New-York tribune., 1921-05-15
BY Fl. E. krehbiel

By II. r. MrehbIeA
Critical observers, honestly desirous
for the advancement Of high class
orchestral music in New York, but
convinced that such advancement is
contingent upon the development of
Intelligent appreciation ard refinement
Of taste, have long contended that the
greatest obstacle to the attainment of
sheir desires has been the multiplica-
ion of orchestras and orchestral con-
certs. If this be true, and it seems to
be, then the generously disposed men
and women who last year contributed
half million dollars to give the peo-
pie more concerts than they needed
for, at least, wanted--which means
mere than they were willing to pay
for) have done vain thing. e., more
or less a vain thing, for of course
ORCHESTRAL music to the extent that it
can be assimilated and enjoyed is a
cultural necessity. Now, why has New
Work had too many orchestras and too
many concerts heretofore? Why shall
we have too many concerts next year
,.sfor it is already apparent that we
shall have them unless a new motive
and better be injected into the plans
now making for the artistic uplift
Gf the community in the season of
i921-'22?
The answer to the first question has
lain on the surface of music's story
far years. The same answer applies
To the second, though it acquires a
Singular character in the light thrown
on it by the incidents of the season
Just ended, especially by the confes-
SION contained in the merging of the
National Symphony Orchestra in the
philharmonic Society. This revelation
was scarcely made, however, before
there was begun the formation of
plans for next year which preserve all
the questionable (not to call them
yfcious) elements Of the old activities.
Whether or not these plans will be
carried out in their entirety may not
be said. They are largely dependent
Upon a meeting of the minds of pro-
lhoters and players on questions of
labor raised by the attitude OF the
musicians union. Differences on this
Score have been growing more and
more acute as the would-be benefac-
tors of the art and. the public have
more and more persisted in ignoring
the lesson of experience and kept
themselves blind to the fact that in
art, as we'll as in commerce, the law
of supply and demand deserves obodi-
aRce.
4, Conductors and CIiques
We have always had cult of the
Etiua donna, generally also of the
first tenor at the opera. We have now
a cult of the orchestral conductor, and
this cult, in which women have lately
been the hierophants, is more injuri-
Gus than the other The new orches-
ira of last year was organized by la
dies TO exploit a man who had con-
vinced them that revelations in music
we're awaiting his call. Ignominious
failure came with the first concert;
but an enterprise had been set on foot,
financial obligations had been assumed,
and the orchestra was continued in ex-
istence. Though the season demon
strated its needlessness and futility, it
was not abandoned, but it's scope was
actually enlarged, so that other con-
ductors might be exploited. AS an
Organization of players it has now
been scrapped; but the conductors
have been piously preserved, and amid
the din Of its downfall was heard a
cry calling for support for an organi-
zation whose purpose, aside from the
elevation of the horn of still another
candidate for conductorial honors, ia
70 increase the number of orchestral
musicians. 1t is an old phenomenon,
though it has never been so fagrantly
exhibited as now. Forty years ago the
riavl cliques fought under the banners
of Theodore Thomas, DR.. Leopold Dam
rcsch and the Philharmonic Society
which organization remained in oppo-
sition TO those who contested its an
cient field until it effected truce
with Mr.. Thomas. Then came Mr.
Seidl, who had no sooner won fol
lowing than a project was put on foot
to set him in opposition to the Phil
hafmonic, whose concerts brought him
his highest honors in the concert field
Fer while after Mr.. Seidls death il
seemed as if the Philharmonic Society
would be left alone to widen its mis-
sion and better it's ministration. But
the Symphony Society was aroused
from its slumbers and the war of fac
tions was resumed, with Mr.. Walter
uamrosch again in the field. New
York has grown since then and per.
kaps 1t is proof OF its growth in musical
culture that Cat loss to their hackers
OF $500,000 in single season. we now
have at least four orchestral parties
in the field-Damroschites, Stransky.
ties, Bodanzkyites and Mengelbergians
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