor. OF
achieving the highest artistic reults
In the future. II would be foolish "a
declare that the organization at this
time can compare with the symphony
orchestras OF Boston. Chicago. New
York, Cincinanu and Minneapolis
with the work of which bands the
Detroit concert-going public Is IN
miliar. thanks to the concerts ar
ranged by hte Detroit Orchestral as
sociation. But, that II Is genuinely
good canont be gainsaid by any one
passing fair judgment, and Mr.. Gales
and his men should be spurred on by
full measure OF praise for the splen
did beginning they have made.
The program was challenge In
itself and showed courage and faith
on Mr.. Gales part In his own ro-
sources and ability and that OF his
men. Beethoyen's First symphony
was given superior rendition. .he
dnal movement seeming to make an
especial appeal to the players, as II
did to the audience. The movement
was played with vivacity and charm.
and because OF It's swift tempo made
demands upon a new organization
that were met fearlessly and without
disaster. Weber's Invitation TO the
Dance" arranged for orchestra by
Weingartner. director OF the Berlin
Philharmonic orchestra. was given a
spirited and delightfully."- lifting cad
Ing. and was SO well-liked that part
OF II was repeated. Wagner's "Siex-
fried Idyll," because OF the demands
L. makes upon the instruments of the
orchestra, and the fact that the new
orchestra could not be expected to
possess the full complement and quail.
ity required, fully met In the SYM
phony orchestra visiting Detroit, was
another ambitious composition for Mr.,
Gales to select. but he and his play.
ers encompassed II with a surprising
degree OF success.
Fer the first season. the orchestra
will play only afternoon concerts, Civ
ing one each month, on the third
Thursday. up to and including April.
The season tickets have been placed
at figure low enough to make II
possible for most music-lovers 10 pos
sess them. II Detroit Is to take her
fightful place as u musical and artis-
tic center. its citizens must see that
one means to this end Is the support
Of symphony orchestra. The he
ginning is so good that II should not
be allowed TO wither by the wayside.
ELLA NAE HAWTHORNE.