Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-15
ADJUSTMENTS
BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Dr.. Karl Muck, ConductorStory Of
the Orchestra.

Boston Symphony Orchestra which is
the most famous organization of it's
Kind in the world, was not in the be-
ginning the result of a sudden whim
on the part Of its founder Henry L.
Higginson. Mr.. Eigginson's announce
ment of his intention to establish an
orchestra made in March 1881 came as
a great surprise to all Boston except a
few Of his most intimate friends; but
as a matter of fact. over twenty years
before. when studying music in
Vienna he had made up his mind that
| if the time came that circumstances
should allow it, he would give to
Boston an orchestra at least equal to
the best of those he hard heard in Eu-
rope and superior to any that United
States then possessed.
! The first public rehearsal and con-
October 2lst and Saturday evening,
F; October, 22d,r 1881, = in<Dld Music Hall.
Boston. The Orchestra then COM
prised sixty-odd men drawn entirely
from local forces and its !. conductor
was the famous singer and composer,
Georg Henschel, who was then to get
/ his first experience as a leader of a
| symphony orchestra. From the be-
ginning the Orchestra was successful
artistically although for the first three
years it was rather primitive. From
the very beginning the programs were
placed on the highest possible stan
dard which has been maintained to
this day. Mr. Henschel remained con-
! ri Wha,1 ha
succeeded by Wilhelm Gericke who
came to Boston from Vienna where he
! had been one of the, principal con-
ductors of the Imperial Opera. Mr.
Gerieke proved to be. decidedly the
right man for the place. stern dis
4 ciplinarian and a rigorous drillmas-
ter, it was during his five years that
the Boston Symphony Orchestra be-
came famous throughout the world.
During these five Gears the COM
: plexion of the Orchestra was much
changed by the importation Of gifted
musicians from Vienna and from
Paris and when MIR. Gericke left 1t at
the end of his first engagement in
| 1889, the Orchestra, although not SO
much as it is today, was one of ex-
traordinary virtuosity and efficiency.
Mr.. Gericke was succeeded by a
conductor little known when he came
to this country but now world-famous
as a. leader-Arthur Nikisch. Nikisch
came to Boston from Leipsic and
i was the head of the Orchestra TOT
four years. He found a perfect in
strument and the popularity of the
Orchestra increased greatly under his
inspired leadership At the end of his
engagement Emil Paur. who for many
years was to be an important inquire IN
American music succeeded him. Faur
had succeeded 'Nikisch in Le1psic anu
was engaged after Hans Richter. the
famous conductor, had finally refused
to venture the perils of the Atlantic
| Ocean even after the contract had been
signed, sealed and delivered. Paur
was conductor for five years and under
his administration the progress OF the
Orchestra was sure and steady. AL
the end of his engagement Mr.. Gericke
| was brought back and for eight years
held the post of conductor and on his
retirement the Orchestra had the good
fortune to secure for two years the
years the services Oh III. mail AH"S1
General Music Director of the Royal
Theatl es Of the Kingdom Of Prussia.
The engagement OF DR.. Muck
brought to America one of the most
interesting personalities in the world
of music and a conductor Of veritable
genius. He came to America in the
fall Of 1906 on leave Of absence Of a
year granted him personally by the
German Emperor and in response to a
petition of Mr.. Higginson. Emperor
William extended this leave Of abb
sence through the season Of 19o7-0s.
At the end of that season he was re-
called to Germany but went with the
agreement to return at the end OF his
engagement in Berlin. The following
four years the Orchestra had as its
conductor that admirable musician and
leader, Max Fielder Of Hamburg, and
in the fall Of 1912 DR.. Muck returned
for a long term Of years.
DIR. Muck has wrought wonders with
the Orchestra. Fine az it was before
it has reached a height Of achievement
greater than in its history and under
his leadership it has attained g. popu-