Orchestrette Classique
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Orchestrette Classique, later called Orchestrette of New York (1932–1943) was an American
chamber orchestra Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of Musical instrument, instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a Great chamber, palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music ...
in New York made up of women musicians. It was founded in 1932 by conductor
Frédérique Petrides Frédérique Petrides (pronounced peh TREE dis), (September 26, 1903 – January 12, 1983), was a Belgians, Belgian-United States, American conductor and violinist. In 1933, she founded and conducted the Orchestrette Classique in New York City, N ...
(1903–1983), who served as conductor for the group until it ceased operations in 1943. She also founded the West Side Orchestral Concerts.''The New York Times'', obituary
/ref>


A musical anomaly

When, in 1933,
Frédérique Petrides Frédérique Petrides (pronounced peh TREE dis), (September 26, 1903 – January 12, 1983), was a Belgians, Belgian-United States, American conductor and violinist. In 1933, she founded and conducted the Orchestrette Classique in New York City, N ...
lifted her baton to give the first downbeat to the all-women instrumentalists of her Orchestrette Classique, this was an anomaly. Petrides was a pioneer, one of the first women orchestral conductors at a time when the idea of a woman wielding a baton was almost unthinkable.


Founder and conductor, Frédérique Petrides' early years

On September 26, 1903, Frédérique Jeanne Elisabeth Petronella Mayer was born into a privileged life in
Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...
, Belgium. Her mother, Seraphine Sebrechts, an artist of many talents, was a well-known composer and pianist, as well as an accomplished painter and photographer.Jan Bell Groh (1936– ) ''Evening the Score'': Women in Music and the Legacy of
Frédérique Petrides Frédérique Petrides (pronounced peh TREE dis), (September 26, 1903 – January 12, 1983), was a Belgians, Belgian-United States, American conductor and violinist. In 1933, she founded and conducted the Orchestrette Classique in New York City, N ...
,
University of Arkansas Press The University of Arkansas Press is a university press that is part of the University of Arkansas and has been a member of the Association of University Presses since 1984. Its mission is to publish peer-reviewed books and academic journals. It wa ...
, Fayetteville (1991)
It was she who taught Frédérique theory and composition.Women in Music, An Anthology of Source Readings from the Middle Ages to the Present, Edited by Carol-Neuls Bates (1939– ) p. 259,
Harper & Row Harper is an American publishing house, the flagship imprint of global publisher HarperCollins, based in New York City. Founded in New York in 1817 by James Harper and his brother John, the company operated as J. & J. Harper until 1833, when ...
Publishers (1982)
And in 1923, the young musician emigrated to New York with the aim of becoming a conductor.


The Orchestrette

In 1931, she married journalist, Peter Petrides (Petros Agathangelos Petrides; 1896–1978), who wholeheartedly supported her career, and encouraged her to found the Orchestrette Classique, of which he became the manager and publicist. Frédérique Petrides had learned that, in the 1930s, the only avenue open to women conductors was to establish their own orchestras. And in 1933,Jan Bell Groh (1936– ) ''Evening the Score: Women in Music and the Legacy of Frederique Petrides'', Fayetteville (1991),
University of Arkansas Press The University of Arkansas Press is a university press that is part of the University of Arkansas and has been a member of the Association of University Presses since 1984. Its mission is to publish peer-reviewed books and academic journals. It wa ...
, p. 11
she introduced the Orchestrette, an all-women
chamber orchestra Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of Musical instrument, instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a Great chamber, palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music ...
, which had, based on what was being played, thirty to forty players in the ensemble; and which gave five to six concerts annually in Carnegie Chamber Music Hall, now Weill Recital Hall.Women in Music, An Anthology of Source Readings from the Middle Ages to the Present, Edited by Carol Neuls-Bates (1939– ) p. 262,
Harper & Row Harper is an American publishing house, the flagship imprint of global publisher HarperCollins, based in New York City. Founded in New York in 1817 by James Harper and his brother John, the company operated as J. & J. Harper until 1833, when ...
Publishers (1982)


