Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-10
NOW MY IDEA is THIS!
Daily Talks With Thinking Phladepans on Subjects They
KnoU Best

will be somewhat lighter than that Of
symphonic concert, but will be music of the
very best class.
There is a very large orchestral litera-
ture which does not lend itself to perform.
ance at symphony concerts Of the highest
type, but which is music Of great appeal
and which meets the highest standard Of re-
guirements at every point except that, by
intrinsic nature, 1t does not fit into
symphonic program. This Is the music
ccrts.
The Symphony Nights
1T must be distinctly understood that
there is to be no playing down or playing
not necessary. The Philadelphia public is
fully as well educated musically as that of
any city in the country; the appreciation of
good music is fully as great here, if not
actually greater than 1t is in New York or
said that they consider the Philadelphia
audiences the most critical of any city in
the United States.
For this reason, II for no other, It will
be necessary to give the audiences which
assemble in the Park the very best music
which can be secured, and it must be con-
Quoted and played in the very best man
ner; Nothing else would be tolerated by
Philadelphia: Fortunately there Ia an
abundance Of music of the best type which is
admirably adapted to such concerts as those
which we have in view. -.
There will be noe regular symphony
night each week, on Friday evening. 1t is
symphonic programs throughout, not be.
cause there is any fear that the audiences
would not understand and appreciate them,
but because the symphony, by its very
nature, does not lend itself to out of doors
performance, where much of the delicacy
OF the composition and orchestration could
not be adequately brought home to the
hearers. But Philadelphia has not forgotten
the symphonic nights which the late Fritz
Sen Scheel Introduced at the time of his first
fhiiadeiphla appearance, events which. I
am told, us l was not resident of Phia
delphia at that time, played an important
part in the organization of what later grew
into the Philadelphia Orchestra.
The Other Numbers
There are certain symphonies which bv
the nature OF their musical texture and
Orchestrat.Jn, can be effectivel, prodnced
at such concerts as those which we shall
give, and from these the symphonies to he
aSea Of on ssraay evenings will be
Third and Fourth Of Beethoven the Rustic
wedding the symphonic suite, 'Schehera
zade,' and number of others.
For the other numbers. there are m.nv
oyGrtures OF the lighter type musically er.
Sellcht. excerpts from operas and a vast
host OF miscellaneous numbers from which
beautiful be- programs. may be constructed
There need be no fear that anv orcbasts.
will play over the heads of any pb;IoSol
phia audience today; our problem is not
that, but the selection of those nnmho"s "s
which are best adapted to open air per.
Naturally. we expect these concerts N
be very popular. do not know of any other
American city where municipal orchestral
concerts are being given or where thev are
even contemplated. There are many. in.
cluding our own city. where municinai hand
concerts are given. but the orchestral con.
J cer1 Is aeparture which may mark a new
steal life:, With the greatest public narl,
In the United States and the rreatnSt pnsa
orchestra, there is no reason whv . co,mt
bination of the two should not prove 70 he