Evening star., 1933-02-12
The National Symphony
Washington's Own 'Chid' of an Orchestra Needs
Careful Nonrishment and Its Friends Must
Face the Facts" Says Mrs. Howe.

piece of music that makes a moving
impression on you, even II you skate
fearfully over a piece Of thin Ice with
the rest of the orchestra. REST Of the
orchestra" is right. You are part of
it when its your orchestra. RESPONSE
BILE for it; suffering with 1t; glorying
in 1t. No matter how badly it Is treat
ed, how roughly played. or how per-
fectly, how soullessly. with what con-
viction, or what dullness-the music is
always there. 1t scars above audi
ences, contributors, conductor, orches-
ira and box office receipts. You can
insult 1t, adore it, defame it and strive
for 1t, it's still aloft in a serene atmos-
there when the National Symphony
and the Boston Symphony, alike, may
be buried in oblivion with David's harp
and the first Gregorian chants Let's
be proud to be community striving
for the level to look it in the eye and
be comforted!
Every Ticket Is a Help.
To put our feet on the ground again,
we are cheerfully confronted with the
undeniable fact that we are in a more
advanced and stable state than any
other second year orchestra discover
able. This is, however, only reassuring
If we admit the responsibility thereby
entailed; It is up to us to keep on.
Every ticket bought is help. Every
II we could fill all our houses we would
be well on the road. At the same
time. empty seats In Constitution Hall
do not necessarily mean a small audi
ence. Full. it holds 3,844: and at our
apparently most sparsely attended
earlier concerts we never had less than
1900 and that rarely More often,
1900, 1900 or 1000 when it looked
slim-audiences that would have filled
or burst the National Theater where
the Philadelphia Orchestra gave away
some Of its early seats. Whether from
belief in music: hunger for it; belief
in other folks need for it; belief that
children are better grown-ups for
knowing it; civic pride, or merely curl
osity, or even from doubt, let's buy
experiment a fair chance, or help make
it certainty.
Musicians may well feel the gravity
OF the situation when the Philharmonic
plans to leave us and we may not have
the inestimable privilege Of Toscanini.
Not that competition enters in Who
are we to speak of Toscanini except
with bated breath? We did not drive
him out. The same practical touch
earlier indicated is responsible. The
Philharmonic is also quitting Baltimore
next season and there they have had
their own civic orchestra for years also
playing. and to packed houses. On the
contrary, we are keeping the flame
burning with our National Symphony,
and, as a public, will know far better
how to listen tp the Philharmonic here,
If 1t should ever come back.
Your orchestra Is neither above nor
beneath criticism; it was born in hard
times; it has unquestionably made
astonishing strides in musical value;
unquestionab this Is not a patch on
what 1t can do in continuing: unques-
tionably it can not make proportionate
progress on its present slender budget.
Even let it have one-third what other
orchestras have and it can show you.
Admit you don't want to do without
1t and stand by. But find out all you
can about it. There is no mystery.
There is an answer to every question
Face the facts!