American composers

During its twelve-year existence, the Orchestrette Classique, renamed the Orchestrette of New York in 1942, programmed little known works for small orchestra by established masters, and new work mainly by native and naturalized American composers.Jane Weiner LePage (1931–2008 ), Women composers, conductors, and musicians of the twentieth century, Volume ii, p. 199,
Scarecrow Press Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group is an American independent academic publishing company founded in 1949. Under several imprints, the company offers scholarly books for the academic market, as well as trade books. The company also owns ...
, Metuchen, New Jersey and London (1983)
Very little new music was being presented at the time and the Orchestrette premiered and played works by David Diamond ''(Concerto for Chamber Orchestra)'', commissioned Norman Dello Joio,
Aaron Copland Aaron Copland (, ; November 14, 1900December 2, 1990) was an American composer, critic, writer, teacher, pianist, and conductor of his own and other American music. Copland was referred to by his peers and critics as the "Dean of American Compos ...
''( Quiet City)'',
Samuel Barber Samuel Osmond Barber II (March 9, 1910 – January 23, 1981) was an American composer, pianist, conductor (music), conductor, baritone, and music educator, and one of the most celebrated composers of the mid-20th century. Principally influenced ...
''(
Adagio for Strings ''Adagio for Strings'' is a work by Samuel Barber arranged for string orchestra from the second movement of his String Quartet, Op. 11. Barber finished the arrangement in 1936, the same year that he wrote the quartet. It was performed for th ...
)'', New York PremiereJan Bell Groh (1936– ) ''Evening the Score: Women in Music and the Legacy of Frederique Petrides'',
University of Arkansas Press The University of Arkansas Press is a university press that is part of the University of Arkansas and has been a member of the Association of University Presses since 1984. Its mission is to publish peer-reviewed books and academic journals. It wa ...
, Fayetteville, p. 107 (1991)
Paul Creston Paul Creston (born Giuseppe Guttoveggio; October 10, 1906 – August 24, 1985) was an American composer of classical music. He composed six symphonies and several concertante works for violin, piano, accordion, marimba and saxophone. Biography B ...
''(Partita for Flute and Violin with String Orchestra'' and ''Concerto for Marimba with Orchestra)'', concerto commissioned Julia Smith ''(Episodic Suite)'', commissioned Ulric Cole ''(Two Sketches for String Orchestra)'',Jan Bell Groh (1936– ) ''Evening the Score: Women in Music and the Legacy of Frederique Petrides'',
University of Arkansas Press The University of Arkansas Press is a university press that is part of the University of Arkansas and has been a member of the Association of University Presses since 1984. Its mission is to publish peer-reviewed books and academic journals. It wa ...
p. 103 Fayetteville, (1991)
Henry Cowell Henry Dixon Cowell (; March 11, 1897 – December 10, 1965) was an American composer, writer, pianist, publisher, teacher Marchioni, Tonimarie (2012)"Henry Cowell: A Life Stranger Than Fiction" ''The Juilliard Journal''. Retrieved 19 June 2022.C ...
, ''American Melting Pot,'' Movement 1 Chorale: (Teutonic-American), world premiere
Gian Carlo Menotti Gian Carlo Menotti (, ; July 7, 1911 – February 1, 2007) was an Italian-American composer, libretto, librettist, director, and playwright who is primarily known for his output of 25 operas. Although he often referred to himself as an American ...
''(Pastorale)'',
Ralph Vaughan Williams Ralph Vaughan Williams ( ; 12 October 1872– 26 August 1958) was an English composer. His works include operas, ballets, chamber music, secular and religious vocal pieces and orchestral compositions including nine symphonies, written over ...
, ('' Flos Campi''), US PremiereEdited by Carol Neuls-Bates (1939– ) Women in Music, An Anthology of Source Readings from the Middle Ages to the Present, p. 261,
Harper & Row Harper is an American publishing house, the flagship imprint of global publisher HarperCollins, based in New York City. Founded in New York in 1817 by James Harper and his brother John, the company operated as J. & J. Harper until 1833, when ...
Publishers (1982)
and others.Jan Bell Groh (1936– ) ''Evening the Score: Women in Music and the Legacy of Frederique Petrides'',
University of Arkansas Press The University of Arkansas Press is a university press that is part of the University of Arkansas and has been a member of the Association of University Presses since 1984. Its mission is to publish peer-reviewed books and academic journals. It wa ...
, Fayetteville pp. 25–126, (1991)
The Orchestrette and Petrides received much coverage and praise in the press. Robert Simon, writing in ''
The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. It was founded on February 21, 1925, by Harold Ross and his wife Jane Grant, a reporter for ''The New York T ...
'' on December 12, 1936, sums this up, "She concocts some of the best programs in town."


