The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-05-12

Americans are justly proud, Is to be the
representative of Music" at the annual
dinner to be given by the American Fed
GRAFTON OF Arts during their seventh an
nuai convention here Monday. Tuesday.
ana Wednesday. The general topic Of
the evening OF May 10. at the dinner at
Rauscher's. which promises to be bril-
hat affair. will be THE Arts"
Alfred Noyes, England's great poet of
today, will speak upon the sister art OF
Poetry" Washington Is eager to again
extend q welcome to this virile poet OF
singing verse, from whose writings en-
anate word pictures of intimate English
lore. or philosophy full Of hope and
promise.
speak upon the art that he has so adorn-
ed and elevated, is n source OF sincere
congratulation to all laborers for the up
lift of music in Washington. For music
has been the last of the arts to take It's
rank equally in the realm OF the hne
arts. Organizations have not always in
Guided II among the more stable arts
OF painting. sculpture. and literature.
1t has remained an unwelcome guest at
the feast In days gone by. and Its m
cfusion now bespeaks a broader outlook
upon the Influences that are being mani
tested today in the development of that
art consciousness" In America, which Is
our dream Of the future.
Parker's "Fairyland."
Poetry too. Is the handmaiden OF
music. Poetry has interpreted, the high
message that music gives, bringing It
within the experience OF many more
than could be reached by absofute music
alone. And Horatio Parker has proven
by, his own high choice Of theme In
his grand opera. maryland which won
for, him the $4,000 prize given by the
American Opera Association OF Los An
gefes. Cal. last July. that he knows the
value of combining the best in both arts.
The score Of this opera. with book by
Brian Hooker. marks new level in
American composition, its theme being
one of poetic and idealistic symbolism
that Brian Hooker has made into story
of surprising beauty from the literary
The presence of these two artists
among the speakers. who include such
cteT notsSes 1 ser Ssss S Seen
Sculpture" William M. Chase, on
Painting and Augustus Thomas, on
Drama" lend dignity and honor to this
closing eevnt Of the convention OF 1915
OF the American Federation OF Arts.
This question OF the value or text In
music has been very effectively stated.
in its relation to the development OF the
an. interview written BY A.. walter
Kramer. in Musical America, In which
Mr.. Kramer proclaims Harry Burieigh
the American Coleridse-Taylor. COM
Two NEGRO Spirituals." by Burieigh.
held an artistic place on the.program or
the concert of the Home Club Chorus,
10 in his contribution to the American
art-song. of which perhaps his Jean Is
the best known, that II. 7. Burieigh has
produced examples Of creative music
that deserve worldwide attention ana
respect.
Character Of Song.
'.The text" says Mr. Burleigh, de
termines the character OF the song. The
kind of music one writes Is governed
solely by this, believe. II the Ameri-
can composer will only remember when
he chooses, that he is to look for poems
in which the spiritual forces Of mercy.
justice, truth, play part, ne VIII add
to the literature things that have big
meaning. For me poem must have
more than Just an ordinary sentimental
reference before can set II, or rather
before It makes any impression on me:
our composers. think. OF the kind OF
poems which in my estimation call out
musical thought Of real fiber"
Mr.. Kramer continues. speaking or the
cycle of 'Saracen Songs. his five
Laurence Hope settings. his Passionate,
his, deeply felt musical tone-paintings Of
Arthur Sym0n'S Memory, "A fTdycr,
the scena, 1.-THE Grey Wolff" his superb
settinr of Walt Whitman's Ethiopia
ealuting the Colors.' and his One Year.
a musical mood OF the war from 1911
TO 1913. the poem by Margaret M
harlan.
'Mr. Burleigh has just made a setting
of Rupert Brooke's much praised poem
The Soldier Wars produce q mass OF
.inconsequential literary and musical
stun. The present European conflict rs
no exception. Max Roger has already
written q patriotic overture OF no sig
nificance, Claude Debussy Christ
mas Carol for Homeless Children that
wifi add nothing to his reputation as
composer. 1 think that this Burleigh
setting of Rupert BroOke's inspired lines
will be among the important art
products of the Great War. when the
record - made"
There has been rivalry between sew
eral leading orchestras OF the United
States for the distinction Of being the
first to perform Richard Strauss new
''Alphine Symphony in this country
Josef Stransky, conductor Of the New
York Plilanthropic Society. was the
FIRST TO announce the work. but later
abandoned the idea of performing II
this season. Then the Cincinnati Or.