Benefic·Ent Spirits in America's Musical Life

August 7, 1920 MUSICAL AMERICA 5 BENEFIC·ENT SPIRITS IN AMERICA'S MUSICAL LIFE Their Name Is Legion, But Ugo Ara Cites a Few of the Outstanding Figures-How Mr. Eastman Was Converted to the Cause of Music -Three Names Which Command Special Revere nee: Higginson, de Coppet, Mrs. Coolidge-Their Noble and Significant Works for Culture and Musical Lore in America [The w1-ite1· of the following article, musical purpose, Mr. Eastman, exas ago, all by himself, the foundation of protective wing the first American Ugo Ara, is a prominent Italian violist perated at the loss of a few minutes, an orchestra destined to play, to use his String Quartet of importance. I am, and litte1·roteur, formerly a member of the burst out, as the story goes: "All right, own words, "the best music in the best naturally, talking of the "Kneisels," of Flm1 zaley Quartet. He pla.yed an im here is the money, but don't take my way"; the patience with which he fol portant part in the negotiations which time, at least." lowed the development of his imposing resulted in the forthcoming visit to the . "No, sir," answered the shrewd gen plan; the bravery with which he over United States of Toscanini. Mr. Ara's tleman in question, handing back the came difficulties which seemed to be in associations and experience fit him surmountable, the liberality and · sim peculiarly to do complete justice to an plicity with which he bore the annual article along the lines of the present considerable deficits; and the discrimina one, which he has prepared especially tion with which, to lead his orchestra, he for MUSICAL AMERICA.-THE EDITOR.] engaged the best conductors of his time, from George Henschel to Dr. Karl Muck, By Ug"o Ara pass'ng through Gericke, Nikisch, P aur, Fiedler. In 1918, after Dr. Muck's in WHEN on the heights of the Esqui- ternment, and all the connected troubles, line Hill, Caius . Maecenas opened Major Higginson handed over the sup wide the gates of his palatial residence port of the orchestra to a committee of -and of his heart-to the best spirits Boston citizens. It was this committee which engaged successively Henry Ra and "literati" of Rome, he certainly baud and Pierre Monteux, the present could not imagine that, 2000 years later, conductor. in a country discovered fifteen centuries It is also known what a wonderful after his death, men and women of great result he was able to obtain, and how he succeeded in giving to his city an or wealth, and still greater ideals, wo~ld chestra which from every point of view follow his example with such a munifi was perfect, an orchestra which, follow cence and discrimination as to deserve ing Philip Hale's expression, "was more to be numbered among his best and than a source of local pride," and the worthiest disciples. fame of which "spread throughout the land-and crossed the Atlantic.". Still, is it not true that in that coun Major Higginson's example did not re try, in that new country, admired for its main isolated for long. Little by little energy, envied . for its resources, and new orchestras were founded, the old criticized for its commercialism_:in other ones were considerably enlarged, ade words in rushing, pushing, money~mak quate music halls were erected, famous ing America-science and arts have Mrs. Frederic Shurtleff Coolidge, Lover conductors were invited from Europe, so and Patron Saint of Great Music: found during the last few ·decades the that to-day, be3ides Boston, Philadel most ardent paladins and the most bene phia, Rochester, Detro;t, Clevelimd, Cin "Her Plan of the Berkshire Festivals ficial guardian angels? Represents One of the Most Striking cinnati, Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Events in the Musical Life of Our And among the arts has not music San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and been especially privileged and has it not P hoto by Intemationa! every important t own of the country, has Time" been cherished and supported as, per Henry Lee Higginson, Founder of the its own permanent endowed orchestra, those noble missionaries who in the days haps, in no other part of the world? Boston Symphony: "He Gave to His with the exception of Los Angeles- of darkness and ignorance wandered To make an entire list of the patrons City an Orchestra Which Was Per patiently and courageously from place of music in this country would be almost fect" to place, spreading the gospel of Bee an impossible thing ; they are legion. thoven, and winning to the new creed But there is a certain number among chEck to Mr. Eastman, "I don't want legions of- pagans (musically speaking) them whose names should be widely your money-without your