Evening star., 1950-08-06

CIlat CIle NdUlOnal symphony SuS-
tanning fund of $4,000 has been
completed is particularly hearten-
ing at this time. The money rep
resents the combined contribu-
tions of individuals, business firms,
clubs. civic bodies. Government
workers and members of the
armed forces. This just about
covers the various sections of city
life. It will stand as an outspoken
belief in the campaign slogan,
Music for Everybody" and a
united desire to see that the slogan
is fulfilled in reality.
The coming season will consist
of 26 concerts and Z children's
concerts. The latter are spon-
sored by leading business groups
and it is hoped to increase the
programs for youngsters to 10 next
year. For the regular series How
ard Mitchell, permanent con-
ductor. will share the directing
honors with four guest conductors,
Leopold Stokowski, Ernest Anser-
met, Leonard Bernstein and Paul
Galloway.
Stokowski and Bernstein will
conduct two concerts each on the
Wednesday series while Ansermet
will take the baton for Sunday
concert and for two of the
Wednesday series.
Galloway will direct the SYM
phony when the Washington and
Cathedral Choral Societies partici-
pate in one of the orchestra's
programs.
The Wednesday series is divided
into two groups of ten concerts
each. Six popular programs will
form the Sunday series.
From Modest Beginnings.
When the first concert was given
by the National Symphony under
Hans Kindler's direction in 1880,
the conductor said, in response to
compliments, mo, we're not a
great orchestra yet. but wait
give us time" For the first regu-
lar season in 1892. 81 people
contributed to the guarantee fund.
The subscribers grew to 402 the
next year and the slightly over
100000 required the third year
was gathered by 760 people.
This modest beginning de-
veloped with the years, some of
them good and some of them un-
predictable.
In spite of changing standards
of living and the consequent in
crease in expenditures. faith in
the need of a local symphony has
continued and each campaign has
come through finally with sue
cess.
This season more than $4,000
contributors guaranteed another
year of music.
First Effort Made in 1900.
Although the National SYM
phony is now in its Goth year of
existence, 1850 represents also the
50th anniversary of the first
serious effort made to establish a
symphonic group in this city. On
December 16, 1900. the late Capt.
William H. Santelmann, then
leader of the Marine Band, gave
concert which was hoped would
be the beginning of a regular
series of programs. He selected
the best men from his organiza-
ton and recruited additional
players from the musicians of the
city. The soloist was Martinus
Sieveking who played, from man
uscript and for the first time in
this country, a Rachmaninoff
piano concerto, whether the First
or Second was not mentioned. The
plans for a full season came to
naught.
Reginald de Koven used all his
social contacts and drew heavily
on his own funds to establish the
Washington Symphony Orchestra
two years later. Mr.. de Koven
conducted the first concert in the
National Theater on December 8,
1902. Divide Musin, violinist, was
the soloist in the Mendelssohn
concerto. Newspaper accounts of
the attendance said, Nearly the
entire orchestra was filled with
fashionable folk. Every foreign
legation was represented. So
many officers of the Government
were present that the gathering
resembled a cabinet reception.
Outside the theater the street was
filled with carriages for two
blocks"
Prominent Soloists Appeared.
During the three seasons de
Koven was able to keep the Sym
phony going, the soloists included
Paderewski. Ysaye, Eugene DIAL