Publisher's Synopsis
An excerpt from the GENERAL REMARKS.
THE popularity of the community orchestra has reached a stage where it would seem that every small city and town laying claim to any musical talent whatsoever aspires to have one of these organizations of its own.
The writer, for many years actively interested in amateur musical affairs, conducting and playing in various organizations, having been- the recipient of numerous inquiries from parties about to organize community orchestras aims in this article to anticipate similar questions. It is also written in response to and prompted by the remark made to us frequently by out-of-town parties: "We wish that we could have a community orchestra in our town but we have no one to organize or conduct it." Although many of these places have their town hand still they realize that an orchestra is an entirely different proposition requiring a treatment of another kind owing to the diverse elements that enter into its composition.
For years we have endeavored to find a book that we could suggest which would answer inquiries on the subject of the organization and conducting of the amateur orchestra, but strange as it may seem, we have so far been unable to find such a one dealing with the subject in a manner that would be of any real service to the conductor of the community orchestra. True there are many most excellent books treating on special subjects in the line of orchestral work which, while they are of value to the advanced music student or for reference to the musician, would be of but limited use to the amateur in his step by step advancement in the formation of his orchestra. Therefore it is our aim to give in this article the essential information which the amateur conductor of the community orchestra needs to attain musical excellence which should be his ideal.
