Oh, John (Howell) -- you wily arbitrator, you!
I have absolutely no disagreement with your logic, rationalizations or
concepts. It all makes sense to me; I'll even hide raised eyebrows
resulting from the omission of touring orchestras (even those in existence
for many years with extensive concert schedules) but easily concur with
excluding festival groups.
I have to admit that the research into the existence of more orchestras than
readily spring to mind in 19th century America has fascinated me; I've
turned up (in my home library and online) references to an even earlier (and
completely unrelated to later groups) 1824 - 1827 New York Philharmonic; a
very intriguing claim of an 1818 (!) "first official resident symphony
orchestra," founded by the Society of St Cecilia in Louisville, KY (Ray
Horton - any knowledge of that group?) From 1857 - 1860, The Philharmonic
Society, claimed to be Cincinnati's "first orchestra of professional
musicians, presented three seasons of concerts"; I've found claims of
symphony orchestras going back to 1799 in the US - Cincinnati seems to have
been a hotbed in the then-US 'west' - in 1825 Joseph Tosso organized the
Orchestra of the Musical Fund Society there. And in 1872 a Cincinnati
Orchestra began giving regular concerts there; members of it later were
claimed to be part of the creation of the (still-extant) 1895-born
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. And on and on. Does anyone know of any
scholarly research on this subject? I've been bitten but don't have time
to fastidiously, punctiliously research and write one myself. But again:
fascinating.
Best, and thanks, John --
Les
Founding Music Director and Conductor,
The Mariposa Symphony Orchestra
Music and Mariposa? Ahhhhh, Paradise!!!
http://arts-mariposa.org/symphony.html
http://www.geocities.com/~jbenz/lesbio.html
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