Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-04-05
SONG FESTIVAL TO
HAVE BIG CLIMAX
[Continucd From First Pagc.l

hcccptiOn at IIuncneOn
The Harrisburg Chamber of Com
merce at noon to-day gave DIR.
Freund the warmest reception he
had in the city, which is saying "A
good deal. Introduced by President
Patterson. the champion of singing
completely won the audience with
his first words: II deny that the
| American businessman is cold and
without ideals. 1t took mighty ideas
and ideals to build skyscrapers, and
all the other marvels of this nation.
III there is true idealist in the
world it is the businessman and that's
why am here asking you to support
this great cause in Harrisburg"
DIR. Freund kept the Chamber of
commerce men in a tensity of inter-
est and they applauded him time and
again. lie announced that something
very important would very likely
soon come from Governor Brum-
| baugh with whom he had a long talk
this morning. This will probably be
an edlct creating Il singing day
throughout the state IF it goes
through he predicted, lit will wake
up the whole nation" He told how
ms mission was to bring back music
to the people and reminded them of
the mighty influence of one great
song, The Marsellaise," which over
turned nation. He was voted a
most emphatic thanks and many
prominent men came to him to say
that 1t was the most inspiring talk
they had ever heard Bishop Dar-
llnSton after the meeting, made open
house at the bishopric See where the
clty's guest and several score others
viewed the bishops splendid collec-
ton of musical instruments.
Schools Help Movement
AS the schools are to be a main
basis for establishing community
singing, Technical High this morn
ing volunteered, in the person Of
William Watson, a senior. TO launch
the great movement, immediately
upon DR.. Freunds splendid address
Judging by this school boys sac.
cess community singing will find no
oDStacle here. Watson firSt sang the
Massenet Elegy, so impressively TO
the crowded auditorium that a per-
rect storm of applause followed, and
nc came back for the encore.
Come on, boys" he invited. "I'll
sing verse of Home Fires and
then let's start this community sing
ms 'll Nltu a DdllS. Ana aWlN IL
went, the mighty chorus from smi1-
ing enthusiastic boys. moving the
IO-year old pioneer almost to tears.
lie said it was the finest reception
and results he ever experienced.
From the Technical High DR.. Freund
was motored in the Troup car. and
accompanied by Mrs. Sanders and
others of the committee. to Central
High, and there too, the wave of
cheering music rolled high. IF this
school docs not turn, out a Mclba
before many years | shall he vastly
disappointed" commented the vet
eran educator.
The addresses to-day were about
Identical wherever spoken. DR.
Freund is such a genial spirit. talk
ing the audience into his confidence
with many an amusing incident,
that Harrisburg could listen to him
every day in the year. His personal
influence and amazing enthusiasm
will not soon be forgotten.
Il am nothing but an old newspa-
| per man." was his opening remark
at Technical school. But | am
proud of that. Those men live a
life of struggle and self-denial but
they are practical, too. l can see
by your eXpl essions that you are
Eallavanting about the country and
why he left his happy home" With
/ this the Tech students fairly cured
up in their extreme mirth, and the
musical prophet told them what
America is doing with S100, 900, 900
spent every year on music, more
than all the rest of the world to-
gether. He asked them to do their
bit toward establishing American in
dependence in music, telling how the
day has passed when Molly Jenkins
must change her name to Madame
Olga Umperwitch in order to be rec
ognized as a real singer. He prom
! iscd that America would lead the
ing the best composers, singers and
musicians. He ridiculed the modern
popular song with such titles as
Wont You Kiss Me in the Spring
Time Before I Go to Bed" lie told
! both the High school audiences that
music is a physical tonic and gave
/ illustrations. lie emphasized that
practically all great singers, includ-
ing Caruso, came from the very poor
est families and explained that the
field offered uncommon opportnni-
ties for girls and boys to be re-
! ceived in the most exclusive society.
More Music i'm Parks
Enthusiasm ran riot last evening
! in the House of representatives
when DIR. Freund advocated more
music in the parks during the sum
/ mer and in the public schools dur
ing their sessions.
Let Harrisburg's massed bands
and massed singers get together, as
| well as like combinations through
out the state. and let Pennsylvania
! lead in the movement. for musical
! freedom in America he urged
1--WE can set the country aflame with
| the power of singing and marching
men and women. and it's up to Har-
risburg to be among the leaders in
! helping it along" were the other
quotations from his talk"
DR.. Freund called attention to
mind that the noblest music has not
come from the great masters, Won
derful as their music is. THE noblest
music is the expression in song of
massed souls. Music was not started
as an art but came as simple folk
and dance songs. And music will re-
turn to the people in this movement
for the aim is not to make music for
the people but to have the people
I make music for themselves" he
stated.
"The American IDEAL he said, ''is
not who is your music master?' but
what is your merit?'
"The Star Spangled Banner is the
highest expression of massed souls
of over one hundred million people
and from that point of view tran
! scends the music of any composer
/ living or dead"