Orpheus in the New World : the symphony orchestra as an American cultural institution / by Philip Hart.
| Author/creator | Hart, Philip |
| Format | Book |
| Edition | First edition. |
| Publication Info | New York : W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., ©1973. |
| Description | xix, 562 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm |
| Subjects |
| Contents | Part one: The past. Before Thomas. The Philharmonic Society of New York ; The Germania Musical Society ; Louis-Antoine Jullien -- Theodore Thomas: conductor. The young musician in New York ; Thomas as conductor ; The Thomas Orchestra on tour ; Three setbacks ; Conductor of the Philharmonic ; The Chicago Symphony Orchestra ; Orchestra hall ; The Chicago Symphony after Thomas -- Henry Lee Higginson: patron. Early music in Boston ; Young Higginson ; The Boston Symphony Orchestra ; Symphony hall ; Wartime and the Muck affair ; Higginson's legacy -- Arthur Judson: manager. In Philadelphia ; Founding CBS ; Artist management ; The New York Philharmonic ; National influence ; Turmoil at the Philharmonic ; Judson retires ; Almost -- James Caesar Petrillo and the militant musician. Organization of the AFM ; The rise of Petrillo ; The Boston Symphony Orchestra ; The Music Performance Trust Fund ; The militant musician ; ICSOM -- Helen M. Thompson and the American Symphony Orchestra League. Origins of the ASOL ; Growth of the ASOL ; League services ; The ASOL today ; How many orchestras? ; ASOL in the changing orchestra world -- Part two: Six orchestras in time of crisis. Philadelphia Orchestra. Ormandy takes over ; Year-round activity ; Symphonic high finance ; Running the orchestra ; The power structure ; Confrontation with the musicians ; Reorganizing the board ; Tension in contingencies -- Utah Symphony Orchestra. Maurice Abravanel ; Operations and finances ; The musicians ; Recording and repertory ; Policy direction and the future -- Louisville Orchestra. Innovation of Whitney and Farnsley ; The recording project ; Varied professional life ; Finances and the Louisville Fund ; A board without fund-raising ; Conductor in orbit ; Curing the middle-age syndrome -- Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. The "Philharmonic family" ; Lukas Foss ; Merger crisis ; Management and finance, 1970-71 ; The orchestra as a musical resource ; Michael Tilson Thomas ; An uncertain future -- Albuquerque Symphony Orchestra. Changing environment ; Toward a professional orchestra ; Impact of a conductor ; Musicians at work ; The cost of an emerging orchestra ; A board in the glare of publicity ; At the crossroads -- Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. From Theodore Thomas to Max Rudolf ; Thomas Schippers ; Divers activities ; Management challenges in the 1970s ; Filling the policy vacuum -- Part three: The income gap. Symphony economics. Economics of the income gap ; Symphony in the performance arts ; New categories ; Performance and supplemental income ; Where the money goes ; perations summarized ; Impact of the income gap ; Continuing crisis -- Private philanthropy and the foundations. Private philanthropy ; Symphony fund-raising ; The foundations ; Ford Foundation Symphony Program ; An ingenious and constructive grant ; Foundations under attack ; New realism -- The government. "Creeping socialism" in symphony orchestras. Federal subsidy achieved ; Federal funding, 1966-71 ; Orchestras seek federal aid ; National Endowment for the Arts funding of orchestras ; Partnership for the arts ; Need for guidelines ; Mutual responsibility of government subsidy -- Part four: Music and its audience. The symphony audience. "Counting the house" ; Symphony demographics ; Luring the audience ; The minority audience ; The physical setting ; Electronic media ; Terra incognita -- Repertory. Composer-nationality trends, 1890-1970 ; Changes in repertory ; The American share ; "An overdose of ancestor worship" ; Pressures on programming -- Education and the musical experience. From concert hall into the school ; Rationale of youth programming ; Young Audiences, Inc. ; Lincoln Center student program ; In search of new approaches ; The creative experience ; The role of the orchestra -- Part five: Contingencies of the future. Toward a responsible institution. The Bernstein syndrome and artistic direction ; The symphony orchestra as a career ; Professionalization of stewardship ; In defense of elitism -- |
| Contents | Appendices. Appendix A. Major and metropolitan symphony orchestras in the United States 1970-71 -- Appendix B. The Philharmonic Society of New York -- Appendix C. Work stoppages in symphony orchestras, 1954-72 -- Appendix D. Major and metropolitan orchestras by category, 1972 -- Appendix E. Financial summary, 1970-71: 82 orchestras -- Appendix F. Estimates of 1970-71 income, expense, attendance for symphony, theater, opera, and dance in the United States -- Appendix G. Trends in symphony finance, 1961-71 ; Estimated projections, 1971-81 ; Estimate of net financial gap, 1971-81 -- Appendix H. Ford Foundation Symphony Program summary as of June 30, 1971 -- Appendix J. National Endowment for the Arts grants to symphony orchestras, 1966-72 -- Appendix K. State funding of symphony orchestras as share of total arts funding, FY 1971 -- Appendix L. Summary of BMI orchestral program surveys, 1961-70 -- Appendix M. U.S. Symphony Orchestras included in Mueller repertory survey -- Appendix N. Publications of the American Symphony Orchestra League. |
| Abstract | In America, the symphony orchestra has developed as a distinctive institution, differing from the European pattern of court (and later state) subsidy of ensembles originally related to opera houses; our orchestras, privately founded and supported, have generally been restricted to the concert hall. Recently, economic crises and the growth of governmental support for the arts have brought about new conditions, and the future of this uniquely American institution has become a matter of national concern. This comprehensive book examines our orchestras' past through the careers of five crucial personalities: conductor Theodore Thomas, patron Henry Higginson, manager Arthur Judson, union leader James Petrillo, and Helen Thompson of the American Symphony Orchestra League. Next, studies of six orchestras illustrate the variety and complexity of current problems and opportunities: Philadelphia, Utah, Louisville, Buffalo, Albuquerque, and Cincinnati. A third section treats such topics as economics; private, government, and foundation support; repertory; audiences; and education. Based on extensive first-hand research and incorporating much important new data, this is a unique and searching study, important not only for what it tells us about a particular musical institution, but for the questions it raises about the role of the arts in American society. In addition to his activities in orchestral management with the Seattle, Portland, and Chicago Symphony Orchestras, Philip Hart has been director of planning and Programs at the Juilliard School. He presently lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. |
| Local note | Little-96687 - $20.00 |
| Bibliography note | Bibliography: pages 545-550. |
| LCCN | 73003151 |
| ISBN | 0393021696 |
| ISBN | 9780393021691 |
| Stock number | $15.00 |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | Closed Stacks - Ask at Circulation Desk | ML1211.H3 O6 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |