Scan 313
The American history and encyclopedia of music, 1908
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1Cornet announces that "the orchestra will attend at American or French societies, if required."
3It was not until after the Revolutionary War that Baltimore showed a marked interest in instrumental music. On Sept. 28, 1786, Philip Phile, a violinist, was given a benefit in Baltimore. Phile's name is closely associated with orchestra work both in that city and in Philadelphia. To Baltimore, in 1791, came Alexander Reinagle, with a reputation as an excellent performer on the harpsichord as well as that of conductor and composer. He prepared good programs and added a dignity to the musical life of this southern city. In Virginia, before the close of the Eighteenth Century there were several cities more or less interested in bands of instrumental music or orchestras. Williamsburg, Richmond, Fredericksburg, Alexandria, Norfolk and Petersburg, all enjoyed a musical life.
5Reference has been made in a previous chapter to the festival given by Andrew Adgate's classes in May, 1786, in Philadelphia, in which a chorus of two hundred and thirty voices and an orchestra of fifty took part. This undoubtedly was America's first pretentious orchestra. The festival was suggested by the Handel Commemoration Concerts given in Westminster Abbey in May and June of 1784.
7Under the direction of Benjamin Carr, George Gillingham and others, a concert in which amateurs and professionals took part was given at Oeller's Hotel, Philadelphia, on April 8, 1794. This was the first of a series of six subscription concerts, taking place weekly, in which an orchestra was the chief feature of entertainment. It is interesting to note that in this particular concert the novelty was the playing by the full orchestra of Kotzwara's "Battle of Prague," a composition which enjoyed unrivaled popularity until the middle of the Nineteenth Century, when it gave place to the "Maiden's Prayer."
9In 1790 an orchestra of ten was engaged regularly in giving open-air concerts in "Gray's Gardens," Philadelphia. This orchestra offered rather a high standard of music and seems to have been well appreciated. Here appeared a violin
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