A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Philharmonic Society of New York, The
PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, THE, founded April 5, 1842, incorporated Feb. 17, 1853. Its object is the cultivation and performance of instrumental music. Its first concert was given at the Apollo Rooms, December 7, 1842. Concerts have since been regularly given in each season, that of April 12, 1879, being the 181st. The Chinese Rooms, Niblo's Garden, Irving Hall, and the Academy of Music have been successively used for the concerts and public rehearsals. The use of the latter, begun November 19, 1859, was suspended April 20, 186i,by the destruction by fire of the theatre, and resumed November 7, 1863, Irving Hall in the meanwhile furnishing an auditorium. The concerts have always been of a high order, the orchestra large and efficient, and the programmes presenting selections frojn a broad range of composers, and the usual variety of vocal and instrumental solos, with an occasional choral work. The management of the affairs of the society remains entirely in the hands of the 'Actual Members,' each of whom must 'be an efficient performer on some instrument,' and a permanent resident in the city or its immediate vicinity for one year preceding his nomination. The orchestra consists of these 'Actual Members' only, who now (1879) number 96, and among whom are divided the profits arising from each season's course of concerts. The rules for admission and for discipline after admission are exceedingly strict. Rigid adherence to them has done much towards establishing and maintaining the high reputation enjoyed by the organisation. Four other grades of membership are included in the society's lists:—Associates, admitted to public rehearsals and concerts on payment of the sum annually stipulated by the society; Subscribers, entitled to two tickets for each regular concert, the price being a matter of annual regulation; Honorary, title conferred on the most eminent artists in music, by the unanimous consent of the Actual Members; Honorary Aseociate, conferred on meritorious individuals not belonging to the musical profession. The names of Julius Benedict (1850) and of Madame Parepa-Rosa (1870) appear in the list of Honorary members.
The following is a list of the conductors:—H. C. Timm (1842–45); E. J. Loder (1846–48); U. C. Hill (1849–51); Theodore Eisfeld (1852–60); Carl Bergmann (1861–75); Leopold Damrosch(1876); Theodore Thomas (1877); Adolph Neuendorff (1878). The headquarters of the association are at Aschenbrodel's Club-house, No. 74, East 4th Street. Its large and comprehensive library is kept at No. 333, East 18th Street. The following officers were chosen at the annual meeting, April 1879:—Julius Hallgarten, president; Edward Boehm, vice-president; David Schaad, secretary; John Godone, treasurer; and six others directors. Theodore Thomas was chosen conductor for the 38th season, 1879–80.