Stokowski Quits

Leopold Stokowski, the platinum-blond maestro of Philadelphia and Hollywood, has lately been experimenting with Army bands. His conclusions (to abolish the clarinet, to send bands playing into modern battle aboard tanks and trucks) last week came in for criticism in Congress. Said Ohio's Representative George H. Bender: "Picture the possibilities. As the tank dips into a sharp and unexpected hollow, the cries of anguish from the perturbed saxophone players would probably frighten the enemy to a quick and decisive retreat, unless the soldiers themselves would first throw up their guns in anguish to shut their ears. Having seen some of the tanks in action recently in camp maneuvers, we can understand Mr. Stokowski's determination to avoid the use of clarinets. On some of those dips, certainly many of the clarinets would be swallowed forever."

Last fortnight Maestro Stokowski had done some criticizing himself. In firm, rayon tones he announced his resignation as conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Said he, with reference to his critics: "I have always tried to give Philadelphia beauty through music because I believe in beauty and truth. If the atmosphere surrounding my conducting is to be untruth and ugliness, I cannot give of my best." It appeared that next season, for the first time in 29 years, Stokowski really would not wave pale hands over the orchestra which he had made one of the two or three plushiest-sounding in the world.

In recent years, Stokowski has been Philadelphia's conductor more in name than in fact. While he gadded, the orchestra's responsibilities fell upon the dependable shoulders of Hungarian-born Eugene Ormandy. Now Ormandy has a five-year contract as full conductor. One cause of the final break between Stokowski and the orchestra's directors: competition between the Maestro's Columbia recordings with his All American Youth Orchestra and his Victor recordings with the Philadelphians (on which Stokowski and the orchestra association share royalties). Stokowski said simply that he would be busy with a new youth orchestra ("better than last year's") and with the service of his country.

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