Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-14

BY J. w. CHURCH

LII w S11O MIL
success, Names began seeking ways to aid strug-
CLING young musicians His first great opportunity came
with the founding of the Music School Settlement on
Thrdst, of which he has been the director and guild
ing spirit almost since the beginning
This settlement the first of its kind in the world
and beneath its roof every child of poverty with the
love OF music in its soul finds hearty welcome and
opportunity to develop whatever talent may possess
MANNES, himself living embodiment of the spirit
of music RACES against the usurpaton of his for
professional purposes To stunt and thwart the Joy of
expression by the accepted routine of teaching
cises when child is craving the joy of playing tune,
IS Names notion of crime. To illustrate:
One day he paused moment to speak with poorly
clad woman who to one of the affiliated music
school settlements, of which there twenty-five
in the United States, where Names was holding ex-
aminatons.
aWhat are you playing?H he asked.
Nothing yet. Sir. I'm practising exercises the
piano now. My teacher says can play some day. she
added wistfully.
The directors glance took in the gnarled fingers.
stiened by hard work. 3What would you like to play,
if you could2" he inquired, smiling encouragement.
@Oh, if could only play Nearer, My God, to Thee
I'd be satisfied exclaimed the woman.
@Then YOU shall, right Gomez Names led
the way to piano. and with gentle patience taught the
delighted student to pick out with finger the theme
of her beloved hymn; then the basses and finally the
it with ease, to her everlasting comfort and JOY
Names does not belittle technic; but he believes
that expression comes first and paves the way Once
child feels the inspiration of its music, the desire
for surer clearer expression will inevitably follow and
the study of technc become pleasure rather than
task In the training of professional musicians he has
interest The great appeal is that of the child long
ing to express its emotions through the medium of
music for the love of it.
Three years ago, grateful memory of John Douglas
Names aided in founding the New York Music School
Settlement for Colored People Here, in the Third
Street Settlement he is the inspiration and director
giving freely of his and patience teach the negro
to love his songs and thus perfect the only native
music this country may claim the negro folk music
of the South.
He has created negro orchestra which is being
trained to play symphonies built upon the themes OF
old negro folk songs and hopes through this to awaken
the musicians of America to the wonderful posi-
bilities latent in these long neglected themes.
One of the most interesting of David Names man
efforts has been in aid of the blind musicians Of New
York. Ever seeking the chance to lend practical SUBJ
stantia assistance in the realm of music the thought
occurred that with the of hearing and of touch
heightened by the loss of sight, the blind possessing
even modcum of musical knowledge could be made
excellent piano tuner. His plan meeting with the
approval of the New York Association for the Blind
Names at opened class in piano tuning, with
blind teachers. 1t In its second year,
and has provided many otherwise destitute with
honest, digned profession, which their loss of
sight is actually an aid rather than drawback
Few men have paid their debt their literally
has David Names. For it debt this crucible
of pain and misery through which he passed with the
strange aid of heartbroken negro.