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The National Music of America. 289
the old world. Naturally concerts languished because of the political excitement. Musicians began to emigrate to England and to America, the only two countries which remained calm and prosperous amid the storm.
It was at this time that a number of young musicians came to New York and organised themselves into an orchestra. In 1848 they took the name of "The Germania Orchestra," made Boston their headquarters, and had Carl Lenschow as the first conductor. In 1850 the orchestra consisted of twenty-three musicians, with Carl Bergmann at its head. Among the band was a tall young flute-player, named Carl Zerrahn, who subsequently was made director. This orchestra may be called the first organisation which gave satisfactory performances of the great symphonies in America. The orchestra soon grew to fifty members and even the greatest works, Beethoven's ninth symphony for example, were |
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