interest." who, in their turn, became valiant sus known and works deeply appreciated. "Is that so!" exclaimed the kodak tainers of the faith. It is due, for example, to Charles M. king, perfectly amazed, "then let us And to continue to use the fascinat Schwab, the steel magnate, that Bethle quietly sit down and tell me all you want ing and picturesque language of the hem, Pennsylvania, the quaint little about music." Scriptures, it may also be added that it manufacturing town, the ' center of the The conversation was a fruitful one; was the Kneisel Quartet which "pre Moravian sect, has become equally fa after half an hour Mr. Eastman was pared ·the way and made straight the mous for its iron works and its Bach converted to the cause of music, and his paths" of the Flonzaley Quartet. Festivals. conversion resulted in the foundation of This, the Flonzaley Quartet, was the Harry Harkness Flagler is the gener a string quartet, of an orchestra and supreme lifework of that noble figure of ous and modest supporter of that New of a music school, which is just in pro musician, phqosopher and philanthrop York Symphony Orchestra which, cap cess of construction and for which he ist, the late E. J. de Coppet. tained by enterprising Walter Da~ gave the nice little sum of three million rosch, lately crossed the ocean and was and a half! Creator of the Flonzaleys the very fir~t orchestral body to carry No matter how important have been to the old country a message of beauty the services rendered by all these men Born in New York as a son of a Swiss and friendship from the new. to the cause of music t here are still three banker, a banker himself of unusual Without the princely annual subven other persons who deserve to be men ability, educated partly in America, partly in Europe, musically gifted in an tions of the brothers McCormick, the tioned all by themselves, three names exceptional way, E . J. de Coppet reaping machine inventors, the Chicago which command a very special reverence, dreamed for long years of a string quar Opera Association could neither have ex three stars which, in the Olympus of the tet, the members of which, entirely free isted nor brilliantly competed with its patrons of music, shine with an individ from any pecuniary care, were to dedi famo us rival of the East, the New York ual, brig-ht and gloriotis light: Higgin cate their entire time and strength to Metropolitan Opera House. son, de Coppet, Coolidge. the cultivation of their art so that t hey As for this last institutiop. everybody Each proceeds dire~ tly from the other might succeed in playing together· with knows what a debt of gratitude it owes and if the "book of the generation" of the same finesse, perfection and freedom to Otto H. Kahn, the banker, who, with the American Music{!! Maecenas is ever with which the greatest virtuosos play the same liberal and chivalric spirit, has written, it will begin, very likely, in this by themselves. largely supported the French-American way: Higginson beg at de Co9pet; de After years of experience, during Association of Musical Art, the Theatre Coppet begat Coolidge, and so on. which, thanks to his zeal and to Mrs. de du Vieux Colombier, and every noble and A Noble Triumvirate Coppet's beautiful piano playing, his beautiful movement in this country. salon had become New York's most im The Norfolk Festivals are instituted The reason why this noble triumvirate portant musical center. Mr. de Coppet, and supported entirely by Carl Stoeckel, emerges above all its "entourage" is not still unsatisfied, decided to go to Europe who, for the purpose, built on his so much on account of the financial sup E. J. de Coppet, Creator of the Flon zaley Quartet: "His Exalted Love for in search of four artists who, musically, grounds at Norfolk, Connecticut, the port with which it has favored the ex intellectually, and morally would respond "Mus'c Shed" seating 2,000 pe.rsons. pansion of musical art, as on account Music Endured Until His Last Breath" to his ideals. They have become an important factor of the love, consistency, and spirit of Having found them, or thought to of musical American life. Mr. Stoeckel sacrific·e with which it has valiantly which has two, and of New York- which have found them, he started his work has also established a fund for the an- · championed the cause of Beauty in and the amount of time, thought, sub nual production of two new orchestral America. · maintains t hree principal ones! The love and generosity (not to men stance and affection that for several or choral works to be presented at his To all three of this triumvirate can years he dedicated to it is an example Festivals.

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