The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-14

not seen m a great many years by reason of the inexpertness of the teachers themselves"
 It is highly gratifying to now'tha, the dancing masters and misL5oses gre not neglecting their obligations to society during these unsettled times. Dancing is both an art and a business and they are evidently de- termined to maintain it in cna high state of efficiency which captivates cid and young alike and puts dollars into the pockets of the teachers.
 Percy Graimger As
 Army BaradsHmam
 THE musical press is much per l J turbed over the fact that Percy Grainger, the young Australian, com noser-pianist, now an American cltl- zen. has enlisted in the United States army as a bandsman. He is en- ! rolled in the "crack" band of the Fifteenth infantry, stationed at Fort Hamilton, and is listed as third class musician" Think of it! Percy Grainger, one of the most original composers of recent times, and pianist of wonderful personality and appeal, starting in now to master the oboe and the saxaphone.
 The director of the band, Rocco Resta, is friend of Grainger ana the latter speaks of him as an un- commonly brilliant musician. The composer has been several weeks Tn the band and he likes it. Although the oboe is an extremely difficult in strument to play smoothly-the most difficult of the reed family-Percy Grainger being a man of rare intel lectual endowments and lover of all orchestral wood-winds, will make rapid progress on it. He plays the oboe when the band presents con cert programmes, and the saxaphone in parade.
 He will not long remain in the third class, but will soon reach the first class. But the funny thing about 1 Grainger and his new activities is that while his friends and admirers think it is a case of genius wasted, he him self feels that in enlarging his sphere of musicianship he will be all the bet ter composer.
 i Grainger is known for his large stock of humor He is joker on oc- casions, and by his close touch with human nature gets that rare feeling into his folklore music which so dis tinguishes it. While he is in the army he can be counted upon to originate new tonal effects and bring new spiritual message to the world. Plod- ding minds cannot understand Graing CT. Even so fine a critic as Henry T.. Finck of New York seems to think that friends of art should lose no time in organizing movement to get Grainger out of army service. Why" MT. Finck asks, should not Percy Grainger be granted permanent leave of absence from his duties in the military band he has joined, so that he may help the country in more effective way? In the last week of June he gave two recitals in behalf of the Red Cross, which, together, netted S3283. It is surely absurd to nut man who can earn thousand or two by playing the piano on dol lar-a-day job"
 Other writers take the same com mon sense view that MT. Finck ex- presses.
 If the war department were to learn that Grainger was dissatisfied with his band position it would, in ths circumstances, make an exception ir his case and allow him to return te the concert stage. But as it is, the celebrated artist is enjoying the situ- ation. It is only the "other fellow
 who is worrying.
 I Percy Grainger will serve out his
 term of enlistment, which will be dur.
 ing the war. His regiment will prob
 ably be sent to France. When the
 fighting becomes desperate the mu- sicians drop their instruments for the
 time and take up rifles. Graingel
 will prove himself every inch a soldier