Stokowski's School

Napoleon said the baton of a field marshal was hidden in the knapsack of every soldier. Leopold Stokowski, Little Corporal of orchestra directors, believes the baton of a conductor may be concealed in the sleeve of each and every man in his famed Philadelphia Orchestra. Following the resignations last week of assistant conductor Artur Rodzinski, who goes to the Coast as leader of the Los Angeles Philharmonic; of concert master Mischa Mischakoff, who blurted that he was leaving because of Stokowski's "rude and unfair treatment"; and of David Dubinsky, leader of the second violins, who deserted for reasons he would not discuss-- the autocrat of musicians turned democrat and announced not only that every player was a potential conductor, but that each would be given a chance to prove it. Conductor Stokowski explained: "I am going to have them conduct at rehearsals. The plan has other interesting possibilities. Often the first player of an instrument will wish to conduct. This will result not only in giving him the experience he desires but in enabling the second player to play first and the third player to play the second instrument. Thus all will gain in experience." Disinterested music-lovers eyed the experiment with interest. Philadelphians whispered that it was only a gesture by a haughty man, that Conductor Stokowski's orchestra was rising at last against his regime and this was his way of "making character." Stokowski is supposed to have remarked on the occasion which resulted in his concert master's resignation: "Gentlemen, gentlemen, will the first violins play together ! And will the virtuosos please condescend to join them."