Premieres by the Orchestrette

*May 1, 1939 –
Samuel Barber Samuel Osmond Barber II (March 9, 1910 – January 23, 1981) was an American composer, pianist, conductor (music), conductor, baritone, and music educator, and one of the most celebrated composers of the mid-20th century. Principally influenced ...
''Adagio for Strings'' Carnegie Chamber Music Hall, now Weill Recital Hall, (New York premiere) * May 3, 1943 –
Henry Cowell Henry Dixon Cowell (; March 11, 1897 – December 10, 1965) was an American composer, writer, pianist, publisher, teacher Marchioni, Tonimarie (2012)"Henry Cowell: A Life Stranger Than Fiction" ''The Juilliard Journal''. Retrieved 19 June 2022.C ...
''American Melting Pot: Set for Chamber Orchestra'', Movement 1, Chorale (Teutonic- American) Carnegie Chamber Music Hall, now Weill Recital Hall, (world premiere) * April 29, 1940 –
Paul Creston Paul Creston (born Giuseppe Guttoveggio; October 10, 1906 – August 24, 1985) was an American composer of classical music. He composed six symphonies and several concertante works for violin, piano, accordion, marimba and saxophone. Biography B ...
, Concertino for marimba and orchestra,'' Ruth Stuber, soloist, Carnegie Chamber Music Hall, now Weill Recital Hall, (world premiere) * October 14, 1940 – David Diamond, Concerto in E-flat major, Lonnie Epstein, soloist (piano), Carnegie Chamber Music Hall, now Weill Recital Hall, (world premiere) * December 10, 1940 – Nikolai Myakowsky, Sinfonietta for string orchestra, Carnegie Chamber Music Hall, now Weill Recital Hall, (US premiere)


An addendum of interest

"An added note of interest—when
Paul Creston Paul Creston (born Giuseppe Guttoveggio; October 10, 1906 – August 24, 1985) was an American composer of classical music. He composed six symphonies and several concertante works for violin, piano, accordion, marimba and saxophone. Biography B ...
was a young composer and unknown, it was Frédérique Petrides and her orchestra who premiered many of his compositions. Eventually his works were conducted by
Arturo Toscanini Arturo Toscanini (; ; March 25, 1867January 16, 1957) was an Italian conductor. He was one of the most acclaimed and influential musicians of the late 19th and early 20th century, renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orche ...
,
Leopold Stokowski Leopold Anthony Stokowski (18 April 1882 – 13 September 1977) was a British-born American conductor. One of the leading conductors of the early and mid-20th century, he is best known for his long association with the Philadelphia Orchestra. H ...
,
Eugene Ormandy Eugene Ormandy (born Jenő Blau; November 18, 1899 – March 12, 1985) was a Hungarian-born American conductor and violinist, best known for his association with the Philadelphia Orchestra, as its music director. His 44-year association with ...
and others. When he wrote ''Chant of 1942'', Toscanini requested his permission to premiere the composition. Creston refused, saying permission would be granted only after the Orchestrette of New York played it. The piece was dedicated to Petrides and he remained true to the conductor who had given him his early opportunities. Eventually he added to the piece, and the
New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic is an American symphony orchestra based in New York City. Known officially as the ''Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc.'', and globally known as the ''New York Philharmonic Orchestra'' (NYPO) or the ''New Yo ...
programmed the composition.


A comment from a critic

''The World Telegram'' on April 22, 1941, printed, "When Miss Petrides runs short of standard material, she never delves among the sub-standard. She seeks instead the new and unfamiliar, and not once in eight seasons of concerts has she offered dullness as a substitute for guaranteed pleasure."


World War II

Because the Orchestrette of New York was an ensemble of outstanding women musicians, with the advent of the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and the draft, many of its instrumentalists were, for the first time, offered positions in the major symphony orchestras, as replacements for their masculine counterparts who were joining the front lines. Petrides, not wanting to stand in the way of her players' advancement, elected to disband the Orchestrette, which gave its last performance in 1943. From then on, until the end of her career in 1977, Frédérique Petrides conducted mixed orchestras and continued to program little known compositions by classical composers, and premieres of new works.


The Orchestrette publication ('Women in Music' newsletter)

In addition to leading the Orchestrette, from 1935 to 1940, with the help of her husband, Frédérique Petrides edited and published the ''
Women in Music Women in music play many roles and are responsible for a broad range of contributions in the industry. They continue to help shape movements, genres, and trends as composers, songwriters, instrumental performers, singers, conductors, and mu ...
'' newsletters, under the auspices of the ''Orchestrette''. The only music periodical of its kind, it chronicled and championed the activities of women musicians from ancient Egyptian times to the then present. It was a publication with a circulation of over 2,500.


