FAMOUS BANKER-MUSICIAN
DEATH OF FOUNDER OF BOSTON SYMPHONY OECHBSTKA. The death of Major Henry I. Higginson. banker and founder of the Boston Svmuhonv Orchestra, octurred at Boston ai.S.A.I on November 15 Inst. Major Hiiirinson died after an operation performcd Jiirinsr tlio nfternoon. 110 hnd been at tlio hospital bub a few hours. Had lie /'ved until the following Tuesday Major Iligginson would have boon eishtv-five years of age. \ Although head of tlio firm of Lee, Higcinson and Co., bankers, Major Higginson was nrobabl.v most widely known through his association jritli ,tho Symphony Orchestra. He had been a member of the banking firm since 1808. Mhior Himrinsori established tho Boston Symphony Orchestra in, 1881. In years that followed lie obtained tlio services of .expert players from the musical canitals of Burope. and engaged conductors of tho first rank, who gradually developed the organisation until it becamo one of tho foremost orchestras of the world. Only in on or two years did tho concorts v ield a net rovenuo; in every other year until his death Mr. Higginson mode ui> the deficit from his own pocket. One of his announced purposes in founding tlio orchestra was to provide firstclass music for people of 6inall means, nnd from tho start ho arranged that several hundred seats at tho Friday afternoon rehearsals should bo sold at twentjrfivp cents each. Theso "rehearsals" in later years cariio to be concerts in full form. The Symphony Orchestra Mr. Higginson considered his hobby rather than a nhilaiithrouv. Ho orco eaid that it was to him what a yacht, a racing stable, a' library, or an art gallery wero to other .men of wealth. Mr. Hiirprinson was born in Now York citv on November IS, 1831, but sjient most of his lifo in Boston. He studied at Harvard, but left before completing his course to enter a counting-house. In 18M he went to Vienna, where ho studied music for a year. Ho served for three voars in the Civil' War, was several times wounded and was discharged for disability in 1801, with the rank of major and brevet-lieutenant-coloncl. Returnins to Boston, he entered tho banking business, mid for many years beaded tho firm of Leo, Higginson and Co., Tn 18!W Maim- Higginson presented to Harvard. a« a inomorial to Harvard men who wero killed in the war, Soldiers' Field, the athletic grounds on a part of which tho Harvard Stadium now stands. Nine years later ho mado a gift of 150,000 dollars to the university for the erection of the Harvard Union. Since 1893 he had been a member of tho Harvard Corporation, and becamo well known to tho students though his frequent addresses' to them. He was awarded tho degree of master of arts by Harvard and that of doctor of laws by Yale.
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 84, 3 January 1920, Page 10
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466FAMOUS BANKER-MUSICIAN Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 84, 3 January 1920, Page 10
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