Chapter III: The Orchestra During the World War

One year after the offer of the Unknown Donor had been accepted by the Board of Directors, the United States was in a state of war. The condition of Europe during the past three years had in a way been disturbing in orchestral circles, because no men could leave Europe and players were scarce. Also, foreign men were called home, leaving vacancies that were difficult to fill. Still, the orchestra had flourished and continued to advance artistically under Mr. Stokowski’s guiding hand.

In April, 1917, however, musical organizations in America were facing a different and a serious situation. In everybody’s mind the questions lingered and would not be put away: “How is the Philadelphia Orchestra going to survive a war?” “Will there be any players, and will there be any money for music?” Philadelphians spoke not these words aloud, but they feared for the existence of the city’s most beloved art organization.

In December, 1917, the four Women’s Committees were desirous of making a patriotic demonstration with the orchestra, and at the suggestion of Mrs. J. Sellers Bancroft, an American flag was presented at each of a pair of concerts.

“PRESENTATION OF FLAG

To the Philadelphia Orchestra Association by the Women’s
Committees for the Philadelphia Orchestra
Presentation of Flag
MISS FRANCES A. WISTER, _President_
The Women’s Committees for The Philadelphia Orchestra
The audience is requested to join in singing the National Anthem:
The Star Spangled Banner
(1 verse)

Acceptance of Flag for The Philadelphia Orchestra Association:
MR. ALEXANDER VAN RENSSELAER, _President_
The Philadelphia Orchestra Association
Acceptance of Flag on behalf of the Orchestra:
MR. LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI, _Conductor_
The audience is requested to join in singing ‘America’
(2 verses)”

_Ledger_, December 23rd, 1917:

“Viewed in the light of all that has been written, said
and done regarding the relation of the musical art and
its interpreters to the war and the conception of the
majority as to what constitutes patriotism, the public
action of the Women’s Committee of the Philadelphia
Orchestra last week, on December 14th and 15th, when
their president, Miss Frances Wister, introduced by
Alexander Van Rensselaer, president of the Philadelphia
Orchestra Association, presented the orchestra with a
flag which was accepted by Leopold Stokowski, seemed
full of deepest significance. In presenting the flag,
Miss Wister made a graceful little speech about the
relation of patriotism and art and said, among other
things:

“‘In order to express our loyalty to our country’s
cause and to the Association which we have fostered so
long, and to testify to our belief in the necessity for
music as a mighty inspiration, a profound solace during
times of stress, we take pleasure in presenting to the
Philadelphia Orchestra Association and to the Orchestra
a flag.

“‘This is the visible demonstration of the patriotism
of this organization and of the Women’s Committees
during our period of national peril.’

“Both Mr. Van Rensselaer and Mr. Stokowski spoke words
of appreciation of the Women’s Committees’ offering.
The former read the resolutions adopted by the
Association, and the most popular of musical leaders,
Mr. Stokowski, on behalf of the orchestra announced
that he and the men meant to give their services in
a concert for the benefit of the American Red Cross,
which statement naturally was greeted with responsive
applause by the huge audience.

“The remarks by which Mr. Stokowski declared the
Orchestra’s loyalty to the United States were
gracefully made, and his action necessarily was
profoundly appreciated by his many friends and admirers
whose numbers have already increased accordingly.

“The ceremonies closed with two verses of ‘America’
in which everyone joined heartily. The effect was
thrilling. Many eyes were moist and many hearts were
moved.

“These are trying times that test men’s souls and
it does not take much to force to the surface deep,
pent-up emotions that long training had suppressed.”

* * * * *

At a special meeting of the Board of Directors, December 13th, 1917, the following Resolution was unanimously adopted:

“WHEREAS the Women’s Committees for the
Philadelphia Orchestra are presenting to the
Philadelphia Orchestra Association and the Philadelphia
Orchestra two American flags as an expression of the
patriotic spirit animating their organization of two
thousand women,

“BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of
the Philadelphia Orchestra Association in behalf of the
fifteen hundred contributing members of the
Association, that these flags be accepted in the
spirit with which they are given, with the thanks of
the Association, and that the management be instructed
to display them on the stage of the Academy at each
concert given by the Orchestra.

“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board of
Directors, that it pledges the loyalty of the
Association to the Government and people of the United
States in this crisis in the affairs of the nation,
and offers its services to be made use of in any way
in which the Government of the United States may deem
wise.”

The next patriotic demonstration was the concert at Camp Dix, N. J.

_Public Ledger_, January 3rd, 1918:

“ORCHESTRA PLAYS FOR CAMP DIX MEN

100 MUSICIANS UNDER LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI
ENTERTAIN 3000 SOLDIERS

“The Philadelphia Orchestra, led by Leopold Stokowski,
aroused more than 3000 khaki-clad men here in the big
Y. M. C. A. auditorium to outbursts of enthusiastic
applause, when they concluded an entire Tschaikowsky
programme, including the Symphony Pathétique, the
famous ‘Nutcracker’ Suite, and the stirring overture
Solennelle. The concert was made possible through the
courtesy of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association.

