The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-10-24
AMERICA LEADER
IN MUSIC WORLD
Philadelphia Director, Back
From Europe, Calls Wars e.
feet on Composers Tragic.

Leopold Stokowski' AtoI "o'e '"~
three months spent In England
France, Austria. Switzerland, Belgium
and Holland. returned to America the
MIDDLE OF September TO take up his
work OF shaping the new season OF
the PhiIadeiphia Orchestra. writes w.
IL NJ In an interview with the emil
nsnt conductor In Musical Amerioa,
adding that DIR. Btokowski returns
with a portfolio rich In novelties for
the coming season.
-As one OF the conductors hospitabie
90 the modsrnists, even the eStrem-
ists." the interviewer continues "he
will be liberal In presenting spsci-
mems Of the latest works OF the new
schooia or course, tho classic and
standard rspertory will not be neg
Ieeted."
And then DIR. stokowski speaks for
himself. OF music here at home and
abroad.
-Amsriea 10 the only place In the
world for music right now. Musical
progress abroad 10 at a standstill.
There 10 Absolutely nothing construc-
tive In Burope's musical activities;
IL 10 all destructive, the natural and
inevitable eject of the war. Indeed.
how could II be otherwise. since com
possrs like Schosnbsrg spent three
yssrs during the war IN the army.
perhaps cleaning somebody's boots7
What musical progress can come
from thatf
NEW ITALIAN SCHOOL
TN the compositions that I have
brought back eth mo, I have tried
TO represent alf the countries I Wis
tied. 1t has been my aim to select
music that will show tendencies
everywhere since the beginning Of
the war. and even before. The list
includes not only France. Belgium,
England, Germany. Cxechoslovakia
and Austria. but Poland. Russia and
Finland as well"
One very siknincant sign, according
TO DR.. Stokowski, is the beginning Of
. field for absolute music in italy.
ct have several specimens of this
new italian school which I shall give
this season." he said. "One is by
Mslipiero. whose hrst work to be
heard here In America, the Pause del
Silensio.' written during the war and
rejecting its influence strongly, was
played by the Philadelphia Orchestra
last year. The other Is q young COM
poser named Casella who IL almost
unknown here.
II have also 4 new work by stravin-
sky. composer OF The Fire BIRD and
ono Of the most recent things that
the Finnish composer. Sibelius, has
written. II 10 rather difficult to deal
with Stravinsky, however, because he
has some strange notions. A work
BY . young Belgian, De ~Vreulia. Is
also on the list
GERMAN MUSIC SOON.
cor course. there has been a great
deal of feeling about German music.
ana this II not all over yet, by any
means. There are 20 many ethical,
economic, social and artistic considef-
atoms involved In . world war, but
these things can have no bearing on
our musical proErams. believe in
ighting for what We should have;
only 1t II . question whether more
can be gained for musical art In the
long run by adapting our course to
tho changing mood OF the public.
And. little BY little. I believe that all
bitterness will Abate.
THE new works have brought
back will enable the public to note
tendencies abroad. And. in the recent
musical activity Of Europe, there Is
a great deal OF waste that Is all right.
Waste II an Inevitable part Of life.
What - worth while will survive and
what ID vital will get to the top"