Evening star., 1933-05-28
>HE National Symphony Or
chestra is assured to the

VINO nave 1OllOWeQ JIle SlOW up-
ward creeping of the guarantee
fund with anxious eyes and read
each bulletin that has been issued
with apprehension as to the ultl-
mate outcome. Eight symphony
concerts, eight Sunday afternoon
concerts, four children'S and four
students concerts are on the
schedule for the coming Winter.
The music public of Washington
can feel pride and relief alike at
this announcement. However, 1t
is possible that the deeper sig
nificance of this victory has eS-
capped the attention of many. The
fact that the symphony will be
able to continue its "a concerts
next season may seem simply a
pleasant addition to the musical
menu already in the process of
planning. There may be luke
warm pride in the fact that an
undertaking once begun and hav-
ing two years of life to its credit
was not permitted to 60 out of
existence and the good work
thrown on the scrap heap with
many other worthy endeavorS. 1t
may be selfish satisfaction that
the music one loves and likes to
hear can continue to be so acceS-
Sible in the usual comfortable way
as regards dates of concerts and
admission fee. Now, that is not
all. These reactions are but the
froth that rests lightly on the
more solid substance underneath.
1t means that for the first time
the entire city has been united
to make a musical venture pos
sible. 1t means that the support
of the orchestra has passed out
of the hands of any group of
wealthy and civic minded indi-
viduals, beyond the directing of a
single generous art patron, un-
supported by the civic government
and right into the hands and
hearts of its biggest audience, the
general public. 1t means that the
cultivation of music has seemed
sufficiently important that in this
time OF stress, sacrifices are will
ingly made that the greatest edu-
Gator a city can have could con-
tinue to function. 1t means that
the finer things of life are assum-
ing Importance in the daily con-
Sideration of ways and means and
that the desire is there to include
them in the substantial building
for the future.
The people of Washington have
just made musical history. From
all sides the opprobrious COM
ment has been heard, washing
ton is the only Capital of the
world SO backward in musical en-
terpriSe." That can never be said
again, for something has been
done in this city this month that
Berlin, Paris or London would be
hard put to equal. There are
many memories of other SYM
phony orchestra ventures in this
city, but to save the life of none
of them have the citizens united
as has been done for the Ma
tional Symphony. This is a mu-
Sical Declaration of independence
from the constant "SlingS and
slurs' with which the entire
country has abased its Capital,
for, at least, there is in existence
a symphony orchestra for the
people, by the people and of the
people. If this seems eXaggera-
tion, here are facts verbatim from
Manager C. c. CappePs office:
Donations to the orchestra's
fund this year ranged from 81 to
$4,000 and all were cordially well
coined. Letters were received from
music teachers, teachers in public
schools, inclosing gifts from chill
dren. One person sent a note
accompanying her subscription
to the sustaining fund, saying
that it was money that had been
put aside for a dress, but the
orchestra was more important
Civic and cultural groups re-
Sponded enthusiastically, many
groups taking a $25 voting mem
berShip in the Orchestra ASsocia-
tion and several raising many
hundreds of dollars. AS was
pointed out by Mrs. Edwin
Parker, vice chairman of the
Woman's Committee, small dona-
tionS, in a way, are exactly what
the orchestra needs most because
they indicate a vital interest in
the life of the orchestra among
persons who would ordinarily,
and in other cities, not be called
on to support such venture"
"All this" said Dr.. Hans Kin
dler before he left for Europe a
fortnight ago to conduct Sum-
mer series of concerts at The
Hague, Indicates that the people
of Washington want the orchestra
and want it to become one of the
great orchestraS of the country" ="
There is no reason why this
should not be so for already it is
an unusual organization in sew
eral ways. It was born in depreS-
sion times and has thrived when
other similar organizations are
diSbanding or having a struggle to
keep going. 1t has a smaller
operating deficit than any other
orchestra in the country; 1t has
played to larger audiences than
any other orchestra in the coun-
try except tWo-the New York and
the Philadelphia orcheStraS.
1t is interesting to know how
the work of financing the orches-
ira has been accomplished and
who were responsible for this
years triumph, at least. The first
two years the fund was raised by
a small group of music lovers who
enthusiastically banded them
selves together under the title of
the Woman'S Committee of the
National Symphony orchestra.
This year, however, a National
Symphony Orchestra Association
was formed and in it the Woman's
Committee took prominent place
It was enlarged and subdivided
so that the city could be well can