Page:Pratt - The history of music (1907).djvu/533

 '''196. The Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Leipsic Conservatory.''' The artistic influence of the two institutions at Leipsic with which Mendelssohn was specially associated has been notably pervasive and beneficial. The Gewandhaus orchestra has had a striking career of almost a century and a half, numbering among its conductors, members and visiting artists a host of great names. Especially from Mendelssohn's advent in 1835, it has ranked as a model for the musical world, though its eminence is no longer unique. Educationally, the conservatory, which from the start has been linked with the orchestra in the closest affiliation, has been even more influential, since it has counted its pupils by hundreds and thousands, drawn from all Europe and from America. Its able faculty has included many who have continued long in service, so that its policy has been stable and its impression cumulative. Thanks to the impulse at its foundation, it has been at once conservative and progressive, though usually not as ready for novelties as some enthusiasts have desired. Unlike the Paris Conservatoire, its connection with operatic music has been comparatively slight; but in the training of instrumental and vocal composers and of general teachers it has served a noble purpose. It has been the pattern upon which a long list of other schools have been formed.

The Gewandhaus Concerts properly date from 1763, when regular performances began under J. A. Hiller, though not given in the building known as the Gewandhaus until 1781. At that time the present system of government by a board of directors began. The conductors during the first 70 years were from 1763 J. A. Hiller (d. 1804); from 1785 J. G. Schicht (d. 1823); from 1810 Christian Schulz (d. 1827); and from 1827 Christian August Pohlenz (d. 1843). The standard of excellence was already famous. But in 1835 Mendelssohn brought new éclat and enterprise, especially as he soon had the invaluable help of the violinist David. The list of conductors has been from 1835 Mendelssohn (d. 1847); from 1843 Ferdinand Hiller (d. 1885); from 1844 Gade (d. 1890); from 1848 Julius Rietz (d. 1877); from 1860 Reinecke; and from 1895 Arthur Nikisch. In the list of concertmasters are to be named the following:—from 1797 Bartolomeo Campagnoli (d. 1827); from 1817 Heinrich August Matthäi (d. 1835); from 1836 Ferdinand David (d. 1873), with whom from 1850 was associated Raimund Dreyschock (d. 1869); from 1873 Engelbert Röntgen (d. 1897), who was assisted in 1874-82 by Henry Schradieck; from 1882 Henri Petri, assisted in 1883-91 by Adolf Brodsky, in 1888 by Arno Hilf and in 1897 by Felix Berber (till 1903). Among the other great violinists closely