Page:A Dictionary of Music and Musicians vol 2.djvu/714

702 permanent resident in the city or its immediate vicinity for one year preceding his nomination. The orchestra consists of these 'Actual Members' only, who now (1879) number 96, and among whom are divided the profits arising from each season's course of concerts. The rules for admission and for discipline after admission are exceedingly strict. Rigid adherence to them has done much towards establishing and maintaining the high reputation enjoyed by the organisation. Four other grades of membership are included in the society's lists:—Associates, admitted to public rehearsals and concerts on payment of the sum annually stipulated by the society; Subscribers, entitled to two tickets for each regular concert, the price being a matter of annual regulation; Honorary, title conferred on the most eminent artists in music, by the unanimous consent of the Actual Members; Honorary Aseociate, conferred on meritorious individuals not belonging to the musical profession. The names of Julius Benedict (1850) and of Madame Parepa-Rosa (1870) appear in the list of Honorary members.

The following is a list of the conductors:—H. C. Timm (1842–45); E. J. Loder (1846–48); U. C. Hill (1849–51); Theodore Eisfeld (1852–60); Carl Bergmann (1861–75); Leopold Damrosch(1876); Theodore Thomas (1877); Adolph Neuendorff (1878). The headquarters of the association are at Aschenbrodel's Club-house, No. 74, East 4th Street. Its large and comprehensive library is kept at No. 333, East 18th Street. The following officers were chosen at the annual meeting, April 1879:—Julius Hallgarten, president; Edward Boehm, vice-president; David Schaad, secretary; John Godone, treasurer; and six others directors. Theodore Thomas was chosen conductor for the 38th season, 1879–80. [ F. H. J. ]

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY, THE,, incorporated 1857. Its declared object is the 'advancement of music in the city of Brooklyn, by procuring the public performance of the best works in this department of art.' Its affairs are controlled by a directory of 25 members, chosen annually, from which a government is appointed. Membership is secured by payment of the subscription annually designated by the directors, who also prescribe the number of these subscriptions, limited, for several years, to 1200. Beginning in the autumn of 1857, five or more concerts have been given in each season, that at the close of the 21st season, May 10, 1879, being the 108th—each preceded by three public rehearsals. During the first five seasons the concerts were given at the Brooklyn Athenæum. Since 1862, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, a large theatre holding nearly 3000 people, has been made use of. The orchestral conductors have been Theodore Eisfeld, 1857–62; Theodore Thomas, part of 1862; Mr. Eisfeld again, until the election of Carl Bergmann, September 5, 1865; Mr. Thomas, re-elected September 4, 1866; Mr. Bergmann again, 1870–73; succeeded May 26, 1873, by Mr. Thomas, who still retains the position (1879), assisted by William G. Dietrich, who has charge of the orchestra at the first two rehearsals of each concert. The concerts have always been of a high order; the orchestra large and composed of the best musicians procurable; the programmes of a catholic nature, no especial school of music having undue prominence. Important works have been produced for the first time in America, including several by native composers. Large choral works have occasionally figured on the society's programmes, as well as solos and instrumental concertos. The society's library contains the scores and parts of over 100 orchestral works. Officers 1878–79: L. B. Wyman, president; H. K. Sheldon, B. H. Smith, vice-presidents; C. L. Burnet, treasurer; B. T. Frothingham, secretary. [ F. H. J. ]

PHILIDOR. A numerous family of French musicians, the founder being DANICAN, a native of Dauphine", who died in Paris about 1650. He was a good oboist, and Louis XIII, who had considerable knowledge of music, was so delighted with his playing that he exclaimed, 'I have found another Philidor.' Filidori of Siena had formerly been a favourite oboist at court, and the king's compliment procured Michel Danican the surname of 'Filidor'—or Philidor according to French spelling. Eventually the family name was virtually suppressed, and the nickname took its place. Tradition, unsupported however by documentary evidence, states that the first Michel Danican-Philidor became a member of the Chapelle of Louis XIII, and left two sons; but if so, the name of the younger was Jean, and not André, as stated by Fétis, whose account of this family is erroneous on more points than might have been expected from one so prompt in correcting the mistakes of others.

2. The second became one of the king's musicians in the Grande Ecurie in 1651, and died in 1659, leaving no children. He was fifth player of the 'Cromorne' and 'Marine Trumpet,' instruments recently introduced into the royal band, and retained till the Revolution.

3. —born about 1620, died in Paris Sept. 8, 1679 had a numerous family, his sons and grandsons being the most celebrated of the Philidors. In 1659 he became lifer in the Grande Ecurie, and at his death was first player of the cromorne and marine trumpet. He is said to have composed dance-music, preserved by the eldest of his sons,

4. ('Philidor l'ainé), who succeeded his uncle Michel as fifth player of the same instruments in the Grande Ecurie. Supposing him to have been 12 at that time, he would have been born about 1647. He married young, and his first wife, Marguerite Monginot, bore him 16 children, of whom Anne, Michel, and François, distinguished themselves as musicians. The exertions necessary for the support of so numerous a family were no hardship to one of his active and laborious disposition. He was a member of the Grande Ecurie, the Chambre, and the