Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-11-30
b. HENNRIETTA M. REEFS.
m HE month of December will
be noticeably free from concerts

Hj HE month of December will
be noticeably free from concerts
this year, which is rather un-
usual. for there is almost always a
concert scheduled for some time
during the first two weeks and
sometimes more. That is, some con-
cert by visiting artists or organiza-
ton. But unless something unex-
pected appears upon the horizon
suddenly, this year will be an ex-
ception.
There will be a local recital
on December 7. when Miss Tray
nor will give an organ recital as
sisted by Mr.. Fred G. Ellis, bari
tone. This will be the first appear
ance Of Mr.. Ellis in recital since his
return to Omaha. Another local re-
cital of interest will be given by
Mrs. Mabel Woodworth Jensen. vio-
linist, and Mrs. Louis Jansen Wylie
as the first of a series to be spon-
sored by the young people of Cal
vary Baptist church for the new
church fund. This will be held De-
cember II. But with these excep-
ton, the musical activities of Omaha
will be confined to pupils recitals,
special church programs and the
most important of all, the study of
music. In spite of the high cost of
living, all the local teachers report
unusually busy seasons. with classes
filled almost to the limit OF their
fondest dreams.
The use Of Christian hymns is
causing a revolution in the music
of the Orient, according to reports
received from American mission
aries by the Interchurch World
Movement Of North America. whose
national headquarters are in New
York City.
The squawky notes of the aver
age Chinese and Japanese orches-
ira and the "buli-in-a-hardware
shop" noises Of a Monaghan band
are giving place to the strains of
Brock OF Ages" and Coward Chris
tian Soldiers" Christian hymns
are sung and played even by ORR
entails who are not Christianized.
Missionaries state that it is always
easy to draw a crowd with baby
organ, no matter how antagonistic
the. members may be toward the
Christian faith. Growing popular
ity Of Occidental hymns is similarly
found in India, the lnterchurch
movement is told. The recent coro-
nation procession of q marajah in
that country marched to the stir
ring strains Of American gospel
hymns played by the potentate's
brass band. Christian music is said
to have reached its highest develop
ment in Burmah, where Baptist
converts among the natives have
been trained for the past century in
vocal and instrumental work.
An Engiishman travelling in the
foothills of Burmah during the
Burmese robber wars, tells the In
terchurch Of sighting the torchlight
fares OF large crowd of natives.
He and his companions prepared
for an attack. when they. heard the
familiar strains of LEAD, Kindly
LIGHT" coming from the natives,
who turned out to be Burmese
Christians. Several hundred STU
dents of mission college at Ran
coon recently sang Handles Mes
siah" before large audience.
i So important is music considered
As an evangelizing factor in the
Oriental mission field that COM
mission Of prominent American
women, headed by Miss Josephine
Ramsey specialist in community
music, is on its way for six
months Investigation of the ques-
ton. Miss Ramsay and her social
service commission of the deputa-
ton will give special study to means
of building UP community choruses
in the villages of India, China and
Japan. methods of training Orient.
ii musicians and choir directors and
the translation of Christian hymns.
An interesting article on Spanish
music appeared in the recent~Musi-
cal America. The writer notes that
there are many Spains in Spain,
and that each is worthy OF, study: