The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1919-08-27
Concealment Of Jewish Origin Shows Lack of
SeIf-Re.pect and National Consciousness
Jelo is Beginning to Assert Himself in the Musica
Spheres and to Establish Paramount Position

! Israel been wandering all over tn
globe, being driven from one countr!
! to another. During that time the mai
of the world has frequently been al
tered. but the Jew still remains il
| the paradoxical position of being &
citizen of the world and yet having
| no country of his own. While such Ii
the case in the Jews relation to the
political world. it is somewhat diff
frrent in his relations to the must
cal world. Admitting that music althI
cosmopolitan in the larger sense. is
divided into schools representing the
different nations. the lew has left q
large and indelible mark upon the
llap of the musical world, writes the
Musical Leader"
So far the Jew, altho he has con-
tributed more than his share to the
worlds collective wealth o. music, has
rarely been bold enough to claim any
part thereof as his own. On rare oc-
casiOns some one takes the initiative
of giving him credit for his cOntribu-
ton. but Immediately II number OF
sclf-styled musical scholars appear on
the scene and attempt in the face of
all irrefntablc facts to deny the eN-
istence of Jewish music. However.
the Jew at last has become determined
to assert himself in musical spheres
and to establish his position in music
among the nations of the earth. III
dividual and collective attempts are
being made both here and in Europe
TO place Jewish music in the limelight
and to familiarize the music-loving
public with It's beauty and originality
An organization for the purpose OF
promoting Jewish music has been or
ganized in PetrOsrade. which consists
of some of the most renowned music
ians in Russia. As n result of their
activity they have recently published
volume of folk songs containing some
songs said to be at least two hundred
years old. Another collection of Jew
ish folk songs and national songs were
recently published by Ginsburg and
Marek. in Warsaw. DIR. IdeIsOn, of Bcr-
lin, also published volume of Jew
ish folk, songs and classical compost
..ttbns in Hebrew and German. Leo
VIM. of Berlin. the famous llbrophll
has accumulated copies of rare old
traditional melodies and folk songs.
Under the auspices OF the latter. con.
eerts of Jewish folk songs and He
ed in the bigger cities Of Germany and
the generally well patronized and re-
ceive u friendly criticism al the hands
Of the German press.
In this country. naturally. having
more scope and larger opportunities.
the Jews activity along this line is
spreading rapidly. Platon Brounoff
has collected more than three hundred
folk songs. fifty of which he publish
ed in one volume, Cantor Cahan has
also published two volumes of folk
songs, and Henry l.. Gideon, the Bos-
ton organist and Mary Antin are about
t. complete their collection of folk
songs. Furthermore. Mr.. Gideon. with
the assistance of his wife, frequently
gives concerts of Jewish folk songs at
concert halls. churches and private
musicales.
The promoters of Jewish music in
Sew York are so zealOusly active in
presenting it that it is no rare thing
gram of our city park bands. Yes, it
even finds its way once in while TO
the program of Carnegie and Aeolian
halls. in New York. Not long ago
Alma Gluck sang a Jewish song by
Maurice Ravel ut sunday evening
concert Mt the Metropolitan Opera
In his program his Hebrew Melody
and Dance" which he built on the
thesis of an old folk song. Kurt
SCHNEIDER is another lover of Jewish
folk songs. Programs exclusively OF
Hebrew music have been presented bv
Cantor SirOta at Carnegie Hall. New
J Ork. and Cantor Steinberg at Symp-
hOny Hall. Boston. The Peoples MI
sic league has a number Of artists on
its staff who sing traditional nclo-
dies in the concerts at the public
people "A feverish craving for Jewish
music is now in vogue. In towns in
the United States, where there is II
small. they are forming singing so.
cieties and glee clubs, and concerts OF