New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-11
- In the World of Music and Musicians
Folk Music in General;
Indian Songs in Particular

forth in early Greecei Fortunately, the
Constitution Of the United States Ia
ours to fall back upon. cite the in
stance to illustrate the prejudice to
which the Indian as we'll as the negro 10
subject.
You may we'll ask what has all this
to do with your denunciation of Indian
music. In the first place, the per-
formances of negro spirituals by Mr.
Schindler's white chorus and by the
Musical Art Society have most sig
nificantly helped to dignity negro
music in the eyes of the negro him
self. Also, it helped to prove anew to
the white race that the negro is, after
all, human being with possibilities
worthy Of development. Even so, any
emphasis Of the fact that the Indian Of
to-day is worthy native of his own
land, with something to contribute to
the nations culture, helps enormously
In the creating of that public opinion
which in America can alone compel
constructive results.
or course, being musician, would
be the last person to urge putting
music on programs for purely educa-
tional or human reasons. 1t goes
without. saying that l have myself a
strong belief in the artistic value Of
know that you are of an opposite opin-
ion, my reason for writing to you
thus is because I feel that when a
newspaper like yours utters a sweep
Ing condemnation of the whole music
Of native America, the influence of
that condemnation (under the circum-
stances of our general attitude toward
the lndian) does not stop with the
music alone. Your paper adds its
fagot to the fro which would destroy
the self-expression of the race
After all, is not the question as to
whether or not there is anything worthy
In native American art q matter of i,t
divdual opinion? Mr.. Safonoff was so
struck with the Indian themes that
only Rimsky- Korsakoff's death pre-
vented the conductor from CARRYING
hack to the composer some of the ma
tive chants of America Mr.. Busoni, a.
you know, was intensely interested and
composed his Indian fantasy for or
chestra and piano performed by the
Philadelphia and Chicago orchestras,
as well as in Europe), his string quar-
tet and a group of piano. pieces on
other Of those fascinated both by the
Indian rhythms and the quality of tho
melodies. To know something more of
Indian music at first hand was one
the dreams of Anton Seidl All criti-
cisms as to my own work ! accept as
constructive. I do ask, however,
whether so sweeping a condemnation
of Indian musical material is wholly
fair. Though there may be as yet no
great genius in American composition,
though we may all have failed to ex-
press the music of native America, is
no expression possible? l do not be-
lieve in any conscious attempts to
found schools" of national music on
the music of any people, for we in
America are made up of 50 many races
that the heritage of the art of the
world is ours, also the growth of art
is intuitive and not predetermined.
But do believe that out of the South
and the Far West, where there is
strongly individual folk art rooted In
the land, some future genius may come
forth to sing a song all Americas own.
1t Is an interesting coincidence that
this Sunday there will be held in New
York an "Indian Day." when, among
the scientists and artists who will
speak, Miss Alice Fletcher, holder of
the Thaw Fellowship at Harvard Uni
versity, will be guest of honor
Very truly yours,
NATALIE CURTIS.
100 West Fifty seventh Street, April
8, 1920.