The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1944-07-22

- ~ ~ 49, 10K2
| The Metropolitan District Com
missioner explained that the
State had no funds for the
maintenance of the concerts.
When Mr.. Fielder explained
that he wa bringing in the
musicians at no expense to the
state, the Commissioner found
a small fund which was used to
build a hooded wooden stage.
INAUsPICIoUS DEBUT
The first concert was given
on July 4, 1929. The orchestra
of as Symphony players found
their music stands juggling az
tn stage shook with the vibra-
ton as they played. There was
a stiff breeze which lifted the
music of their stands, and
waited much of it into the
Charles. For a few moments
the orchestra and the audience
were busy in a frantic effort to
save the scores. Then those who
had music shared with the
others, and with true Boston
Symphony discipline they con-
tinued the concert.
POPULARITY INCREASED
But even after such an it,
suspicious beginning, Arthur
Fielder and the music lovers of
Boston were not discouraged.
Other concerts were given and
people fiocked to them, despite
predictions that the public
was interested only in band
concerts. Five years later the
state financed the construction
of a large more substantial
shell Of steel lined with wood.
THE HATCH SHELL
The story of the construc-
ton Of the present shell be-
gins with the will Of the late
Maria Hatch which provided
fund, which when enough
money had been accumulated
should be used to create a
beauty spot in Bosom as me-
mortal to her brother Edward
Hatch. The fund had been we'll
administered and had increas-
ed, but nothing had been done
about spending it The origin
al administrators died and new
ones appointed, who considered
many proposals from hospitals
and libraries to clinics and
Fairgrounds. They were always
confronted with the problem
that the fund did not provide
for the maintenance of the
beauty spot.
Arthur Fielder brought the
attention of he trustees of the
fund to the Esplanade Con-
certs, which were running
themselves, but needed a better
and bigger stage to house the
orchestra and provide for bet
ter acoustics. The suggestion
was publicized in the news
papers and received such fay
orable public comment that the
trustees used the $27O,O0O fund
to build the present beautiful
Hatch Memorial Shell. Con-
Structed of granite lined with
teakwood, the shell can remain |
open all winter because teak is
impervious to rain and snow
and is exceptionally durable. |
The rear of the shell is made |
of terrazzo and beneath the |
shell, underground are Offices
of the conductor and orchestra
librarian, a rehearsal room,
promenade where the players |
may tune their instruments
and warm up and IA rooms |
where players may practice
undisturbed
LIST OF PATRONS GROWS
The support of the concerts
has gradually come to rest up |
on an increasing number OF |
small contributions instead of |
the relatively small number Of .
patrons who guaranteed the |
early series. Letters aecompan-
led by checks are received from |
servicemen in distant camps, |
acknowledging their enjoy !,
ment of the concerts when |
they were in Boston and ex-
pressing their wish to make a /
small contribution towards
their continuance. Some of the
original patrons of the Esplan
ade concerts heard them for
the first time during the past
two summers when wartime
travel conditions made it inn
possible for them to leave their
Back Bay homes for trips
abroad or to summer homes
on the North and South shores.
Enthusiastic as they had been
at the project, they were even
more impressed when they
heard the concerts and saw