South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-02
Tea Table Talks
BY May De Witt Talmage
WHAT is AMERICAN MUSIC?

One Of the metropolitan daily pa
pers recently commented in an edi-
torial on the fact that Europe had
never been interested in American
music. in fact did not know there
was any The article recalled
Fourth Of July spent in Dresden. All
winter there had been delightful
concerts OF classical music. in
coordination restaurant and music
hall which overlooked the River
Elbe. In honor of our great ma
tional holiday and the many Amer
leans in Dresden, it was announced
that the evening of the Fourth OF
July would be entirely devoted to
American music.
There was a great gathering that
night. and our flag was very much
in evidence. There was a spirit of
bonnie camaraderie among all our
compatriots. and crowded in among
them were many Germans eager TO
hear real American music.
All arose as they played the Amer
lean national air. A str lg chorus
began to sing: "Oh say can you see"
but few knew the rest of the words.
Then we settled back for some home
music There were no programs. but
all thought of course they would
recognize their old favorites. The
orchestra had been playing some
time and there were puzzled express
sions on many faces. a questiong Of
What is that they are playing -
Nobody knew. Then regardless of
the fact they were playing it like a
Beethoven symphony. suddenly there
was a com bination of some harmony,
that made comeone eXclaim: Why,
that's the Houeysuckle and the
Bee"
Something rebelled at the idea
that we Americans who hear and
love the best class of music, who
pay the highest prices for operate
stars. or concert singers and instru-
mentalists. should be content TO al
low any other nationality to think
| that was American music. We have
| our type OF American music that be-
longs 10 America and its people. just
as other nations have their folk
songs. But if we are invited to an
evening of German music. We DO
not expect 10 hear only "Oh du lieber
| Augustine" or "Tannenbaum," nor
ooh Sofa mai" the only kind Of Ital-
liam music We love these old songs
lust as we love our negro melodies.
| The "rag-time" with its syncopated
time and swing. has condensed in
lii much Of the restless verile. and
-..-ov,,o-,r oh. IN 90 e-fsffcc of the
American spirit But il only repre-
resents a type.
Until comparatively recently it was
/ only the rich American who could
hear any kind OF good music II
Twas something that went with
money. The consequence was the
/ embryo musical genius had little
lchance 10 develop. The youth OF
| Americs. the masses. knew little OF
good music In this hard work-a-
lday world there was little chance for
1.-THE musical soul even 10 peep out
! But the time is coming when the
term American music will not be
SYNONYMOUS with Get out and Get
! Under" and "An Dressed Up and
/ No Place 10 CO." Times are chang
ling Anybody who sat in Madison
Square garden or Hippodrome in
/ New York last winter and heard the
/ Working Peoples concert and saw
the wrapt attention with Viii that
vast assemblage listened 20 the Wag-
ner and Tchaikowsky music. would
realize that the American public is
hungry for something beside rag