The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-02-02
NATIONAL WEEK OF
SONG Is PLANNED
New York, Detroit, Minneapolis,
Chicago, Seattle, and Frisco
In Movement.
CARITAL SHOULD JOIN IN
Cooperation Of Washington in
Effort Made Particularly
Important
CARITAL SHOULD JOIN IN

a movement is In progress to es
tabliah throughout the United States
q National Week of Song" Already
representative leaders OF the music
life of such cities as New York, De
troit, Minneapolis, Chicago, Seattle
and San Francisco have given IL their
support. That Washington should
share in this effort to combine and
emphasize the already active com
munity spirit, that is everywhere
awakening, goes without saying.
The date makes the cooperation OF
the people of the National Capital q
particularly important one. The week
In which Washington's Birthday oc'
ours has been appointed for the INA
tional Week Of Song" making II this
year from February Is TO "a inclusive.
This is q week of national signif
ieanes, and is ca time OF the year
when indoor entertainments are bet.
ter attended than at any other period.
The plan is, az first, to let the eff
forts to make this a general cele-
bfatlon be used independently in all
fields, rather than to attempt a diff
ficult cooperation Of the various
music activities of the city. To hear
from these separate endeavors, and
so to let each one know in what
spirit the other conteaplates further
ing this national expression In song
10 one Of the foremost requisites.
The Washington Times would like
20 know to what extent this move
ment is being taken up in Washing
ton, and how far the city may feel
justified in claiming attention as pro-
noting a celebration that is undoubt-
edly to become a permanent institu-
ton.
whftaaR's Prophecy.
81 hear America singingr' says
our post-prophet Walt Whitman.
To this end, IT IL proposed that
every teacher. every scooi, and every
community Join in this celebration.
Peter W. Dykema, Chief of the Blu
reau of Community Music of the Uni.
vereity of Wisconsin, writes in the
Normal Instructor and Primary Plans
of Dansyille, N. Y. where the en-
deavor originated and has been de.
veloped: The church has Instituted
a week of prayer; civic workers have
made quite general q cleanup week
physicians and child welfare workers
are planning 4 great "Better-Baby''
week next spring. Tn idea which
animates these and many similar
movements is that, with the multi.
plieity Of demands upon US. IL IL nee
ceasary TO focus the attention OF the
nation from time to time EVon GER
tain aspects of life that are too often
given but scant attention. This, 1
take il, Is the animating idea OF the
National Week of Song
"As a nation, Americans are fond
of music and are willing to sing,
but there is still little general sing
ing in this country. 1t is possible
that II we can each year have a
week in which national attention will
be focused upon the idea OF the
value of song In our communal life,
we shall use song for general sing
ing much more than we have in the
past few years"
Sermons On Song Value.
Beginning with the churches on the
Sunday that opens the National Week
OF Song, II is advised that at least one
special song service be given by them
on that day. and that sermons be
preached on the value OF song in re-
ligieus worship, on the song that en-
dures, or some similar topic.
Sunday schools, all of the day
schools from the primary grades to
the high school-pubIic schools and
private schools-are, urged to make
arrangements to in some measure in
elude the following program in their
weeks schedule:
For Mondays song period let the
patriotic and national songs of our
own land be sung. Devote Tuesday
to Patriotic and National songs OF
other lands; Wednesday, to folk and
home songs; Thursday, to peace
songs, and Friday to classical songs.
The following list of songs for vari-
Gus programs may be helpful
1. Our national songs -" America"
''Star-SpangIed Banner" Dixie" Bat
tie Hymn OF the Republic"
>. Our own folk songs-"oId Ken
lucky Home" Ben Bolt" Home,
Sweet Home" "old Folks At Home"
3. Foreign national songs The
Watch on the Rhine" Germany,
The Marseillaise" (France), Austrian
National Hymn (Austria) God Save
the King" or Rule Britannia" (Eng-
landD.
4. Foreign folk songs that we have
adopted as our own-"Annie Laurie"
How Can Leave Thee" Aud Lang
Syne" Loves Old Sweet Song"
8. Hymns Lead Kindly Light"
Nearer, Ny God, to Thee" Rock of
Ages" Onward. Christian Soldiers"
Then there are college songs ana
songs of sentiment such as Sweet
and Low" that lend themselves ad
mirebly TO part singing; while to the
hymns might be added the carols
such as the lovely Little Town of
Bethlehem" and the Christmas Holy
Night"
Ideal climax.
The ideal climax to such a week
Of song would be some community
song festival for Saturday. the close
of the week. 1t should be in the
hands Of a choral society, Of all the
choral societies preferably. Then
there are the clubs. Each could in
a beginning OF this national
spirit in its program OF that week,
while home parties could show also
that they are in harmony with the
Ideals of the occasion.
The purpose of the national week
Of song Is not for brilliant perform
ance, though that might add to the
dignity Of the endeavor. but IL is pri- !
msrily to acquaint the people of our
with songs of the better sort: |
songs that are elevating, the best OF |
our national and patriotic songs, our /
the worlds songs, sentimental, in