The New York herald., 1921-02-04
The Great Symphony Merger.

The merging of the oldest and the
youngest Of New York's major orches-
tras, the Philharmonic and the Ma
tional, into single organization is
musical event Of the first Importance
1t puts an end to wasteful and un-
satisfactory condition and it gives
promise of high artistic results on
an expense scale which guarantees
permanence.
Competition does not play the same
part In art that 1t does In economics;
1t means too often the dissipation of
effort into thin results and a division
of public interest and support. Such
division obviously makes for limita-
ton Of the resources upon which
progress and perfection--or the near
approach to them--depend. AS mat
ters stand, the present musical season
In this city Is somewhat too much
blessed with about 1S5 symphony con-
.certs Of high claim on public atten-
ton, not to speak OF the operas, the
minor organizations and lnnumerable
recitals by soloists of all sorts.
Plainly the number is too great.
Events are doubled up on many days,
audiences are often reduced. The
mere matter of rehearsals has become
difficult for the rival groups of musi-
clans. Above all, monetary strain
has existed which, even though ii
may not have been very much in evil
dence in the quality Of recent per-
formances, has been always paipa
BILE danger as regards the future.
The orchestras have depended In one
degree or another on being financed
by wealthy music lovers and were
never free from the anxieties insep-
arabic from such condition.
Reduction by one-third of the
bodies demanding support from the
public and depending on enlightened
llberallty to make good any deficit is
plainly step toward independence
and confidence. Concentration Of pub
lie patronage must Of necessity re-
duce the need of subsidies. Indeed,
the new condition is so hopeful that
its engineers see the possibility of ex-
panded work In the cause of good
music. They aim to put the new or
ganlzatlon In its field beside the Met
ropolitan Museum of Art, the Public
Library and the Museum of Natural
History as cultured force. Specif-
ically, they talk of great spring musl-
cal festivals in New York, given In
conjunction with the Metropolitan
Opera Company.
In fact, the possibilities OF the new
union are very great. 1t brings In,
IL not "all the talents" In New York
music, at any rate an impressive rep
resentation thereof. The planned CO.
operation with the opera company.
so far least fully outlined, is espe-
cially interesting. II suggests i'm
mense opportunities. The enterprise
Is in all respects in first class hands.
Messrs. MAcKAv and COOPER, who
have led in effecting the merger. are
judicious as we'll as enthusiastic anna
teurs Of music; so are Messrs. KAHN
and KREcH; indeed. the entire group
associated with them. Mr.. STBAN-
SKY Is TO maintain the fine and
steadily broadening standards OF the
old Philharmonic; WnLEM MENeEL-
nrRG. the eminent Dutch conductor.
will add his inspiration, and Mr.
BoDANzKy will contribute variety Of
Interpretation. a strong technical
leadership Is secured.
In the two hundred or so musicians
at present enrolled in the two orches-
tras there Is material for single
one second to none In the world. A
hundred excellent performers will find
themselves displaced momentarily at
the end Of the season; but the de-
mand for skilled players is 70 great