The Washington times., 1918-09-05
LIBERTY CHORUSES
. GROW IN NUMBER
BY j. MACH.

BY j. MACH.
Liberty choruses are to be nation
wide. The Council of National De-
Tense at Washington has under way
a program for the development OF the
work of liberty choruses all over
the United States that are only now
beginning to be organized This work
is under direction of the State coun-
ellis of national defense and the State
divisions OF the Woman,S Committee
of the Council
These. State councils of defense are
the official war emergency orgahiza-
tions in every State of the Union:
therefore the bringing together, under
such a head, of the music organiza-
lions of the country-to better serve
the nations need-will mean much to
the future cause of music in the Unit
ed States.
Only last July. q meeting was called
here in Washington by the State
councils section OF the Council Of Ma
tional Defense to discuss the matter
of an organized music-spirtt in the
States, as an auxiliary to the country's
! war program 1t was virtually the
launching OF this nationwide liberty
chorus idea
Those who attended the meeting
were Mr.. Stevens, OF the Connecticut
State Council: Mr.. Braun, of the
Pennsylvania State Council; Mr.. Han
mer. Mr.. Dykema- and Miss Grun-
dage, OF the Commission on Training
Camp Activities; w. X. Brice. of the
New York Community Chorus, and
Mr.. Baylor, representing Mr.. Hoxie. in
the work on the extension OF music
through the War Camp Community
Service in Philadelphia
Long Discussion.
Discussion OF the subject lasted for
two hours and q half, with the result
that immediate steps were taken to
reach the State music directors, where
! such existed, and to stimulate the
| other States to arrange for the organi-
zation Of community singing.
The results thus far tabulated for
the furtherance of this movement are
! interesting. Those in charge of the
matter at the Council of National De-
Tense desire to make plain. however,
] that the idea has in no way been the
discovery" of this office, nor has the
plan originated here. What the WASH
ington office is putting out. to the
| States, is a large co-ordinated pro-
! gram to enlist the already perfected
1 war organizations OF every State in
this new movement for national de-
| Tense.
Having the State and also the coun-
ty council machine upon which to call.
| they wish to utilize it to put across"
for war purposes. this vital unifying
| influence of music. For. as an official
of the Council Of National Defense
said: 1--WE regard singing as one OF
the greatest of socializing influences.
1t ties communities together as moth
ing else will"
The War Camp Community Service
has been doing this work by holding
large Community sings" in those
cities around which the camps OF the
county are located, thus enabling the
camp song leaders to bring to the peo-
pie something OF the song spirit that
is carrying "our boys" on to victory.
The Council OF Defense now hopes
for true team play-as has already
been developed in at least one city
| between these two forces. 1t is TO
camp song leaders that the Council of
National Defense is mainly directing
its attention.
The Council OF National Defense
thinks il "bettey for Liberty chorus
to make a crowd sing than to make II
applaud" II makes the people them
selves a part OF the patriotic event.
and every one takes a more personal
interest in the thing he has some def
mite share in. It's human nature!
Connecticut First state.
What is already being done IN the
States illustrates best 10 what ma
tional service these Liberty choruses
may be dedicated.
Connecticut. according to records
here in Washington, was the first
State to have community singing Or
ganized under the State council Con-
necticut began but a year ago, so one
may now see how young this move
ment is. Connecticut has a town
organization in every town. called a
war bureau" The Liberty choruses
are designed to cooperate with this
branch OF the nations preparedness,