Transcriber’s Notes: Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ in the original text. Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs. Typographical and punctuation errors have been silently corrected. Twenty-five Years of the Philadelphia Orchestra 1900-1925 _By_ FRANCES ANNE WISTER PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE WOMEN’S COMMITTEES FOR THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA COPYRIGHT 1925 FRANCES ANNE WISTER EDWARD STERN & COMPANY. INC. PRINTERS AND ENGRAVERS PHILADELPHIA TO ALEXANDER VAN RENSSELAER, ESQ. DEVOTED TO THE CAUSE OF MUSIC IN THIS CITY AND FIRST AND ONLY PRESIDENT OF THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION FOREWORD This story of the Philadelphia Orchestra has been written during the past few months, for the friends and supporters of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association. My endeavor has been to give the account in a simple form and to use the Appendix for the statistics which should be recorded at a Twenty-fifth Anniversary. FRANCES ANNE WISTER OCTOBER, 1925 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS With much appreciation of their assistance I desire to thank: The Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association and The Women’s Committees for the Philadelphia Orchestra, who have made it possible to publish this book. Mr. Arthur Judson, Mr. Louis A. Mattson, Miss Ruth O’Neill, Miss E. M. Russell of the Philadelphia Orchestra Office. Dr. Edward I. Keffer. FRANCES ANNE WISTER OCTOBER, 1925 Twenty-five Years of the Philadelphia Orchestra 1900-1925 CONTENTS PART I CHAPTER I 3 A ROAD ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS LONG Music in Philadelphia before 1900. CHAPTER II 16 THE LAST TURN OF THE ROAD The finding of Fritz Scheel at Woodside Park. The Philadelphia Symphony Society. The Philippine Concerts. First Concert 1900. Sketch of Scheel. The formation of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association.