THE OLD GERMANIA ORCHESTRA. 
IOI 
The same evening the orchestra held a 
meeting in a gloomy back room at the 
“ White Swan,” and unanimously voted that 
affairs were desperate. To extricate them- 
selves seemed a very forlorn hope. A num- 
ber of propositions were made and rejected, 
one of the most amusing proceeding from 
the commander of the drums, Herr Njorth. 
The worthy drummer was the possessor of a 
very charming wife who was, withal, an 
“ expert ” at dancing, and Herr Njorth 
thought if she would appear between the 
parts of the programme in a dance or two it 
might produce an effect. Some of the mem- 
bers, the more youthful ones, seemed to 
favor the proposition. But it was indig- 
nantly voted down by the older ones, who 
regarded such an innovation with a holy 
horror. The meeting ended in nothing, 
save a general desire to be home again, and 
they separated still undecided as to their 
future. 
In Philadelphia, as in New York, the few 
who were good judges of a musical per- 
formance were mortified and indignant at 
the wretched success of these concerts. 
They justly regarded it a calamity quite 
as great in its effects on our own public as 
on the visiting musicians. The only repara- 
tion in their power took shape, as in New 
York, in a complimentary concert, at which 
the orchestra was associated with the famous 
violoncellist, George Knoop. This concert, 
which was one of the finest ever given 
in Philadelphia, took place on the 6th of 
January. We will add here the programme 
entire, since it reveals a degree of richness 
totally beyond the experience of music- 
lovers at that day: 
1 . Overture to “ J essonda ” Spohr. 
2. Duo. Violin and Violoncello, on Styrian Airs. 
Performed by Messrs. Wm. Schultze and 
Geo. Knoop. 
3. Septette, opus 20 Beethoven. 
4. Overture, C minor Lenschow. 
5. Concerto for Violoncello G. Knoop. 
6. Concertino for two flutes, from “ Robert le Diable.” 
Performed by Messrs. Carl Zerrahn and 
P. Pfeiffer. 
7. Double Quartette Spohr. 
8. Duo. Violin and Violoncello, from “William Tell.” 
9. Overture. “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” 
Mendelssohn . 
A bill so replete with sterling composi- 
tions as the above would be creditable 
even in these days. Twenty-three years 
ago it was nothing less than a musical mar- 
vel; and when given, as it was, before a 
crowded and attentive audience, and by 
slich conscientious musicians, the effect pro- 
duced may be imagined. For years after- 
ward the “Germania and Knoop concert” 
was a subject of pleasant memories and fre- 
quent reference by many who had heard it. 
One such success as this, however, could 
not bolster up the waning fortunes of the 
orchestra. The men were out of money 
and out of spirits. After some further de- 
liberation they resolved to disband and 
each shift for himself. One joined the 
United States service as band-master; a 
few returned to New York, but the greater 
number remained in Philadelphia. If they 
had possessed the means it is quite probable 
they would have hastened back to their 
native land with the utmost expedition. 
A few weeks after the orchestra had sepa- 
rated, a profitable engagement offered at 
Washington, to give four concerts and to 
perform at an “Assembly Ball,” and the 
grand Inauguration • Ball. The offer was, 
of course, accepted, and the dispersed mem- 
bers hastily recalled. After the inauguration 
festivities the Society concluded to try con- 
certs again. This time they fixed upon Bal- 
timore, and on the 8th of March gave their 
first performance in that city, at Brown’s 
building; the more fashionable resort, Car- 
roll Hall, being engaged by Gungl’s band, 
which performed the same evening. 
The condition of musical taste in Balti- 
more at the present day is not very flourish- 
ing. The receipts of the symphony concerts, 
which were directed by Mr. L. H. Southard, 
of the Peabody Institute, for several years, 
fell short of the expenses. The field, gener- 
ally, has been so far from promising, that 
Mr. Southard, after a number of years spent 
in trying to cultivate it, some time ago aban- 
doned the undertaking and went back to 
Boston. The honor, however, was reserved 
for Baltimore at that early day, to accord the 
first genuine success to the Germania So- 
ciety. At the first concert, although the hall 
was by no means crowded, the demonstra- 
tions of pleasure and approval were more 
decided than the players had before heard 
anywhere. A second performance, on the 
following evening, was still better, and a gen- 
eral excitement was created. A mass at the 
Cathedral followed on Sunday, and the same 
evening a sacred concert was given at Zion 
Church with the greatest possible success. 
Gungl and his orchestra returned abruptly to 
New York, leaving the Germanians in pos- 
session of the field, and of Carroll Hall. 
But Carroll Hall proved soon to be too 
small for the increasing crowds, and the per- 
