On
Wednesday January 16, 2013,
a very special event took place at Glessner
House Museum. Nearly 60 guests were on hand to commemorate
the 100th anniversary of the presentation of a miniature model of
the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to Frances Glessner. Handcrafted by her daughter, Frances Glessner
Lee, the model has been in the possession of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
since 1921, and has only been displayed on rare occasion since that time.
The
model was returned to its original location in the alcove of the courtyard
guestroom, and a new stage and potted palms were recreated to make the display
as accurate as possible to the original setting as envisioned by Frances
Glessner Lee.
The
evening began with a dinner for 30 people in the historic dining room of the
house. The dinner commemorated the 100th
anniversary of a dinner hosted by John and Frances Glessner on January 17, 1913 to which the
entire Orchestra was invited along with other guests, 105 people total! Special guests at the 2013 dinner included
three staff members from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as well as several
descendants of those who attended the 1913 dinner – a great-granddaughter of
conductor Frederick Stock (shown above examining the model), and four grandchildren of concertmaster Harry
Weisbach (shown below with spouses).
The
dinner began with a very special musical treat for the guests. The miniature orchestra features music on
each music stand handwritten and arranged by Frederick Stock.
The piece is “The Drum Major of Schneider’s Band” with words and music
by Arthur J. Mundy, published in 1880.
The piece was a favorite of Frances Glessner, who frequently played it
on the piano. Glessner House Museum
Executive Director and Curator William Tyre played the piece on the piano,
accompanying Chicago Symphony Orchestra Archivist Frank Villella, who sang the
charming lyrics, with just the right Germanic emphasis on the words.
Following
the dinner, all 60 guests assembled in the coach house for an informative
lecture by Tyre
on the Glessners and their long association with the Orchestra. Using Frances Glessner’s journal and a
treasure trove of letters from the first two conductors of the Orchestra –
Theodore Thomas and Frederick Stock – Tyre
told the intimate story of the Glessners and “their” orchestra (as they often
referred to it). From the Orchestra’s
early years of struggle to the completion of Orchestra Hall, and from the
sudden death of Thomas in 1905 to Stock’s forced resignation during World War I
(due to his German citizenship), the lecture presented the history of one of
the city’s greatest cultural assets from a very personal perspective.
To
conclude the evening, visitors had a chance to “meet” the star of the evening -
the miniature orchestra on display in the guestroom. It will remain on display through Sunday
February 24 and can be seen as part of regular public tours.
Channel
7’s Frank Mathie did a segment on the miniature orchestra which aired on January 15, 2013. To view the segment, click on the link below:
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