Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-02
Music in Richmond
BY JOHN GEORGE HARRIS
The Philharmonic orchrstrn.
BY JOHN CE,

While the first concert Of tho Phil
harmonic Orchestra is Il matter OF local
history. yet il may not be :inisS to, re-
view its present debu; with a few adj
ditional words OF comment upon some
aspects of tho event. The cXigcncies
oil newspaper publication. limited space
and crowded columns. forbade our dis
cussinS the concert with quite the
depth OF detail which We would like to
have devoted TO II.
There are some matters OF prime i'm
portancc which never reach the nrsi
page. Likewise. there are other
equally nomcutous affairs which can
never be eXhaust!veIy treated, OF
course. points OF view differ as 10 the
.clutive Importance of many items OF
EcwS. We may Imagine Doctor John
son saying TO his man Boswell: My
IN which wc are not personally inter
cstcd. we think is nonsense. Space
should be given 10 matters in which
you and | axe Interested, and 20 little
o+sc.' whether readers were Interested
in as many diverse matters III john
sons day as in THIS day of ours, We do
not know, but human nature and hu-
inan inclinations were probably not
greatly different.
Considering the relatively short time
which was available TO the members Of
The Philharmonic Orchestra and Mr.
Baker. it's conductor. and considering;
many other things. as the wai-us might
have said to the carpenter, the Initial
appearance Of the orchestra prcsngcd
excellent Things 20 come. Candidiy.
the concert was one of the most in
tercstlng NC have locally attended.
! Wisely enough. great effects were not
attempted, leaving that for the future.
Cerebral effects. as iiunckcr terms
Il musical score ana "a deep knowledge
% harmony and composition to be
Pleasantly entertained. If future pro-
grams are as well planned. the Phil
harmonic VIII be iinmcnSc.: popular.
While the programmed artists were
prevented from appearing, excellent
substitutes were provided. Mrs. How
mieh,ily win her 6eautifu!. t ciear
quality OF voice. easily equal to and
:s.Vy.,, n; the diHl9nitieS of the
me MI chiainanD MIMI tMy Name
~ MIND from ;he same composer 5
hohcme. Her top notes were brilliant
Indeed, ana the Academy stage has not
held Il more gifted singer within re-
cent memory. II Mrs Cook continues
10 improve IN he same ratio, the future
Il was q matter Of satisfaction that
Richmond has Il tenor able TO sing the
operate songs as Mr.. Blake sang Their,
on "Wednesday night Ills ''M'appart'
from Martha Vas given with resonance
and authority, with pois. and assur-
ance. TN sing Thee Songs of Araby''
'''.S '''t'S 't'fi = tIi'N'Nt u' b3idl!lc Win
concert tcnOrs, ana as a song for the
tenor, lyric OF dramatic, il has few /.
any. supcIIors.
As We have said before IN this co!
uinn. the Philharmonic Orchestra is a
! !pch! movement that demands uni ed
support W!;h less competition than i:
/ had on Wednesday evening. the Acad
cny would doubtless have been quite
hllcd. Richmond lovers OF music APP
nfeciatc juS' What a good orchestra
I VIII mean to the cultural lie OF the
CITY There exists no reason why the
present organization. properly MUIR
tured, should not grow into a na:.,i.
nrent local institution