Evening star., 1940-11-17

44lr NCDA 60 tOn44 vi A4ltoklo a
which will enter upon It's eleventh season
this winter" says
Sketch OF The Star Of Noyem-
I.Io,~L.,. Der Il 1890. was
originally developed
from the informal weekly meetings Of
four gentlemen in Georgetown in the
year 1877. These we're Messrs H. D.
Cooke. jr.; T. H Gibbs. c. s Hem and
Dr.. F S. Barbarin. AL were passionat tely
fond Of music and they used 10 come
together at the residence Of the late
Gov. Cooke for practice and mutual
improvement. Some Of their friends
learned Of this meeting and were gradu-
ally taken into the gatherings and the
( quartet grew in size until it formed
small orchestra. The object Of the
meetings. aside from the pleasure Of
congenial asSocist tlon, was that OF the
qualification and improvement 70 be
derived from the practical ano personal
study Of orchestral music, because az
that time the only chance Of hearing
such works performed was on the rare
occasions Of the Thomas concerts.
Meetings for similar purpose had
been held for many years al the residence
Of DR.. c.. W Pope and these TWO sets
Of musicians coalesced and the orchestra
increased its proportions. Al hat time
quite number OF professional musicians
playing instruments that offer no pecu-
liar inducements 10 amateurs used 70
attend the meetings when their other
engagements did not interfere. The large
" increasing attendance Of listeners from
among the friends Of the orchestra
suggested 10 Mr.. Cooke the propriety Of
forming an organization for the purpose
Of giving concerts. This was effected al
the Cooke mansion in Georgetown, with
Messrs. H. D. Cook as president; F s.
Barbarin, secretary; T. H Gibbs, treas
urer: 7. r Davis. librarian; z. W. Stone,
assistant librarian. and r. c. Bernays,
conductor.
The first concert was given al CurtiSs
Hall on January 19 1892. and admission
was charged TO oefray unavoidable eX-
penses. Financially this was not Sue
cess and then recourse was had 10 the
election Of passive members. An in
spection Of the list reveals the fact
that in the beginning il was MADE up
almost exclusively Of Georgetown people.
With the great increase II active mem
bership and the constant accession Of
Washington people TO the passive mem
bership. the accommodations Of Gusts
Hall became more and more insufficient,
and the orchestra was obliged 10 move
10 Washington.
The object Of the orchestra is that
Of educating themselves. their friends
and the public at large in the very en-
ticing study Of instrumental music. The
necessity for greater technical perfection
has. in the course Of time. rendered the
orchestra necessarily more professional
in its methods and the social IDEA has
TO a large extent been dropped out. In
the manner of selections presented the
orchestra was at first somewhat rudi-
nentary, the programs embracing moth
ing but HAYDN symphonies and light
music but the growth in numbers as
well as the expansion Of the horizon
Of artistic vision brought about gradual
change until in 1885 the selections were
exclusively standard works.
The society has at various times
received material financial aid from Mr..
H D Cooke. the late w. w. Curtis, and
Mr.. Frank B. Metzerott. The improve
ment of the orchestra under the leader
ship of Prof. Josef Kaspar has been
most marked. The work Of the orchestra
last year exhibited such gratifying
progress that it received liberal support
from the public, and its season closed
with pleasant anticipations Of what
might be expected this winter. II is the
intention of Prof. Kaspar and the
members of the orchestra that these
anticipationS shall be realized and those
who have listened TO recent rehearsals
are satisfied that the Georgetown
Orchestra viii. this season excel al its
former efforts and prove itself an or
Eanizstlon Of musicians Of which
Washington uasy well be proud"