"So in one leap we had gone from being a friendly society to something almost professional"

This quote by Neville Marriner is referring to the change of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, a chamber orchestra he established in 1958. Marriner is revealing the remarkable modification that the orchestra underwent in a brief time period. The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields began as a small, informal group of artists who were passionate about playing music together. However, with Marriner's leadership, the orchestra quickly grew in size and track record, becoming an expert ensemble. Marriner's quote is a testament to the hard work and devotion of the artists and himself, as they were able to take the orchestra from a friendly society to something almost professional in one leap. This improvement was an exceptional accomplishment, and Marriner's quote is a tip of the power of cooperation and devotion.