Philharmonic-Symphony

Not only with the merging of great telegraph and telephone systems was Clarence Hungerford Mackay busied last week (see p. 34); the merging of great musical organizations in Manhattan also occupied him.

The Philharmonic Society of New York absorbed the Symphony Society of New York.

The New York Philharmonic Orchestra is the oldest musical organization in the U. S. It was founded in 1842. Only the London Philharmonic, founded in 1813, anteceded it in the world. Mr. Mackay is its chairman, Arturo Toscanini its director, Willem Mengelberg of Amsterdam its joint leader.

The New York Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1876 by Dr. Leopold Damrosch, and directed since his death in 1885 by his son, Walter Damrosch, has had wider influence on music in the U. S. than any other group. It has played before approximately 8,000,000 people, has traveled approximately 400,000 miles. Because the late Publisher Joseph Pulitzer willed $500,000 to the Philharmonic, it could not legally abandon its identity. Therefore, it changed its name to Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York and at once absorbed the Symphony's directorate. Each orchestra will maintain its separate identity until the end of the present season. Of the new Philharmonic Symphony Society of New York, Clarence Hungerford Mackay, chairman of the Philharmonic Society, will be chairman. President Harry Harkness Flagler, of the Symphony Society, will be president of the merger. The purposes of this musical merger are, of course, the same as that of Mr. Mackay's other merger of the week--economy of operation. Openly declared last week were these specific reasons: "The establishment of an orchestra with a sound financial backing that will guarantee the continuance of the musical traditions of the two societies. "By bringing the friends of both societies into a single organization, to create a fund for the pensioning of superannuated members of the orchestra, and a sick and death benefit fund. "To undertake the erection of a new hall that will serve as a suitable and permanent home for the new orchestra. "To enlarge the educational work of the society by making available to musical students and school children in the City of New York a greater number of concerts at a price within the reach of everyone. It is the wish of the officers that the new orchestra will bear the same relationship to the musical life of the city as the Metropolitan Museum bears to those interested in the graphic and plastic arts."