Literature of Early Days
First Circular Announcing The Philadelphia Orchestra
Mailed in September, 1900, to About 4000 People
THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA
85 Performers
Mr. Fritz Scheel, Conductor
A series of six Symphony Concerts will be given at the Academy of Music during the season of 1900-1901, on the following dates: Friday evening, November 16; Friday evening, December 14; Friday evening, January 18; Friday evening, February 8; Wednesday evening, March 6; Friday evening, April 19.
Soloists of the first rank will assist at the concerts, and names will be announced as soon as pending engagements have been made.
The prices of season tickets, with reserve seats to the six concerts, are: Boxes with six seats $75; boxes with four seats $50; other seats $8, $6 and $4; proscenium boxes on application.
Sale of seats to holders of Patronesses’ Cards will begin at Miss Harris’s office, No. 1115 Chestnut Street, on Wednesday morning, October 10, at 9 o’clock.
The series announced above is the outgrowth of two Symphony Concerts given last winter for the benefit of sufferers by the Philippine War. The committee in charge was the auxiliary to the committee of ladies who supervised the Philippine concerts, and it is intended that the management of the series of the coming season shall be generally the same. To cover expenses of the concerts a guarantee fund has been subscribed, the amount of which is sufficient to meet the requirements of the present undertaking; but it is hoped that our people will give the concerts such liberal support as to prevent a deficit at the end of the season.
The Philippine concerts proved the availability of many of our resident musicians for work of the highest grade, and the committee has undertaken the task of organizing this series of concerts because it believes that with a sufficient number of rehearsals, under capable direction, our home players will be able to render great orchestral compositions efficiently and acceptably.
Mr. Scheel will insist upon frequent and thorough rehearsals of the music; and no labor nor expense will be spared to make the work of preparation complete and the musical results wholly satisfactory.
The committee feels, however, that without a widely spread interest among the people of Philadelphia, its chief object would not be realized. That object is largely to promote the musical culture of the city, and to improve its status as a center of musical effort. Therefore, an appeal is made to every Philadelphian who understands what this undertaking may mean to the city’s future musical life for active interest and co-operation.
Most useful help can be given to the movement by making its object known to friends and acquaintances; all personal effort will be an effective aid to the committee’s work.
Whether or not the receipts equal the expenses of the concerts, it is the hope of the committee that this movement for music in Philadelphia will receive hearty encouragement and support from every one who has a pride in the city’s artistic life.
| Committee: | |
| Henry Whelen, Jr. | |
| John C. Sims | |
| Edward G. McCollin | |
| Oscar A. Knipe | |
| Dr. Edward I. Keffer | |
| Oliver Boyce Judson | |
| John H. Ingham, Secretary, | |
| 508 Chestnut Street. |
Circular Letter Mailed to Patronesses Who Had Not
Purchased Tickets About Ten Days Before Sale
to Public, October, 1900:
THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA
85 Performers
Mr. Fritz Scheel, Conductor
The Management of the Philadelphia Orchestra wishes to inform those interested in the concerts that the sale of season tickets has progressed most favorably. Of the forty-nine boxes forty-one have been sold, and about thirteen hundred seats have been taken. There now remain unsold but 140 seats in the Parquet, 103 in the Parquet Circle and 76 in the Balcony. Prompt application at Heppe’s Piano Rooms, 1115 Chestnut Street, will be necessary to secure choice places. Should these seats be disposed of, there will, of course, be no sale of reserved seats for single concerts.
Such widespread support is the best proof that the public of Philadelphia has undoubted faith, not only in the musical ability of Mr. Scheel and his men, but also in the value of this effort to advance the cause of orchestral music in our community. The attitude of the musical profession toward the project is clearly set forth in the enclose circular.
| Committee: | |
| Henry Whelen, Jr. | |
| John C. Sims | |
| Edward G. McCollin | |
| Oscar A. Knipe | |
| Dr. Edward I. Keffer | |
| Oliver Boyce Judson | |
| John H. Ingham. |
Circular Issue About October 15, 1900,
for Press and for Soliciting Patronesses, to
be Enclosed With Other Literature:
THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA
Mr. Fritz Scheel, Conductor
Believing that the public would be glad to hear what the Musical Profession in Philadelphia thinks of this undertaking, the committee in charge has written to a few of the leading musicians, asking for their views. Extracts from their replies are given below.
The intelligent and keen critical standpoint from which their life’s training enables them to judge, gives weight to their words, and the complete unanimity of opinion which they express is noteworthy.
From Mr. Thomas a’Becket, President, Pennsylvania State Music Teachers’ Association:
“Without a doubt the best man who has taken up residence in Philadelphia during the past forty years. This opinion is shared by the older of our orchestral musicians; also by men who have recently played under his conducting. It has been fully demonstrated, first, that Mr. Scheel has wonderful ability in handling musicians—amateur as well as professional—and drawing from them their best work; second, that there is in Philadelphia—which I have maintained for twenty-five years—the nucleus for a good orchestra. The great need has been the proper man to bring together conflicting elements. (The movement) has, indeed, my heartiest support.”
