Twenty-five Years of the Philadelphia Orchestra

1900-1925

By Frances Anne Wister

PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE WOMEN’S COMMITTEES FOR THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA

Copyright 1925 Frances Anne Wister

Edward Stern & Company. Inc. PRINTERS AND ENGRAVERS PHILADELPHIA

TO ALEXANDER VAN RENSSELAER, Esq.

DEVOTED TO THE CAUSE OF MUSIC IN THIS CITY AND FIRST AND ONLY PRESIDENT OF THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION

FOREWORD

This story of the Philadelphia Orchestra has been written during the past few months, for the friends and supporters of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association.

My endeavor has been to give the account in a simple form and to use the Appendix for the statistics which should be recorded at a Twenty-fifth Anniversary.

Frances Anne Wister

October, 1925

Acknowledgments

With much appreciation of their assistance I desire to thank:

The Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association and The Women’s Committees for the Philadelphia Orchestra, who have made it possible to publish this book.

Mr. Arthur Judson, Mr. Louis A. Mattson, Miss Ruth O’Neill, Miss E. M. Russell of the Philadelphia Orchestra Office.

Dr. Edward I. Keffer.

Frances Anne Wister

October, 1925

Twenty-five Years of the Philadelphia Orchestra 1900-1925

Contents

Part I

CHAPTER I 3

A Road One Hundred and Fifty Years Long

Music in Philadelphia before 1900.

CHAPTER II 16

The Last Turn of the Road

The finding of Fritz Scheel at Woodside Park. The Philadelphia Symphony Society. The Philippine Concerts. First Concert 1900. Sketch of Scheel. The formation of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association.

CHAPTER III 31

Early Years

Financial difficulties. Incorporation 1903. The Beethoven Cycle. The Richard Strauss Concerts. Popular Concerts.

CHAPTER IV 47

The Women’s Committees

The Women’s Committees in Harrisburg, Allentown, Lancaster and Trenton. The Women’s Committee and the First Ten Thousand. The Germantown and Chestnut Hill Women’s Committee. The West Philadelphia Women’s Committee. The Media, Chester and West Chester Women’s Committee. Committees in Delaware (Wilmington), Baltimore, Washington and Atlantic County.

CHAPTER V 62

The Guarantors and the Guarantee Fund

CHAPTER VI 71

The Death of Fritz Scheel

Illness and Death of Fritz Scheel. The Memorial Tablet to Scheel. The Musical Record.

Part II

CHAPTER I 89

The Next Step

Engagement of Carl Pohlig as Conductor. Sketch of Pohlig. The Musical Record.

Part III

CHAPTER I 99

The Coming of Leopold Stokowski

The engagement of Leopold Stokowski 1912. First programme. The Mahler Symphony. The Philadelphia Orchestra Chorus.

CHAPTER II 113

The Seven Year Endowment Fund

Dissatisfaction with the Guarantee Fund. The proposition of the “Unknown Donor,” 1916.

CHAPTER III 116

The Orchestra During the World War

Presentation of Flags by Women’s Committees. Concert at Camp Dix. Red Cross Benefit Concert. The Liberty Loans.

CHAPTER IV 122

The Twentieth Anniversary Million Dollar Endowment Fund Campaign

CHAPTER V 139

Twenty Years of Progress

Twentieth Anniversary 1920. Presentation of Silver Tankard to the President.

CHAPTER VI 143

Musical Neighbors

The co-operation of musical associations with the orchestra. Philanthropic undertakings.

CHAPTER VII 148

The Support of the Public Press

CHAPTER VIII 150

The Listeners

CHAPTER IX 155

The Twenty-fifth Anniversary

A General Survey.

CHAPTER X 163

The Point of The Story

IN MEMORIAM 170

Appendix

APPENDIX A 178

Charter of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association

APPENDIX B 180

Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Orchestra 1900-1901

APPENDIX C 181

Officers and Directors of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association 1900-1925

APPENDIX D 191

The Guarantors of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association 1900-1901

APPENDIX E 193

Summary of Concerts by the Philadelphia Orchestra Seasons 1900-1901 to 1924-1925 Inclusive

APPENDIX F 201

Conductors Personnel of the Philadelphia Orchestra 1900-1925 Personnel of the Philadelphia Orchestra Chorus 1920-1921 Managers Office Staff

APPENDIX G 216

Assistant Conductors. Guest Conductors Organizations That Have Appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Soloists Who Have Appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra

APPENDIX H 228

Some of the Principal Players in the Various Sections of the Philadelphia Orchestra

APPENDIX I 232

Partial List of “First Performances” in America

APPENDIX J 234

Programmes of Six Concerts of the Philadelphia Orchestra 1900-1901

APPENDIX K 237

The Women’s Committees for the Philadelphia Orchestra

APPENDIX L 242

Announcement of Children’s Concerts

APPENDIX M 244

Philadelphia Permanent Orchestra Prospectus March 3, 1899

APPENDIX N 250

Literature of Early Days

Illustrations

Alexander Van Rensselaer, Esq. Opposite 16

Fritz Scheel Opposite 31

Mrs. Alexander J. Dallas Dixon Opposite 48

Scheel Memorial Tablet Opposite 85

Carl Pohlig Opposite 90

Leopold Stokowski Opposite 100

Philadelphia Orchestra and Mahler Chorus Opposite 105

Endowment Fund Memorial Tablet Opposite 126

Endowment Fund Memorial Tablet Opposite 128