About the musicians

In 1981, some forty-eight years after she founded the Orchestrette Classique Madame Petrides said:
I kept my orchestra small because I wanted quality musicians—most of the women in the group were studying at the
Curtis Institute The Curtis Institute of Music is a private conservatory in Philadelphia. It offers a performance diploma, a Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in opera, and a Professional Studies Certificate in opera. All students attend on a full scholarshi ...
, and the
Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a Private university, private performing arts music school, conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became ...
. One must remember that at that time only a very few women played
bassoon The bassoon is a musical instrument in the woodwind family, which plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuosity ...
,
oboe The oboe ( ) is a type of double-reed woodwind instrument. Oboes are usually made of wood, but may also be made of synthetic materials, such as plastic, resin, or hybrid composites. The most common type of oboe, the soprano oboe pitched in C, ...
,
horn Horn may refer to: Common uses * Horn (acoustic), a tapered sound guide ** Horn antenna ** Horn loudspeaker ** Vehicle horn ** Train horn *Horn (anatomy), a pointed, bony projection on the head of various animals * Horn (instrument), a family ...
,
clarinet The clarinet is a Single-reed instrument, single-reed musical instrument in the woodwind family, with a nearly cylindrical bore (wind instruments), bore and a flared bell. Clarinets comprise a Family (musical instruments), family of instrume ...
and
trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz musical ensemble, ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest Register (music), register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitche ...
. Parents did not want their daughters playing these instruments because they were not considered ladylike. My idea was to keep the Orchestrette small and show what could be accomplished by good musicians—I did not stress women musicians. They were talented and many of my players were trained by excellent teachers from the
New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic is an American symphony orchestra based in New York City. Known officially as the ''Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc.'', and globally known as the ''New York Philharmonic Orchestra'' (NYPO) or the ''New Yo ...
. The concerts were unique since I programmed little-known works by the great masters, as well as premiering new works by young American composers. The concerts were usually given on Monday evenings because the Philharmonic Orchestra did not perform that evening, and the music critics were available. We added a new musical dimension to the life of the city.


Members (and soloists)

* Hinda Barnett, violin, concert-master * Anne Berger-Littman, violin * Beulah Bernstein, flute * Frances Blaisdell flute * Anne Brown * Lilli Busse, violin * Ruth Cubbage, flute * Helen Enser, horn * Lonny Epstein, piano and soloist * Frances Fletcher, soloist * Ruth Freeman, flute * Susan Kessler * Isabella Leon, viola * Eugenie Limberg, violin, viola * Frances Magnes, violin, soloist * William Masselos piano, soloist * Beatrice Merlau, clarinet * Florence Nicolaides, viola * Rhea Onhaus, cello * Julio Oyanguren, guitar soloist * Betty Paret, harp soloist * Virginia Payton, soloist * Lois Platt, flute * Shirley Portnoi, violin and soloist * Carolyn Potter, bass * Frieda Reisberg, violin * Lillian Rosenfield, violin * Zena Scherer, violin * Margaret Rosov Schillinger, violin * Doris Schirmeister, trumpet * Frances Shapiro, violin soloist * Elizabeth Shugart, violin * Ilene Skolnak, violin * Julia Smith piano, composer * Ellen Stone, horn * Ruth Stuber, tympani and marimba * Hetty K. Turnbull, horn * Lois Wann, oboe, soloist"Lois Wann, 87, an Oboist and Teacher"
obituary, ''The New York Times'', March 8, 1999. Retrieved March 23, 2011.


Sources

* ''Frédérique Petrides Papers,'' Classmark JPB 83-3, Music Division of the
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center, is located at 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, in the Lincoln Center complex on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, New York City. Situated between the Metropolitan O ...
,
Lincoln Center Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (also simply known as Lincoln Center) is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It has thirty indoor and outdoor facilities and is host to 5  ...
* ''Frédérique Petrides, Leader In Women's Music Activities,'' ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', January 13, 1983 * Jan Bell Groh (1936– ), ''Evening the Score: Women in Music and the Legacy of Frédérique Petrides,''
University of Arkansas Press The University of Arkansas Press is a university press that is part of the University of Arkansas and has been a member of the Association of University Presses since 1984. Its mission is to publish peer-reviewed books and academic journals. It wa ...
, Fayetteville (1991) * Jane Weiner LePage (1931–2008 ), Women composers, conductors, and musicians of the twentieth century, Volume ii,
Scarecrow Press Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group is an American independent academic publishing company founded in 1949. Under several imprints, the company offers scholarly books for the academic market, as well as trade books. The company also owns ...
, Metuchen, New Jersey and London (1983) * ''Women in Music – An Anthology of Source Readings from the Middle Ages to the Present'', edited by Carol Neuls-Bates (1939– ), Harper & Row, Publishers (1982) * Pendle, Karin Swanson, PhD (1939– ), ''Women in Music,''
Indiana University Press Indiana University Press, also known as IU Press, is an academic publisher founded in 1950 at Indiana University that specializes in the humanities and social sciences. Its headquarters are located in Bloomington, Indiana. IU Press publishes ...
(2001)


References


External links


Frédérique Petrides Images, New York Public Library

Frédérique Petrides Papers. New York Public Library

Julia Smith Correspondence
Retrieved March 9, 2011 {{authority control 1932 establishments in New York (state) 1943 disestablishments in New York (state) Disbanded American orchestras Chamber orchestras Women's orchestras Orchestras based in New York City Musical groups established in 1932 Musical groups disestablished in 1943 Women in New York City History of New York City History of women in New York (state)