Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-24
FREUND IN APLEA
FOR HOME MUSIC
Distinguished Editor Points to Neces.
sity of American Independence in
Talk to Students.
MUST SHAKE OFF FOREIGN HOLD
Maintains Best Schools and Teachers
in the World Are To Be Found in
the United States.

Inevitable as it was that the time
should come when America had to de-
clare her political independence, later
her commercial, industrial and finan-
cial independence, so now she must de-
clare for musical independence So
said John c. Freund, musical editor,
publisher and playwright, in address,
ing the graduating class of Augustana
conservatory on The Musical indie
pendence of the United States" last
evening in the college chapel before an
audience that filled the room. There
is no longer any necessity for Ameri-
can people to troop abroad for the
purpose of getting a musical educa-
ton, Tor that so much talked of musi-
cal atmosphere that is supposed to
surround Europe, for right here in
America are the best music schools.
teachers, directors, symphonic orches-
tras, bands, etc, that can be found in
the whole world. 1t is time that we
throw off the idea that it is necessary
/ to have a long foreign name, to have re-
ceived training abroad, in order to
arrive The fake music teacher, the
fake painter, fake jewelry, clothing,
etc, must go. They cannot hold place
i just because they have come from
across the waters and have peculiar,
fancy names America, he said, is
bound to lead the world in things mu.
steal, and it is the duty of every Amer
lean to stand up for America. Mr..
Freund explained that he would not
@hN -l-- ~Il ~
thrown out of the musical life of this
country, that he would not bar the
works of foreign writer's nor foreign
players, singers, directors, etc, but
that he would remove the prejudice
against works of Americans, remove
the idea that American produced arts
are not as excellent in quality as those
of the old world; he would that these
United States become less dependent
upon the old masters. that the works
of American writer's be given hear
ing, which must mean their estab-
lished place in the music of the world.
Describes Student Life.
In his address Mr. Freund gave a
vivid account of student life abroad,
quoting from actual experiences of
those who have had the opportunity to
give the subject careful attention. He
went on to show how students educat-
ed in American schools have training
Iequal if not better than that acquired
in the foreign Conservatives. He
showed that this country spends more
than six million dollars on all forms of
music, not including the musical com
I'd of
progress in America, he said, is that
musical industries lead the world not
only in the quality of work produced
but in quantity as well. Great artists
prefer American made instruments
for recital work. he said Our out
put of pianos is 100000 more than is
produced in all Europe We make the
finest band instruments. mandolins
harps. guitars, reed instruments
church organs. and the talking ma
chine and player piano are the inven-
tons of Americans, these latter instru-
ments having developed music in the
' humblest homes and the remotest
farms"
In the course Of his address Mr.
: Freund took occasion to pay high trib-
! orchestra, which has SO recently beer
, organized, and which he heard in re-
. hearsal in Davenport last Sunday. at
: is a wonderful showing they are max
. ing in so short a time he said. 81
can pick out a number of players who
4 are today capable of playing in the
best orchestras of the world, and il
= Mr. Becker, the director, there is E
: leader most capable and from whom
! you may expect great things" A sym
= phony orchestra, he went on to ex
plain, is a great asset to a community
great business proposition. 1t no
only carries the name of the city i
represents to every place where tina
organization is mentioned or heard
but it means that in that city are in
telligent and cultured people which
means in turn that they have nict
\ homes, have good rugs and carpets
pictures, furniture, which in turl
, means that there is good business il
,