Symphony six
Encyclopedia
The Symphony six were a group of Canadian musicians who were denied permission to enter the United States.
was invited to perform at the Masonic Auditorium in Detroit, as part of the Major Symphony Series on November 27, 1951. (This was its first concert in the United States.) At this time in the United States, McCarthyism
had created suspicion of people with real or suggested links to left-wing politics
. When the names of all who would be going on the trip were submitted to US immigration, they refused visas for six musicians, without explanation. Replacements were found, and the concert went on as planned.
Around the same time, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
had an extensive tour of the US planned, and had entry refused for a few of its members. They cancelled the whole tour, and many were to suggest later that the TSO should have done the same thing. The six musicians were: Dirk Keetbaas (flute), William Kuinka (bass), Abe Mannheim (bass), John Moskalyk (violin), Ruth Budd (bass), and Steven Staryk
(violin). At the end of the season, with more American concerts planned for the orchestra, all six did not have their contracts renewed. They got together and wrote to their local union; however, the union agreed with the original board decision to let the Symphony Six go.
The story created controversy when it became public, and got media attention across the country, and internationally. Many people wrote letters to the TSO and some subscribers cancelled their subscriptions. Members of the orchestra board disagreed, leading to two resignations. The orchestra's conductor, Sir Ernest MacMillan
, avoided stating an opinion about the incident. He was criticised for this. The six were subject to suspicion, and avoided by other musicians who wished to avoid guilt by association
. In 1952, the six had many meetings, with the Civil Liberties Association
, the Toronto board of control, the Toronto Musicians' Association, and the TSO Board, but the matter was not decided in their favor.
Speculating about possible reasons for the restrictions, Staryk related that he had played at Ukrainian and other ethnic events, and Budd, that she had been a member of a left-wing youth group. However, Harry Freedman
, who was on the board of the musician's union at the time, stated that he was not aware of any of the six promoting communism.
History
The Toronto Symphony OrchestraToronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
was invited to perform at the Masonic Auditorium in Detroit, as part of the Major Symphony Series on November 27, 1951. (This was its first concert in the United States.) At this time in the United States, McCarthyism
McCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by...
had created suspicion of people with real or suggested links to left-wing politics
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
. When the names of all who would be going on the trip were submitted to US immigration, they refused visas for six musicians, without explanation. Replacements were found, and the concert went on as planned.
Around the same time, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is a symphony orchestra of the Netherlands, based at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In 1988, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands conferred the "Royal" title upon the orchestra...
had an extensive tour of the US planned, and had entry refused for a few of its members. They cancelled the whole tour, and many were to suggest later that the TSO should have done the same thing. The six musicians were: Dirk Keetbaas (flute), William Kuinka (bass), Abe Mannheim (bass), John Moskalyk (violin), Ruth Budd (bass), and Steven Staryk
Steven Staryk
Steven Sam Staryk, OC is a Canadian violin virtuoso.Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada of Ukrainian descent, he began his musical education as a child at the Harbord Collegiate Institute...
(violin). At the end of the season, with more American concerts planned for the orchestra, all six did not have their contracts renewed. They got together and wrote to their local union; however, the union agreed with the original board decision to let the Symphony Six go.
The story created controversy when it became public, and got media attention across the country, and internationally. Many people wrote letters to the TSO and some subscribers cancelled their subscriptions. Members of the orchestra board disagreed, leading to two resignations. The orchestra's conductor, Sir Ernest MacMillan
Ernest MacMillan
Sir Ernest Alexander Campbell MacMillan, CC was an internationally renowned Canadian orchestral conductor and composer, and Canada's only "Musical Knight". He is widely regarded as being Canada's pre-eminent musician, from the 1920s through the 1950s...
, avoided stating an opinion about the incident. He was criticised for this. The six were subject to suspicion, and avoided by other musicians who wished to avoid guilt by association
Association fallacy
An association fallacy is an inductive informal fallacy of the type hasty generalization or red herring which asserts that qualities of one thing are inherently qualities of another, merely by an irrelevant association. The two types are sometimes referred to as guilt by association and honor by...
. In 1952, the six had many meetings, with the Civil Liberties Association
Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association or CCLA, is Canada's leading national organization devoted to the defence of civil liberties and constitutional rights, both inside and outside the courts. The organization's work focuses on constitutional litigation, law reform, advocating on civil...
, the Toronto board of control, the Toronto Musicians' Association, and the TSO Board, but the matter was not decided in their favor.
Speculating about possible reasons for the restrictions, Staryk related that he had played at Ukrainian and other ethnic events, and Budd, that she had been a member of a left-wing youth group. However, Harry Freedman
Harry Freedman
Harry Freedman , was a Canadian composer, english hornist, and music educator of Polish birth. He wrote a significant amount of symphonic works, including several film scores, and also composed a substantial amount of chamber music...
, who was on the board of the musician's union at the time, stated that he was not aware of any of the six promoting communism.