The Washington times., 1920-04-25
Fritz Kreisler Peeps Into
Americas Musical Future
interviewed byLASZLO SCHWARTZ

accomplishments and it's future Is to
Judge It unbiasea--without insisting
on comparing IL with the musical
standards of continental lands.
1T Is true tnat musical art in Its
higher forms such as chamber music.
symphonic works. etc. Is stili Tar
from being fully appreciated by the
masses. Bullet me add right here
that in some or the very countries
which are often brought up for COM
parisons there Is also SAD lack or
appreciation for some OF the highest
forms OF musical art. ! need but call
these critics attention TO that won
derful land-Italy--and ask them 10
make an unbiased investigation as TO
it's cult of chamber music. They VIII
be surprised to face some very dissp-
pointing results.
THE temperament OF the people o,
each country must be taken into con-
siderstion before We can come TO an
Intelligent conclusion about the
merits and shortcomings OF their
musical evolution.
I'm America the spirit of the times
is such as TO demand things on
large scale. The vast stretches OF
the land infuse men with such ideas.
IL is needless 10 say that in a country
where they have built the material
foundation OF the nation with such
feyerish ambition as has been the
case In the United States, IL was but
natural that when finally IT came to
the fner things OF life such az music,
the same methods were employed in
its development.
NO one who knows musical history
will deny for a moment that such eN-
tensive and intensive methods are
bound to bring evil influences in their
wake. Yes, but in the same breath
we must also admit that over such
vast feld the small scale OF conti-
mental methods would have proven
pathetic and ridiculous. Moreover,
since they would have been used un-
der vastly different circumstances.
they would have surely brought no
such results as has been the case in
the musical lands OF Europe. Europe
built It's musIcai art on It's folksops
cult. America built it's musical life
with the help of all nations. They
brought here not only their good but
also their weakening influences. All
Of this was tossed into the musical
melting pot of the land. and much as
with the social melting pot the ex-
r>riment is but in the first stages.
"Yes, in the early stages-and yet,
| look what great results have been at
tained. Wherever one travels there
are most encouraging signs which set
one a-dreaming of the wonderful mu-
steal future OF this country.
Think of the progress school
music. phonograph records the
words greatest piano industry. tre-
mendous music publishing houses. mo.
tion picture orchestras, bands, and
orchestras by the thousands have sc-
complished in this country within but
a very few years!
81 would like to call our pessi-
mistic critics attention to the fact
that never before in musical history
has any land of such dimensions as
America accomplished feats In mu-
steal development like those which
took place in this country during
parallel period OF time and under
such unfavorable conditions. / do
not mean materially unfavorable. but
refer to the conducive musical at
mosphere which was lacking here up
to but few years ago.
when we consider that this has
been accomplished without the guild
| ing hand and material aid Of the
Government. unlike the case with Eu-
ropean countries, there seems a great
er credit due to the forces that have
brought Americas musical life to its
present standard.
To-day America knows what music
means I'm the life of the individual.
the child and the adult. in the home
life, in the life of the community. and
the nation, and I dare say that when
the powers of each community, state.
I l. l.
OF music. then this country will take
the front rank in the league of mu-
sical lands"