Endowments; Symphonies; Orchestral music; New York (N.Y.); Symphony Society of New York; Flagler, Harry Harkness, 1870-
Format
correspondence
Genre
Business correspondence
Date
[March 14, 1913]
Physical Description
microfilm, 16 mm, b&w
Note (Reel no.)
Reel 83
Note
PDF may contain multiple grant documents.
Mr. Harry Harkness Flagler
Harry Harkness Flagler (December 2, 1870 - June 30, 1952) was president of the Philharmonic Symphony Society of New York and the National Orchestral Association... He became president of the Philharmonic Symphony Society of New York in 1914. In 1928 t he Symphony Society merged with the Philharmonic Society, and he became president of the combined New York Philharmonic until 1934, when he resigned because of his ill health." [SOURCE: "Harry Harkness Flagler." Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Harkness_Flagler. Accessed 8 Oct. 2018.] "The New York Symphony Orchestra was founded as the New York Symphony Society in New York City by Leopold Damrosch in 1878. For many years it was a fierce rival to the older Philharmonic Symphony Society of New York (New York Philharmonic). It was supported by Andrew Carnegie who built Carnegie Hall (opened in 1891) expressly for the orchestra. The Symphony was known for performing more colorful French and Russian works than the Philharmonic, which excelled in German repertoire. Upon his death in 1885, Leopold Damrosch was succeeded as musical director by his son Walter Damrosch. In 1903, during a reorganization, it was renamed the New York Symphony Orchestra, and its first recordings were made that year as the "Damrosch Orchestra" for Columbia Records (of which only one was commercially issued, the prelude to Georges Bizet's Carmen). In 1920 it became the first American orchestra to tour Europe, and radio broadcasts of its concerts began in 1923. In 1928, the orchestra merged with the Philharmonic Society of New York to form the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, later the New York Philharmonic." [SOURCE: "New York Symphony Orchestra." Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Symphony_Orchestra. Accessed 8 Oct. 2018.] "Leopold Damrosch, Franz Liszt's former concertmaster at Weimar, served as conductor of the Philharmonic for the 1876/77 season. But failing to win support from the Philharmonic's public, he left to create the rival Symphony Society of New York in 1878. Upon his death in 1885, his 23-year-old son Walter took over and continued the competition with the old Philharmonic. It was Walter who would convince Andrew Carnegie that New York needed a first-class concert hall and on May 5, 1891, both Walter and Russian composer Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky conducted at the inaugural concert of the city's new Music Hall, which in a few years would be renamed for its primary benefactor, Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie Hall would remain the orchestra's home until 1962... The year 1928 marked the New York Philharmonic's last and most important merger: with the New York Symphony Society. The Symphony had been quite innovative in its 50 years prior to the merger. It made its first domestic tour in 1882, introduced educational concerts for young people in 1891, and gave the premieres of works such as Gershwin's Concerto in F and Holst's Egdon Heath. The merger of these two venerable institutions consolidated extraordinary financial and musical resources. Of the new Philharmonic Symphony Society of New York, Clarence Hungerford Mackay, chairman of the Philharmonic Society, will be chairman. President Harry H. Flagler, of the Symphony Society, will be president of the merger.At the first joint board meeting in 1928, the chairman, Clarence Mackay, expressed the opinion that 'with the forces of the two Societies now united... the Philharmonic-Symphony Society could build up the greatest orchestra in this country if not in the world.'" [SOURCE: "New York Philharmonic." Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Philharmonic. Accessed 8 Oct. 2018.]