The Washington times., 1919-10-02
Plan Musical Festival
To Stimulate Interest
In Developing the Art

universal use Of music in the camps,
telling OF its effect upon the army
which went to France, a follows:
Our allies first impression Of our
marching troops was that Of
serious faces and determined tread,
but later even the most casual re-
ports rarely ever failed to mention
the singing douEhboyb.' What the
doughboy sang troubled him little.
The JOY OF singing possessed him. he
knew instinctively that his singing
voice had been released along with
his other powers, to be used against
the hour Of need, and he left 1t for
the people at home to discover that
the quality was in the spirit of his
singing, and not in the song"
The work OF the commission on
training camp activities, which did
30 much to bring music into the
camps. is referred to as follows:
Almost everyone was skepttcal OF
the commission activities at Arst,
and the hesitation Of the commanding
officers to make a place for them is
only evidence OF how much we all had
to learn.
The significant aspect OF the his
tory Of singing is just that-the ad-
vance from skepticism ard reluctance
to conviction and enthusiasm. We OF
the national committee were enthu-
slastic and confident Of our own spe-
cialty-ths power Of music to inspire
and exalt, as well as to discipline in
rhythm, and make the fusion Of wide
ly varying individuals easier and
more secure.
And so music went to war in the
spirit Of service to the doughboy---
simple, democratic, adaptable to all
- he HrmhaRGfnnm
these qualities was proved by the
armistice.
November II, 1918, was the burial
day OF all so-called 'Kaiser-Karols.'
Pep songs were instantly replaced
by old favorites, especially songs Of
sentiment; more ambitious music was
demanded quaFtets and glee clubs as
pired to excellence Of performance.
@Consciously or unconsciOusly the
douEhboy commenced a return serv-
ice to the art that had served him
90 prctically in the most terrific test
OF his ideals"
Music On the Future.
How will the doUghbOy's love Of
music in wartime AFFECT the future
OF music in America? For the dough-
boy led the way into Germany, when
the A. E. T. first crossed the bOun-
dary line Of the conquered country.
Il is an interesting story Of the
chivalry Of the officers Of the United
States Army, too. For, when the first
line Of march to enter Germany
reached to border Of the vanquished
land the officers, IL is told, all stood
aside and let the simple and valiant
doughboys first set foot in Germany.
They thus proclaimed the victory,
the doughboys' Victory!
Will the doughboy use his influ-
ence at home to forward the interests
OF art and culture?
One Of the significant results OF
the two official facts related above,
is that such widely different official
organizations are giving emphasis to
the development OF the artistic and
cultural Interests" OF the people Of
the United States.
Here in Washington we are again
to be handicapped this winter by lack
OF an auditorium for civic enter
prises.
The Oratorio Section Of Washington
will give its Oratorio OF "The Mes
siah" at Christmas time only upon
condition that difficulties Of the past
may be overcome.
The Community Opera has the same
problem to face.
Will ofhcialdom and the douEhboy,
by a universal recognition OF the
benefits to both the community and
to the National Capital, unite and say
that Washington will join Wisconsin |
In It's outlook toward the future?