New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-01
Embarrasses Artistic Sensi.
bilities, Says Boston
Orchestra Leader
Backed Up by
Society's Patron
Musicians Here Denounce
Defence as Attempt
at Evasion

Orchestra, to play THE Star-Spangled
Banner" is very embarrassing to his
artistic sensibilities. The request, he
says, is almost insulting. To push it
would be destructive to musical art.
This, in brief, is the gist of the
directors reply to the query, "Are you
going to play the national anthem in
New York at your Carnegie Hall con-
cert next Thursday evening"
Statements from Henry L. Higginson,
founder and patron of the orchestra,
indicated that he was behind DR.. Muck
in his refusal to play the patriotic air.
( He threatened to disband the orchestra
| If the public was insistent In its de-
mands for the undesired addition to
its programme, and added that the
Symphony Hall, which is losing $4,000
year, might be sold or closed up II he
were pushed by these demands.
DR.. Muck Condemned
Meanwhile, DR.. Muck and the or
chestra are being attacked from other
quarters. Resolutions condemning him
and his organization were adopted to-
day by the Rhode Island Council Of
Defence, in which his failure to play
"The Star-Spangled Banner" there last
night is characterized as "deliber-
ately insulting attitude" The police
|
council to refuse further licenses for
concerts there until DR.. Muck changed
his attitude or the orchestra changed
| its leader. .,
To-day Thomas Howick, special
agent for the Department of Justice
! at Providence. recommended to Wash
/ inpton that the concerts of the or
chestra be prohibited unless the an
! them is played. Ihis action followed
/ publicatioa Of the fact that DR.. Muck
! lad refused the requests of numerous
patrons OF the orchestra to play The
| Star-Spanged Banner" |.
Last Sunday Geraldine Farrar added
! TO the feelings Of the people of Prov
| idence against pro-German artists by
singing nine German songs at the
Pension Fund benefit, singing none IN
! English, French or Italian.
In his statement tonight, DR.. Muck
! says: 90,
a thing by itself and not related to any
! particular nation or group. therefore
/ il would be gross mistake vlo-
| lation OF the artistic taste and prin-
/ ciples. for such an organization as ours
q to play patriotic airs.
Does the public think that the Sym
/ phony Orchestra is a military band
or ballroom orchestra? No! The
symphony Orchestra is a classical mu-
F sical organization, composed Of the nm
est musicians, with varying tempera-
ments and cultivated tastes. To ask
them 10 play some compositions would
be almost an insult.
"Art is international. l have repre-
sentatives from twenty-five oiI3fehe
nationalities in my orchestra. sll me
nations at war arc represented. for
montbs | have tried TO keep peace
among them. So far have succeeded.
Ard / do not want to introduce any
thing that would destroy the esprit de
rorps which it has taken so lany
wears to bring to its present state c.
perfection.
"We want no consciousness of ma
tional differences in the orchestra. 10
introduce such a thing would disrupt
al organization which has been thirty
six years in the making.
/. Request Embarrassing"
"To ask US to play The Star
Snanglei Banner is embarrassing. IL
ia almost an insult. Such an attempt
would be destructive of the verv thing
Inc symphony stands for-musical art.
The public has no right TO demand H.
| am following Manager HigginsonS
wishes"
Major Henry L. Higginson, founder
and patron of the orchestra, writes as
follows:
"Let us consider the case. have
contracted with n band of musicians
for one year. and they depend on me
for their daily bread. have contract
ed with many audiences throughout the
country to give them many concerts or
a certain quality, played by the Bos-
ton Symphony Orchestra, its members
and its conductor being well known.
That is the contract.
"The tickets were sold as usual; that
is. very well. Not seat is to be had
IN New York and more are asked Tor
The orchestra, including DR.. Muck, mas
been greeted heartily as usual. There
are my obligations.
"A very few friends have said some
Gentle words TO me about the orches-
ira. and have stayed away. Sundry
brave % people have written TO me
unsigned letters, alleging this or.that'
and telling me to dismiss DR.. Muck.
who is an integral part OF the or
chestra.
"From three high sources the assur-
ances have come to me that notalhS
disloyal can be truly alleged against
anv member of the orchestra, whlch Is
composed Of a dozen Municipalities. one
high and excellent United States rv'l
officer told me personally that on no
account should ! dismiss re orSnes.ra
this in reply to question about 'he
matter"