“The large auditorium was crowded to the doors with
the privates in training for the National Army, while
the officers occupied a square patch of seats in the
center. Alexander Van Rensselaer, President of the
Orchestra Association, and Edward Bok and Charles
D. Hart, directors, were among the officials who
accompanied the orchestra. With the party also was Noah
Swayne of the Orpheus Club. The party arrived in Camp
on a special train, and the musicians were escorted to
the Y. M. C. A. hostess house and served a luncheon by
society girls.

“Mr. Van Rensselaer, Mr. Bok, Mr. Stokowski and Mr.
Swayne were entertained at the division headquarters
mess.

“When Mr. Stokowski took his place at the stage, he was
given an ovation, and throughout the four movements of
the symphony, the men watched the discipline of the
players with an interested eye.

“The contrast of the dark evening suits of the
orchestra with the mud-stained puttees and brown
uniforms of the thousands of enlisted men formed a
novel sight. One officer was overheard saying to
another:

“‘How would you like to be captain of those collective
artistic temperaments?’

“After the first movement of the symphony was ended in
a crash of tympani, the same officer said:

“‘Well, if we can train a million men of the National
Army to such precision and such discipline as that, we
will have no trouble in beating the Huns.’

“During the intermission, the entire audience did
a sort of ‘eyes right’ when a group picture of the
concert was taken.”

Besides this concert, men in the service stationed at Philadelphia were given many opportunities to enjoy the orchestra. Beginning in November, 1917, subscribers were requested through a notice in the programme to send tickets that they could not use to the manager, to be placed at the disposal of soldiers and sailors and it was a common sight to see men in uniform at the Saturday evening concerts.

On January 23rd the promised Red Cross Concert was given at the Metropolitan Opera House before a large audience. The affair was most successful financially, the amount turned over being $7045.00.

LIBERTY LOANS

The subject of Liberty Loans was more and more occupying the public mind and soon claimed the attention of musicians.

The first booth during the Third Liberty Loan of May, 1918, was in front of 1427 Chestnut Street, and was presided over by Mr. and Mrs. Stokowski on two Saturday mornings. A quartet of trombones from the orchestra offered their services at the booth and attracted large crowds. The result of these two mornings was $114,000.

During the next loan, the Fourth, the booth, which was a shell dug-out in front of the Union League, was in charge of the four Women’s Committees. For the first time in their existence the Committees diverted their minds from the orchestra for a brief space to participate in a patriotic act. This loan occurred at the time of the influenza epidemic and the women who served did so at some risk. No member, however, contracted the disease, or was the worse for the experience.

The booth was open for two weeks only, but with the assistance of members of the orchestra, the amount collected was $896,000.

When the Victory Loan was announced for May, 1919, the Women’s Committees were asked to again take charge of a booth for three weeks at the same place. Miss Frances A. Wister acted as Chairman for the second time, and they were assisted by a Committee of Musicians from the orchestra, when their engagements permitted; and a Committee from the Business Management. Seventy-six members of the Women’s Committees served during the Loan, as follows: Women’s Committee 27; Germantown and Chestnut Hill, 13; West Philadelphia, 22; Media, Chester and West Chester, 14. The total number of subscriptions received was 825, amounting to $691,300.

This, added to the total of $896,000 for the Fourth Loan and that of $114,000 at the Third Loan, made a grand total of $1,701,300.

Music at the booth was furnished without expense by members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and ten other well-known artists, including Mr. David Bispham. Mr. Albert N. Hoxie gave a patriotic demonstration one day, with a parade and a chorus of one thousand, and the First Regiment Marine Corps Band.

THE TRIBUTE TREES

Another patriotic enterprise in which the Board of Directors and the Women’s Committees took part was the planting of tribute trees in honor of men in the service, on Fairmount Parkway, at the invitation of the Civic Club of Philadelphia. Fifty-five trees were planted on the Parkway at Twenty-second Street, and the Board and the Committees were represented at the ceremonies on April 25th, 1919.

The Association did all in its power to assist in war time. Nearly $300,000 of the Endowment Fund was invested in Liberty Loans. On account of railroad congestion traveling was largely eliminated, but this was the only American orchestra permitted to cross the Canadian border, which journey was made for the Toronto Festival.

The audience was not allowed to forget the nation’s situation, as Mr. Stokowski had at the first concert of the season inaugurated the ceremony of playing the Star Spangled Banner, orchestrated by himself, at the beginning of every concert, while the house stood. Later he organized and led a band of nearly two hundred pieces at Franklin Field, when funds were being raised for a special War Chest, and he did the same for the Service Star parade.

Eight of the musicians went into the service.

To mark the signing of the Armistice, special ceremonies were held at the concert of November 15th, 1918. Representatives of the Allied Nations appeared on the stage with their flags while their national anthems were played. The audience stood during the playing of MacDowell’s “Dirge,” from the Indian Suite, which was played in memory of those Americans who had died in the war.

When Philadelphia realized that the orchestra had survived in its full strength and with little curtailment of its schedule, except for out-of-town concerts, and the postponement of two pairs of Philadelphia concerts on account of the epidemic, there was a sigh of gratitude. After such labors to procure an orchestra for Philadelphia, its abandonment would have been a tragedy and a calamity.