New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-17
HIGH AIMS FOR
THE SYMPHONY

monte should continue. in very short
time some persons, who wanted DIFF
ferent sort OF music. would start sec
ond orchestra. New York is too big for
one orchestra.
Nor can see why two great organiza-
lions should not exist side by side. pursd-
ing their artistic careers in harmony and
dignity, and thus advancing the cause OF
music. Mr.. Pulitzer's beQuest has as
sured the continuance OF the Philhar-
monte and ! intend to make the SYM
phony's future secure. as | do not mean
that my aid shall come TO an end With
my life.
~ know that some people bewail the
fact that the different orchestras' pro-
grammes so often repeat one another.
but ! do not see how this can be helped
and. at any rate, il does no harm. After
all. the field OF serious music is limited.
and IL is impossible for one orchestra to
tell Just what the other is TO play. The
audiences OF the Philharmonic and
Symphony orchestras are by no means
the same, few of the same persons at
tending both concerts, so that 1t is only
the critics and very few others who are
wearied by the repetition Of programmes.
MR.. FLAGLER's AIMS.
ut is my purpose to make the orchestra
of the Symphony Society as perfect an
organization as is humanity possible. and
hope this may be accomplished without
altering the present conditions, under
which We employ only musicians belong
ing to the Musical Union. ! myself be-
lieve there should he a series of concerts
at popular prices. feeling that IT should
be the aim OF great orchestra to pro-
vide the best in music for rich and poor
alike While II is true that as yet music
does not form as integral part OF life
in America as II does Of that In Germany,
am confident that there is large mass
to be reached who will respond to the
call of good music. Promenade concerts.
however, have never proved success In
New York. and ! rather think the system
will have 10 be something different At
all clients, / hope and expect the or
chestra under Mr.. Damrosch's leadership
TO continue in the splendid work II mas
been doing ever since its establishment,
and | only trust that | myself shall be
able TO help forward the aims so deeply
believed in and steadily pursued by my
predecessor in Office, Samuel Simons San
ford"
PREDECESSOR OF THE SOCIETY.
Mr.. Flaglers publc-spirited resolve
touching the symphony Society does not
seem in any way TO change its status
toward the public, though II solves the
annually recurrent problem caused by the
impossibllty of making an orchestra
operating on saared basis for its men
self-supporting institution. The society
as it is now constituted is the successor
of the New York Symphony Orchestra
which was called into existence in the
fall OF 1903 after the original Symphony
Society which DR.. Leopold Damrosch
had organized in 1878. had been moribund
for four seasons For seven seasons, up
to his death In 1885. DR.. Damrosch d.
rected the affairs of this society and con-
Quoted its concerts For thirteen years
more Mr.. Walter Damrosch was its con-
ductor Then other matters diverted his
attention. one year was given to compo-
sition; two TO an operate enterprise; for
season, 1926 he was conductor Of the
Philharmonic Society and engaged in an