Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-05
.MUSICI J

by the natives OF that country, then
the words are flashed upon screen
in English and everybody sings them.
In this way, by learning each others
folksongs, the different elements are
drawn more closely together in the
great melting pot of America and the
folksongs of all nations become
common property and heritage.
The Musical Leader of Chicago de-
voted an entire page last week to
two articles on Civic Music and Com
munity Singing in Chicago. The first
one, an editorial, spoke of the great
enthusiasm of everyone connected
with the Civic Music association, OF
the we'll known amateurs and must
clans and large number of socially
elect WHO have caught the vision of
the ideal, a musical Chicago" and
are taking lively interest, and of the
part Mr.. Kelly was playing in the
realization OF it, saying: +
Chicago has taken most kindly to Thomas
j. Kelly, whose chorus at Omaha has the
distinct ton OF being classed with the most
famous In the country, for the "Mendels-
sohns" have been trained by this clever mu-
sician who has already become tho cynosure
of all musical eyes in this metropolis. In
few weeks Mr. Kelly has convinced the
and has been encouraged in the idea by
Angus s. Hubbard, who is known as the
Father" of community singing.
A number Of people who took part In the
summer concerts on the Musical Pier under
Mr., Kelly's direction Joined the Carr Music
Ia at dinner OctObpr -. and
there was real community Sing" under
the direction OF this new personality for
KeIly's success with the people is the result
OF mis- understanding the art OF getting the
best from them. He has positive genius for
making the people sing and he does not hes
itate to insist upon clarity of enunclation
and English asst should be sung and rarely
is. Positively amazing were the volume
and grading of tone Mr.. Kelly gained from
this democratic chorus Of all kinds and con-
ditions Of people.
The second, an article by Angus
Hubbard, on Community Singing"
and its place in American life is
we'll worthy an entire reading. His
concluding paragraph is briefly to the
point:
This singing together is the one and only
thing in which people of varied tongues and
antecedents may take part on an equal
! basis It is the only universal language.
We cannot understand speeches, sermons,
or even books, In just the same way. Our
social customs are so different that We can
not at all times mix spontaneously with
those who differ from US in these ways. We
can, however, all sing together, and our
songs are written In the same notation. In
deed, many OF the best known songs have
been handed down through so many genera
hat tn In thoy kpn nm
to all. w are searching always for the best
ways of Understanding our people," as we
call 1t, that Is, of making neighbors and
comrades of all who live in the same en-
vironment without regard to birth or Ian
guage. l believe 1t will be found that COM
munity singing is the greatest single ee-
ment and influence which, in our great
melting pot, will bring US together as COM
panions, as neighbors, people Of one
country, with one aiEn- and only one patri-
otism The movement has begun not only
in Chicago, but other cities. towns and VII
lagos. 1t comes from the people In their
desire for spontaneous expression. II will
I grow from them into one of the greatest
forces for good and the development of
American citizenship.
In this connection let us turn our
eyes for moment upon Lincoln
That wide-awake city has already had
two community Sings" at one of
which | 400 people turned out in spite
of rain which lasted all day. These
Sings" were sponsored by the mayor,
the president Of the Commercial club
and the president of the Community
Singing society.
Here is Omaha fifty miles away, far
larger and richer than Lincoln and
able to support vastly more musical
attractions.
I'VE have mayor, a president Of
the Commercial club and a wonderful
Retail Merchants association, which
takes an interest in affairs musical
and a number of musical and welfare
clubs, but we have as yet no COM
munity singing society, nor president
of one; no, nor anything Of the sort,
and that is, perhaps, the key to the
whole situation.
Shan't we get together and get one?
The State Federation of Musical
Clubs, through its president, Hazel
Car+r,da K;,ecaIta a,po,,cac M