Philadelphia Conservatory of Music - Variations Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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five feacher, iusf as he would sfudy a solo piece. I find fhis sfudy nof only helpful for ifs immediafe purpose, buf consider if highly beneficial maferial for general fechnical advancemenf for fhe sfudenf. Hence, our rehearsals are made more producfive, allowing me, as conducfor, fo concenfrafe on fine poinfs, fhe real purpose of an orchesfral rehearsal. In ofher words, I believe fhaf whaf fhe young player lacks in abilify when compared wifh experienced professional players, he musf make up wifh individual work. In order fo weld a group of players info a playable and responsive insfrumenf in 'rhe hands of a conducfor, a degree of alerfness and con- cenfrafion is necessary which nof everyone is willing or able fo give. Beafing fhe fime, giving fhe cues, efc. limporfanf as fhese may bel are only a secondary funcfion of a conducfor. I have heard excelleni' per- formances of a conducforless orchesfra in Moscow. Their STRONGEST poinf was fhe rhyfhmic precision, because fheir ensemble was based on lisfening and on exacf knowledge of fhe relafionship of one parf 'l'o anofher. The principal funcfion of a conducfor is fo draw ouf of fhe orchesfra fhe precise sounds fhaf correspond fo his arfisfic infenfions. A choice of a fempo and parficularly subfle deviafions from an esfablished fempo, fonal balance, fonal coloring by means of bringing ouf one sef of insfrumenfs and subduing ofhers, are buf a few of fhe means af a conducfor's command. In order fo obfain fhese resulfs from fhe orchesfra, if is necessary fo have players who are frained fo respond. The process of developing fhis degree of response is nof easy. Buf do fhe refurns for such invesfmenf of fime and energy iusfify fhe expendifure? Whaf did fhe sfudenfs gef ouf of fhe rehearsal and performance by way of musical safisfacfion aside from fhe fraining value? Well, fhey are experiencing a fhrill of playing fine music in a group, music which fhe maiorify of fhem could nof as yef perform indi- vidually. Since fhey have already spenf a good many years conscien- fiously learning fheir insfrumenfs, I cannof fhink of a beffer way of showing fhem why fhey really expend all fhis efforf, and perhaps sfimu- lafe fhem fo fry even harder. I felf fhaf in fhe Iasf concerf we nof only gave a musically safisfying performance, buf also proved again fhaf WHEN THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY. BORIS KOUTZEN

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OrcAe:ifraf jaining If is said fhaf no sfring quarfef is beffer fhan ifs weakesf member. The frufh of fhis sfafemenf is obvious because, in fhe quarfef, fhe abilify of fhe individual player is so exposed. Alfhough if is nof so obvious, fhis sfafemenf is neverfheless equally frue abouf an orchesfra. lf seems fhaf many members of amafeur organizafions, school orchesfras, and nof a few who aspire fo a professional sfanding, have an erroneous idea fhaf fhe minimum fechnical proficiency required in any kind of ensemble playing is nof af all necessary in fhe orchesfra since, in fhe group, one covers fhe ofher players' shorfcomings. However, if does nof happen fo be so, and anyone wifh fairly discriminafe musical fasfe will agree wifh me fhaf fhere is no more afrocious sound fhan, for insfance, imperfecf playing in unison. In fhe orchesfra, ANY SINGLE PLAYER wifh fhe slighfesf deviafion from pifch can produce a fonal disfurbance confrary fo fhe sound of fhe WHOLE orchesfra. Why should any orchesfra be bad, professional or amafeur? A professional orchesfra mighf be bad because ifs personnel, or a parf of if, is unable fo meef fhe demands of a sfandard reperfory wifhin fhe Iimifed fime for rehearsal. The conducfor is obliged fo selecf fhe works nof according fo his players' abilifies, buf wifh an efforf fowards pre- senfing fhe same fype of programs as fhose presenfed by fhe finesf symphonic organizafions. Cfherwise, fhe culfural funcfion of such an orchesfra does nof seem fo be fulfilled. However, no such considerafions should cause amafeur orchesfras fo selecf works beyond fheir fechnical means. This, of course, does nof allow fhem fo play poor music. Through- ouf fhe counfry sfandards will be raised by fhe employmenf of a greafer number of younger, fechnically equipped musicians who have fhe proper affifude fowards orchesfral playing, and who undersfand fhe workings of a beffer orchesfra: whose arfisfic infegrify would nof permif fhem fo hide behind fhe back of someone else and evenfually sink fo a narrow professionalism la precarious exisfencel af fhe leasf. ln our recenf concerf in Wifherspoon Hall, fhe orchesfra acquiffed ifself wifh honor which I affribufe mainly fo a fhorough pracfising of fhe individual parfs. Each sfudenf was sfudying his parf wifh his respec-

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The Fellowship of fhe Philadelphia Conservafory of Music opened ifs fall season by giving a fea parfy in Ocfober for 'rhe new sfudenfs and faculfy. A spirif of friendliness and unselfish inferesf in ofhers per- meafed fhe afmosphere. The annual Chrisfmas Program was given af fhe Efhical Sociefy affer a gracious welcome by Presidenf Lesley Cafhcarf. Many members 'look parf in fhe program of ensemble and solo music. Dr. Dengler led fhe audience in singing Chrisfmas Carols in his inimifable way: resulf, we all sounded like a frained Chorus. Members and friends came fo a recepfion af ZI6. Shorfly, a visifor and his liffle helper arrived fo sur- prise everyone. Perhaps you have a guess: Tired girls were dancing with partners half dead, While nightmares of Concerts danced round in our heads. When what to our wondering eyes should appear, But jolly St. Nick with his elf standing near. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. lThank you B. S.l The Chrisfmas vacafion pasf, we became serious once more. High lighfs in fhe Fellowship Programs included, a lecfure on Confemporary Music by Perry O'Neil in which he persuaded everyone fo guess 'rhe composer, as well as fhe fifle and fhe performers of 'ihe recordings: a fine falk on Arf and ifs relafionship fo Music was given by Keifh Robin- son which sfimulafed a mosf inferesfing and lively discussion. Mrs. Grefchen Amrhein presenfed a comprehensive inferesfing re- sume of a new book, The Lowells. We music sfudenfs liked fhis excursion info hisforical evenfs describing several generafions of mosf giffed cap- able, pioneers, whose descendanfs are men of imporfance foday. Gail Shoemaker and her mofher, Mrs. Orlando Shoemaker, fold us of 'l'he growfh and developmenf of fheir Marioneffe Shows and lei' us become infimafely acquainfed wifh some of fheir charming personages. They are inferesfing liffle characfers, beaufifully wroughf and we hope io see The Sleeping Beaufy soon. Sfudenfs of Dr. Persichef+i's Composifion Class gave a program of fheir mosf recenf works. We fhoroughly enjoyed lisfening fo fhe resulfs of fhis year's developmenf of creafive falenf. Composers of fhe fufure, we salufe you!! Our famous Fellowship Dinner will fake place in May and of course a good 'lime will be had by all. THE ROVING REPORTER