Page:Century Magazine-69-599-000.png

Rh added such men as the ill-fated Pourtau, and Mr. Longy, to name only a few of many accomplished players who have helped make the Boston Symphony Orchestra admired as “a band of virtuosi.” Their coming caused wailing and gnashing of teeth in certain quarters. It is not a pleasant task to dismiss veterans who have deserved well; but it sometimes must be done, and the need for it must never be lost sight of, as New York has found to its cost. The violinist’s arm gets unsteady, his fingers uncertain; the oboist’s throat and tongue muscles, continuously strained in forming the tone of his capricious and difficult instrument, become relaxed and inefficient; the clarinetist loses his front teeth and is as one bereft of hope; the trumpeter’s and the hornist’s lips forget their cunning, and as musicians they must all give way long before, as men, they are used up.

Strange though it may seem, it is a difficult undertaking to secure the best men from abroad as orchestral players in the American Promised Land. There is a stronger force than the Musical Union to keep them out. Seasons are short, engagements are limited, opportunities for players of other than the stringed instruments, in case they should lose their positions, are few. Nor is it possible to pick out good men abroadvwith certainty. Not all the undertakings of the Boston Symphony conductors in this direction have been fortunate. It stands upon the records that, having heard many aspirants during a certain summer in Europe, one of Mr. Higginson’s conductors personally chose and brought over sixteen new men. Every one of them proved quite incompetent and had speedily to be sent back. On another occasion it was desired to obtain a new clarinetist to take the place of one of the veterans just mentioned. The old one was dismissed with an indemnity for the breaking of his contract. The new one was sent, at the conductor's request, from Vienna by a celebrated conductor, who certified to his competency, truly believing him, no doubt, to be “good enough for America.” Before he had gotten half through his first rehearsal with the orchestra it was clear that the new man would not do at all. He was