The Washington times., 1913-07-06
HUGE SUMS SPENT
ON MUSIC IN j. s.
Total Expenditure of Nearly
100000 Places Nation in
Front Rank.

Interesting figures on musical ex-
penditures have lately been sent out
by Willard Howe. of this city, which
prove that the United States are spend
ing nearly 500. .0oO, 900 on music IN its
various commercial, artistic, and edu-
catiohaI branches.
The gathering of the following data
has been matter of patient research,
and the actual figures will be in the
nature of a surprise even to musical
enthusiasts.
On opera alone ss.0O0,0OO has been
spent; concerts, including symphonic.
artists, women's clubs, etc, have claim-
ed $50 900; church music. organists.
choirs, music, etc, 500 900; orches-
pictures, 500, 600; bands, military, and
brass. s:0.O00.0oc; teachers, conserva-
tories, schools, public and private. have
claimed the immense sum of 220, 600, 600;
students abroad spend 200 of our
good American money on foreign edu-
cation: conventions and festivals, $780,
900: music trades, including music rner-
chandise of all kinds, So. 900; papers
music magazines of all kinds. critics.
trade papers, etc, $500, 900; making a
grand total OF $s93 5OO.e0o
Very near 500. 900, 900, and yet we are
said 20 be far behind European nations
in matters musical. But the change
Is coming.
Editor Comments on Figures.
JohE C. Freund. editor of Musical
America, has commented upon the ex-
pend!tures as follows:
The importance of these figures
will be disclosed when we come to
analyze them. They mean that we
spend as mcuh on music az we do on
the army and navy or as we do on
the postal service; that we spend on
music within 20 per cent Of the value
Of the hay crop and within Is per cent
of the cotton crop.
Another significant feature Of these
figures is that the largest item is for
tuition-for musical education. Can
you realize what this means in de-
veloping musical taste and culture?"
Commenting on the musical indus
tries Mr.. Freund has this to say:
Forty years ago we practically i'm
harps. mandolines, etc. The piano
industry was still comparatively in
its infancy. In reed organ manufac-
ture We had made considerable ad-
vance and had made known to the
world our ability by exporting the
American reed organs.
Pianos Lead World.
To-day what is the situation? The
annual output of pianos and player
pianos is nearly 400.000-more than
all the European countries produce
together Our American concert
grands are admitted to surpass those
of all other manufacture. The best
harps are today made in this country
and used by artists abroad. Our
church organ industry has advanced
to a point of absolute superiority.
These figures should be such a rev.
elation to our own people as to show
once and forever how unfounded. how
unjust, are the slurs SO often hurled
at us that we are nothing but an in
dustrial. commercial dollar
people, without taste or culture. with
out appreciation of music except as it
comes in the shape of some foreign
celebrity"
OF the standard of music in America,
the editor Of Musical America makes
these statements: The musical stand
ard has reached so high a point that it
is no longer possible, as il used to be,
for artists of mediocre powers or past
their prime to come here and secure a
success. The standard of performances
in opera houses, in concert and recital
halls has become so high as to be almost
hypercritical.
Teachers Equal Those Abroad