New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-30
A Princely Music Patron

to the orchestra which must remain his
monument, though he ASSOCIATED him
self from it in his lifetime and left
no provision for its perpetuation in his
will, has never been told. The two
concerts Of the orchestra In Boston
on November Fl and % were announced
on the program as "In Memory of
Henry Lee Higginson, Founder and
Sustainer Of the Boston Symphony Or
chestra." There was nothing of COM
memorative or funeral character in the
music, which consisted of Schuberts
Symphony in B minor, Brahms's Con-
certo in B fat for pianoforte, and
Beethoven's minor Symphony. The
compositions were probably peculiarly
dear to the heart of the dead man, and
therein may have lain the reason for
their choice. The implication lies
near, but ! do not know. In the ammo
tated program Mr.. Hale printed the
announcement which Major Higginson
published in April, 1881, telling of the
establishment Of the organization,
short excerpts from historical sketch
written by the late ". F. Apthorp on
the occasion Of the thirtieth anniver-
sary of the orchestra, IN September
1911, and still shorter tribute
70 the dead man from Mr..
Hale himself. In this tribute
it is said: Major Higginson, as Il
young man, studied music and formed
a musical taste, but he did not allow
his own taste TO dictate a program -
Then follow some words of apt and elo-
quent appreciation, but couched in the
conservative tone which their object
might have approved had he been will
ing to approve of anything spoken to
his glorifcation. Major Higginson did
not emblazon his public monuments
with laudatory legends. All of them
bodied forth his loves, however
and none more sturdily than the Sym
phony Orchestra. He was a bencfactor
Of Harvard University. As youth he
studied there but did not complete the
course. He made essay in commercial
life. but found it not to his taste He
had something of the artistic tenn
permanent and love for music per-
suaded him that he ought to adopt it
as vocation. What field ought he 70
enter doubt II he knew. He dreamed
of being a conductor possibly com
poser. He went to Vienna and formed
friendships with men who distinguished
themselves in various ways-wth
Julius Epstein. who became professor
of the pianoforte at the Conservatory;
with Boehm, the violinist; with Muller
Won Eichholz and his brother, who be-
came so fanatical devotee OF johann
mes Brahms that on the death of that
great composer he bought the farm
house which he had occupied at lschl
and with its contents, down to the
floors hallowed by the touch of the feet
of genius, stocked the Brahms Museum
at Gmundcn; with Professor GRIN, and
Hillmesberger These were young
men then and their associations were
not always marked by artistic strivings.
In the personal effects left by Major
Higginson ] make no doubt there arc
evidences of financial help given TO
one or the other of them for which
their artistic help was not always an
equivalent. He studied counterpart
and pianoforte and probably learned
enough of the science and art Of music
to steady the musical taste Of which
Mr.. Hale made mention.
Genesis Of the Boston Orchestra
When he had put aside his youthful
ambition and become successful
banker, Major Higginson's love for
music blazed up in creative potency
Boston had been dependent for orches-
trail music upon the Harvard Musical
Association and occasional visits By
the Theodore Thomas Orchestra for
seventeen years. Major Higginson did
not think the public or the art well
served, and when admiration for Mr..
(now Sir George Hcnschel took pos
session Of his soul in 1881 he pub
lished his purpose permanently TO es-
tablish an orchestra on new and pro-
grcssive system. Hcnschel was thor
ough musical artist, an admirable sing
er (albeit one with a bad voice.,
fair composer. an accomplished, intel
lcctual, serious minded gentleman. No
doubt Major Higginson overestimated
his ability as conductor. which was
the qualification most needed for the
new Undertaking. The fact is ne had
little or no experience in the field; But
he embraced the opportunity to learn
and after three years OF the training
which Major Higginson's enthusiastic
made possible he was
much finer musician than when he first
visited America. Moreover, he had
confirmed Major Higginson in his
lofty purpose. There was much caviling
with his work, but new spirit had
been awakened in Boston.
Mr.. Henschel conducted the orches-
ira for three seasons and then re-
turned to Europe. He may have car
ried away with him some questionings
touching the amount Of good which he
had done in Boston. but no doubts at
Ill concerning the benefits which Bos-