New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-05
Music Of, for and by the People
A Real Institution in Kansas
COMPOSER Nevin in Two Years Develops Community
O0' Chorus Work in Half Hundred Towns,
Thereby Ending Family Rivalry

and others particularly interested IN
music or in civic betterment-the sta
bic residents of the community, who IN
a short time come TO regard the main
tenance Of the chorus of as much i'm
portance as having fire department or
Il policeman.
Around the chorus librarian centres
another important phase of the organl-
cation developed by Mr.. Nevln. lie
early had TO convince his communities
that good music is not an expensive
luxury. In proof of this he made the
4 monthly dues of each member 20 cents.
So far, with the aid of small admission
| fees at concerts, each chorus has been
/ able TO pay expenses and buy consld-
| cradle music without further outlay.
| This was made possible through having
circulating library of music.
Each chorus, when organized, be-
comes a chapter Of the Kansas Univer-
sity Choral Association. In Parsons,
for example, $50 copies Of cantata
will be purchased at cost OF hum
dred dollars or more. In Chanute as
many copies Of a different piece will
be bought, and so on around the CIR
cult. All this music then becomes the
common property Of the association,
and circulstes as such. In this manner
the association in its first year &C
quired enough music to last for sew
eral seasons.
Once a chorus is organized it is left
in charge of the director, who is as
sisted by occasional visits from Mr..
Nevin as his time permits. The chorus
meets regularly once a week from Oc-
tober to June, singing the simple but
direct and melodious airs, both sacred
and secular, that appeal to people III
general. Considerable sacred music is
used at first because through its
religious appeal it helps to develop a
feeling of unity among the members
of the chorus, and, moreover, 1t is the
/ sort of music the singers are used TO.
Two Concerts Year
| Two concerts are given each year
one at Christmas, in which mostly
octave music, sacred and secular, is
used, and another about Easter time,
making use of cantata and sustained
sacred music on the order of Dubois's
"The Last Seven Words of Christ
/ : II is easy to see that Mr.. Nevin's
work calls for more than mere organ
izinc and directing choruses; 1t re-
quires tireless energy, combined with
musical ability and diplomacy. A specl-
men week taken from the years work
will illustrate the compleXity of his
/ problem. The first two days of each
week he teaches classes in the theory
of music at the university, handles his
correspondence, and catches up on lost
sleep. Then, in response to call, he
may 20 to the further end of the state
and begin organizing a chorus. He will
speak before the students of the public
| schools, illustrating various sorts OF
music, announcing his plans, and in
viting the students to come, bringing
/ their parents.
He will make the rounds Of the
churches, enlisting ministers and choir
| leaders. He will address the various
.civic bodies of the community, such as
: commercial clubs and women's clubs.
Of great Importance is a visit to the
editor of the local paper. Without the
aid of the newspapermen Mr.. Nevin
| says he could never have aroused the
/ interest necessary TO make his work
successful. Then a date for the first
meeting will be set, and the chorus be-
gins work.
Then he goes on to the next town
wishing assistance-perhaps at the
other end of the state from where he
Island the process is repeated. In
addition ne is frequently called upon
/ for lecture work. Thus in one town
] he may organize a chorus or an or
chestra, conduct rehearsals, give re-
cital from his Indian opera, "Pola," or
| lecture on such subjects as The In
| fuence of Music on Poets and Authors
Color in Music as 1t Appeals to
/ the Painter" Comparison of Counter
point and the Five Periods of British
/ Ecclesiastical Architecture" or Per
I &C Eornal M
can Composers"
/ The music provided for the choruses
and orchestras organized, it is inter-
esting to note, represents composers OF
many nationalities, such as Crotch
aninof, Gevaert, Foote, Florio, Dubois,
| Saint-SaGns, Reay, Schneider, Mozart,
/ Barnby, Bizet, Handel, Brahms,
| Moszkowski and Wagner.
Rivals Are Co0rdinated
Once a chorus is started, skilful dip
! lomacy is required to keep the social
machinery involved in such an under
taking from developing hot boxes.
There are rival ministers, rival choirs
and soloists, rival business men, even,
whom it is necessary to coordinate
/ amicably. Serving as his greatest aid
at these times, of course, is the natural
| love OF people IN rural communities Ior
new opportunities of meeting together
socially, where each can find an outlet
/ for his social and aesthetic instincts
and express what music he has in him.
| IL is not an unusual occurrence for
| the chorus to serve as means OF
/ breaking down enmities Of years stand
/ ing between various rivals in a small
town. Under the spell Of the common
enthusiasm, Mr.. Nevin's leadership and
/ the singing, small town enemies find
/ their animosities melting away.
/ A more noteworthy result has been
achieved at Parsons, where the Nevin
Community Chorus has just completed
( its second season with a rendering Of
! Bizet's Carmen" by local talent, or
/ chestra and all As a direct result Of
/ the success of the chorus, Parsons has
voted bonds amounting to $4,000 for
a municipal building capable Of accom-
modating 5000 people, and equipped a
! stage for $50 people, two balconies,
dressing rooms, bandroom, orchestra