From Dr. Hugh A. Clarke, Professor of Music, University of Pennsylvania:
“I believe Mr. Scheel to be a leader of first-rate ability in every respect. His work during the past winter gives ample evidence of his high standing as a musician and a conductor. The movement for the establishment of an orchestra in Philadelphia has my most cordial support, as I am convinced that it has now taken the right shape and is in the hands of the right people.”
From Mr. W. W. Gilchrist, Principal of the Central Conservatory of Music, Leader of the Mendelssohn Club, Leader of the Harrisburg Oratorio Society, etc.:
“Those in whose judgment I have confidence speak very highly of him. The movement has my cordial support.”
From Dr. Alfred C. Lambdin, Musical Editor, of “The Philadelphia Times.”
“To the broad musical knowledge, the imaginative perception, the technical accomplishment that makes up the interpretive artist of high rank, he seems to add those peculiar personal qualities, the power of expressing his musical ideas through the medium of others, that differentiate the real ‘conductor.’ The value of such a man in any musical community is measured only by his opportunity. The great value of Mr. Scheel’s work this winter has been in the fresh and full artistic authority, which he has brought to bear upon our disorganized musical forces here. The two concerts at the Academy abundantly demonstrated what can be done under such leadership and how it can be done. The movement, therefore, to continue that work, and develop it on the lines already laid down, commands my most cordial support.”
From Mr. D. D. Wood, Organist of St. Stephen’s Church, Instructor at Philadelphia Musical Academy, Teacher of Harmony, Counterpoint, etc.:
“Mr. Scheel is possessed of all those rare qualifications which go to make up a great leader.
“He is most excellent musician of large and varied experience, an earnest and conscientious worker, a man of great personal magnetism, and thoroughly capable of making the very best of the means at his disposal. As a conductor he deserves a place in the very first rank.
“The work accomplished by Mr. Scheel during the past winter has been eminently successful, and deserves the cordial recognition of all true lovers of musical art, and of all who are interested in the progress of that art in our city.
“I am in hearty sympathy with the movement set forth in your circular.”
Footnotes:
[1] O. G. Sonneck: “Early Concert Life in America.”
[2] J. F. Sachse: “The Missive of Justus Falckner of Germantown, Concerning the Religious Condition of Pennsylvania in the Year 1701.”
[3] Robert R. Drummond: “Early German Music in Philadelphia.”
[4] Sonneck: “Francis Hopkinson and James Lyon.”
[5] Drummond: “Early German Music in Philadelphia.”
[6] Drummond: “Early German Music in Philadelphia.”
[7] For full text of Prospectus, see Appendix M.
[8] After a year of work the total sum promised was $50,000.
[9] At this time Willow Grove Park, fifteen miles out of Philadelphia, was the foremost summer musical center.
[10] Programme of March 27th and 28th, 1925.
[12] For remaining programmes see Appendix J.
[13] For Charter see Appendix A.
[14] For present membership see Appendix K.
[15] For present membership see Appendix K.
[16] For present membership see Appendix K.
[23] First performance in America.
[24] Philadelphian.
[25] First performance in America.
[26] Philadelphian.
[27] First performance in America.
[28] Philadelphian.
[29] Philadelphian.
[30] Philadelphian.
[31] Philadelphian.
[32] Philadelphian.
[33] Philadelphian.
[34] Philadelphian.
[35] Philadelphian.
[36] Programme book, November 19th and 20th, 1920.
[39] Sonneck: “Early Concert Life.”
[40] By-laws, 1920.
[41] For full list of performances, see Appendix E.
[42] First performance in America.
[43] First performance in America.
[44] First performance in America.
[45] First performance in America.
[46] First performance in America.
[47] Philadelphian.
[48] First performance in America.
[49] First performance in America.
[50] Philadelphian.
[51] First performance in America.
[52] First performance in America.
[53] First performance in America.
[54] First performance in America.
[55] Philadelphian.
[56] First performance in America.
[57] First performance in America.
[58] First performance in America.
[59] First performance in America.
[60] First performance in America.
[61] First performance in America.
[62] First performance in America.
[63] First performance in America.
[64] Died during the season and his place filled by Mrs. Harold E. Yarnall.
[65] Resigned during the season.
[66] Died during the season and his place taken by William Jay Turner.
[67] NOTE—Figures following names denote year of admission.
[68] The officers were: Chairman, Mrs. W. H. H. Robinson; Treasurer, Mrs. Edward I. Keffer; Secretary, Miss Edith Lee Hutchinson.