Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-22
THE CRITIC TALKS
TO MUSIC LOVERS
Weekly Comment on Things
Musical in Discriminating
Philadelphia

T5yHE newly organized Philharmonic
4 Society, which gave It's first orches-
tral concert at the shubert Theatre last
Sunday evening, may. II Its energies are
directed into the proper channels, play
an important part In the musical life
of Philadelphia. OF course. rivalry with
the Philadelphia Orchestra Is not
thought Of, and as a matter of fact is
Impossible for reasons so many and SO
obvious that 1t is unnecessary even to
mention them. However, there are
many functions which It Is impossible
for the Philadelphia Orchestra to per-
form and which at the same time are
essential to the development of the
music of the city that may we'll come.
within the scope and aims of the Phil
harmonic.
There is certainly room In a city the
size of Philadelphia for an orchestra
which shall give limited number of
concerts during the season for a reason
able membership fee, especially IL they
shall be given at times when the Phil
adelphia Orchestra cannot give them.
. The enthusiasm with which the first
concert of the Philharmonic was re-
ceived Is proof that the field exists. Also
1t was a more or less silent but i'm
pressive protest against the continuance
of the laws which forbid concerts on
Sunday.
DUT the chief reason for existence Of
- the Philharmonic Society is that It
can do valuable service In the advance
ynent of the musical interests of the
city, which, for variety of reasons,
the Philadelphia Orchestra cannot per-
form.
For example, the philharmonic Or
n ty~o OatSI1 ~ nf "a
zach year grant hearing to the winner
of the Stokowski medal Of that year.
4 This Is one of the things which the
Philadelphia Orchestra cannot reason
4 ably be expected to do. The Philadel-
phia Orchestra Is unquestionably one
4 OF the great orchestral bodies OF the
world it's audiences. especially on Sat-
urday night, are extremely critical and
demand the best. both in orchestral play
ing and in soloists. that not only Phil
adelphia, but the whole world can pro-
duce.
It is no disparagement to the win
ners Of the Stokowski medal to say that
at that particular stage of their careers
they are simply finished students, with
z out that poise, stage-bearing and concert
knowledge which comes only from per-
formances either with orchestras or
after many public recital experiences
In fact, 1t Is the students whom the
medal Is designed to encourage and
help, and that, as the writer understands
II, was Mr.. Stokowskis idea In Offering
II annually Through no fault OF their
2 own they lack the experience which Is
required to enable a soloist to perform
h a concerto faultlessly with strange
orchestra before hyper-crltlcai
audience, with only a single rehearsal,
or to meet the emergencies which arise
at almost every performance OF soioist
with an orchestra
MYTH the foregoing in mind. 1t Will
w be readily seen that, with the de-
mands for only the most finished soio-
I lists, 1t is manifestly impossible for the
4 Philadelphia Orchestra to guarantee q
hearing at a regular symphony concert
to the winners Of the medal. no matter
how much talent they possess. Other re-
y qulrements, which none but the expert
enced solost has, are necessary.
But herein lies the possibilities of the
Philharmonic Society. There is always a
keen public interest in the winner OF
the medal which Mr.. Stokowski presents.
and a concert at which the successful
contestant appeared would be sure to
draw a very large audience from the
professional musicians themselves as
n
not follow the art professionally. and
thus rebound to the benefit of the So
ciety as well as perform a very real
service for Philadelphia music. If, as
time goes on. Mr.. Stokowski should un-
earth genius at the annual contests, Of
whose ability. and poise he feels suffi-
ciently secure 10 put him or her on as
soloist at regular symphony concert,
SO much the better, but in the mean
time the Philharmonic can stimulate
musical interest here by adopting the
plan suggested.
TN MANY other ways the Philhar-
+ i monic Society can Justify its ex-
tstence as body which can do things
musical which the Philadelphia Orches-
ira cannot do One of these is in the
performance Of the works Of Philadel-
phia composers An excellent beginning
In this line has been made in this, its
first year. for at the next two concerts
y orchestral works of Mr.. Hedda van den
Beemt and Mr.. Camille w. Zeckwer
4 Will be given. Both Of these compost
tions have been presented by Mr. Sto-
kowski at regular symphony concerts of
Z the Philadelphia Orchestra, which alone
Is an ample guarantee of their musical
merit. The writer understands that It
3 is the intention of the Philharmonic So
SActy " CoHtlilue tElS WORK and give
as many orchestral compositions of To-
< cal composers as shall be found to have
sufncient merit and as the season of
x the society will permit.
To a. certain extent the same situa-
tion prevails with the WORKS Of Philadel.
Y phia composers as in the case of the
Stokowski medal winners There must
be many compositions for orchestra
written by our own musicians which
cannot pass the rigid test to which Mr.
Stokowski Is obliged to put them for
presentation on the regular symphony
programs of the PHILADELPHIA Orches.
4 ira, but which would be entirely In place
on the necessarily lighter programs
which the philharmonic will give. Tc
z present such of these as have sufficient
merit Is to encourage not only the com.
poser. but also every other compose,
IN tfe city, who then knows that hi,
work II good enough, will have a hear,
ing. To this end. an arrangement MICH,
pc made with the Manuscript Society hy
which such compositions would b,
brought to the attention of the eoyou,,
ing body Of the Philharmonic Soeietv
CTILL another way in which tba ~
Sranization might be useful is IN the
ENCOURAGEMENT of Philadelphia soIoists
in this respect 1t was a bit ,disappoint,
Ing to some to see that a new Yor,
4 singer was the soloist at the first con
y cert, and 1t Is no reflection on her I'm
questioned abilities to say that there are
many local singers who could bays
taken the role of soloist quite a q uaIr