The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-06-20
WILL ENCOURAGE
HOMEMADE MUSIC
Branch of American Society to
Be Established in This
Community
National Vice President of the
Organization Aids in the
Local Work
By WALTER ANTHONY


Wednesday evening the first steps
We're taken looking to the establish
ment here Of a san Francisco cen
ter OF the American music society.
Final arrangements for a permanent
organization are being effected now,
and Eugene Rowland. vice president
OF the society. is at this writing on his
way from Los Angeles to participate
in the beginning of what must prove
a great institution
I have watched with some interest
the spread of the centers of this So
ciety across the land and have Won
dered how long it would be before San
Francisco was linked to the east in
the harmony of concerted work for
the advancement of American music.
II has come now, although we are a
little behind Los Angeles in recogniz-
ing the Importance of the movement
The southern city already has a cen
ter" and the president is Rowland. a
prominent member Of the Los Angeles
musical community and vice president
OF the national organization.
At the, meeting held last Wednesday
at Eiler's hall there were present: Wal
lace Sabin. William J. Mccoy, Louis H.
Eaton, n. Perlet, J. B. Levison. H.
Bretherick, A Locher, Hiss Rita Slater.
Miss Alyce Gates. S. Savannah. Mrs.
Susie Taylor Miss Anna Wythe
Nine Bardeilfni. Fred Zech. E. NJ.
Hecht Louis Lisser and other must
clans from our local and amateur cir
cles. A. committee was appointed on
permanent organization. 1t viii report
next "Wednesday night at S o'clock,
waen Is is believed that an even
large gathering Of musicians and
music lovers viii be on hand 10 en-
courage the important work which this
society stands pledged TO further. The
Committee which is drafting forms IN
Ger which to organize is composed of
!. B. Levison. J. G. Howard. l. H.
Eaton. Fred zeeb and W. J. Mccoy.
The organization OF the American
lIuslc society was frst suggested when
Arthur Farweil. one of our most en-
Ightened and progressive musicians.
returned from Germany in 1899 He
came back fun OF admiration for the
feeling OF natioaaHsm which he found
prevalent in The centers OF German art.
Tie spirit which was fostered by the
AIgemeine Deutsche Musik verein.
founded by Franz List in weimar IN
1851 had become universal throughout
Germany and had added weight to the
musical authority with which the Teu-
ton speaks.
Two years after FarwelFs return he
organized the Wa Wan society, one of
the aims Of which was to see that
American composers got their best and
not their worst music published. In
passing it might be mentioned that
Kelley had his group of songs from
Edgar Allen POEM which is the i'm
mortal song. Israfaew-published by
the Wa Vans No other publisher
would undertake the risk of putting
forth so uncompromisingly fine a work.
The name or the society was taken
from the American Indian, in order to
give an idea OF the exclusively native
character of the work TO be attempted.
How many compositions found their
way to singers and instrumentaIists
through the press Of the Wa Vans l
am not able to state, but IL they did
nothing else than publish the compost
ton named and some of FarweIPs
adaptations from Indian music their
work was well rewarded.
In 1905 the Wa Wan enterprise was
followed up by the American music
society Of Boston. Each followed its
own line Of work, but it was found that
in order to spread the gospel Of native
music, cohesive and vigorous efforts
would have TO be made. Hence came
the society in its present form.
1t is planned to have in this city
three classes of members. There will
be the professional class, composed of
those whose livelihood is directly
gained from music; there will be the
amateurs. students and music lovers
generally. who wish to identity them
selves with so worthy a cause. and
then there will be the patrons class.
comprising those interested in the de-
veIopment Of the nations art and who
are willing TO subscribe a little extra
70 that end Tickets for the concerts
which the society win give from time
TO time VIII be issued in proportion to
the amount Of dues subscribed.
Local composers will be encouraged
to develop their original gifts. One
concert Will be devoted to playing the
manuscript music submitted anony-
moUsly to a committee. which will
choose what it deems TO be the most
worthy. These selections will be given
a public hearing There will be one
orchestral concert each season. devoted
TO the presentation of American
music by composers here and else
where, and another concert will be
given OF general works in the smaller
forms by native writers.
Nothing can be more certain that
there viii, never be good orchestral
music written unless it is played. How
ever dexterous writer may be and
free in his theories. he can not fly very
far into the realms Of music until his
liz