ABSTRACT
In 1927, when the motion picture sound track made live film music obsolete, one unanticipated result was catastrophic unemployment for musicians. National relief efforts for musicians started with an experiment by the Civil Works Administration in 1934. The conductor is the single most important individual involved with the interpretation of music by an orchestra. The Civic Symphony frequently presented entire programs of American music for special occasions. The popularity of the Civic benefited from its use of local soloists. Great public support developed in Philadelphia when people realized that local talent was being both recognized and encouraged. The Civic Symphony provided a unique opportunity for American composers during the Depression, particularly local people who had worked in obscurity. The social function of the Civic Symphony was just as important as the employment practices of the Philadelphia Federal Music Project.
