New-York tribune., 1920-12-12
By H. E. Krehbiel

Participation IN the current celepra-
ticn Of the one hundred and fftieth an
niversary of the birth of hudwig Won
Beethoven comes with preaminent pro-
rriety from two Of New Yorks concert
institutions, the Philharm onic Society
and the Beethoven Association. The
former is the oldest orchestral organi-
cation in America, the latter the young
est. From its first concert, in 1912,
Gown to its latest the music of
Beethoven has been the firm founda-
tion on which the Philharmonic Society
has rested To it in its early years
fel! the ennobling task Of introducing
the great, the supremely great, COM
poser TO America.
This does not mean what the silly
and untruthful slogan of the society
(adopted from careless remark OF
Mr.. Hunekers> says: that "the history
Of the Philharmonic Orchestra is the
history OF music in America" II j.
far from that, for more than century
Of music in America had been write
into the records of operate, vocal and
orchestral life OF the country when the
Philharmonic Society came into eX
istence; and there have been influences
Of musical culture equally, If NOT more,
potent than those sent out from the
venerable organization.
Birth of Orchestral Music
But the statement is almost true if
limited to Beethoven's music and the
notion that a primitive agency which
endures and remains persistent and
consistent in its ministrations may be
looked upon as making the sum Of
similar agencies which follow it into
being. There was orchestral music in
the principal cities of the American
Atlantic Coast in the eighteenth CEN
tury, but it could know nothing Of
Beethoven, because he had not yet
come into its cognizance; no more in
here. American concerts were then as
ike those of Europe as peas in pod
The symphonies performed at them
were the symphonies of Haydn, Pleyel,
Gyrowetz and their fellows. Beethoven's S
first symphony had its first public
performance on April 2, 1900, in vi
emma; we do not know how long it was
in reaching the other European CAPT
tails, but II was not until March a.,
1854, that the Philharmonic Society per-
formed Il in New York. By that time,
however, all its successors were famil-
lar TO the society's lst. The second
was first heard in Vienna on April s.,
1909; in New York on April %, 1913;
the third ("Eroica") in Vienna in 1905,
In Leipsic in 1907, In London in 1914,
IN Paris in 1925 and in New York on
February i8, 1913
The fourth symphony was first played
a. the house Of Prince Lobkowitz in
Vienna in March, 1907; in London on
March II, 1921 (there is a possibility
oi an earlier performance) and in New
York On November "a, 1849. This was
s!ter all It's companions, except the
Hsst, had been heard at Philharmonic
concerts. The two may be said with
apologies to all good stepmothers) to
naYe always been treated az stepchil-
afen By New York's orchestras, as we'll
az those Of other world capitals. The
symphonies in G minor and the pas
'ofas spectively the fifth and sixth)
were produced together az a concert in
'isnna on December 22, 1908; the fifth
nSd ~ ar.t English performance on
fpHi 10, lsis, but had been tried two
years before By the London Philhar-
nonsc Society, whose members are said
% nave received the opening with
.@osnser apparently thinking it was
.a'ended To be comic" says Grovc); in
1Sns Habeneck gave it for the first
s.me a. Conseryatoire concert in
"Ss; II Was the first work played in
pubic BY the New York Philharmonic
'>'eissy, az the first concert Of the first
'sason On December 7, 1842.
Sixth Symphony in London
tas sizth symphony was perform ed
"a L>ndon AZ small concerts before It
,saehsd the programs Of the London
."iharmonic Society, in April, 1877;
.'s~ York heard il first from its Phil
harmonic on April 25, 1s4s.
tes us summarize the remaining
sses: The seventh symphony-~Vienna,
ssembeF 3, 1872; London. June 8,
ef'; New York, November II, 1s43,
''s hfss concer. os the Phiih&rmonic's