The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-16

AZ pTG6Gul II ~
true, lacks all Of those musical In
situations for which so many ole
world capitals are famous. This
the capital Of the greatest anS
richest nation on earth, has no ma
tional conservatory, no symphony
orchestra Of its own. no operi
house. no permanent stock opers
company. II has not even q concer
hall.
New Sentiment Exists.
Happily q change IL at hand
The best minds here are awake L
the situation and several move
ments are now on foot all focusInt
in the one direction Of making
Washington Q great music center
These various movements includ,
the establishment of q great ma.
tIonal conservatory Of music undei
government control, the foundinl
Of q hrst-class symphony orchestra
the building Of concert hal
worthy Of the nations Capital. thI
establishment OF . permanent stocl
opera company, and the erection Of
an opera house that will be an or,
nament 70 the city. One Of tn,
most important Of these movement
has for It's goal the foundation OF
a bureau Of nne arts, under gov.
eminent control :.
The contamination of all OF
these plans will make Washington
one OF the great art and music cen.
tiers of the world. and viii greatly
add to the attractiveness of tn,
city ~ Q place of residence fol-
people who wish TO live in an at.
mosphsrs OF the highest musica
and artistic culture. II will also
attract to the Capital great musI,
cal celebrities and induce them e
locate here. At present Washing.
ton cannot boast Of q single inter
nationally famous musician as q
resident"
Mr.. Abel then proceeds to out
line the provisions Of the bill for
establishing q national conserva-
tory, familiar TO local music lovers
in detail, particularly stressing
President Harding's interest In the
project
This plan" he says, "emanates
from the Washington Arts Club. an
association which includes among
Its members the best artistic ele-
ments Of the Capital. George J.
zolnay and Henry K. Bush Brown.
the two leading spirits Of the club,
both eminent sculptors, are the
prime movers in this plan. While
the activities Of the national con-
servstory will be restricted chiefly
to music. this plan calls for q
broader and more general cultiva-
ton OF all the arts Il 10 deemed
indispensable to the complete fur.
therance of this project 70 have 9
national bureau of the hne arts es-
tablished. with separate depart
ments for music, painting. sculp-
ture. architecture and the graphic
arts. each under the directorship OF
man of the highest professional
standing in his particular branch
OF art. The ultimate purpose Is e
establish q great art school thai
will maintain the highest standard,
Of instruction in all branches Of
art, so that the American student
of sculpture, painting or the sistel
arts will no longer ind IL necsssar,
TO go abroad to complete his edu,
cation.
whole to Ne subsidi.ed.
The musical part of this plar
has for its program the foundinr
of permanent symphony or,
chestra, which will rank with tn,
best in the country. the establish.
ment Of q hrst-class permanent
opera company with q view par.
ticularly to giving American sing,
ers an opportunity to make an CD.
cratic career in this country and
the building OF Q fine opera hous,
and concert hall. 1t Is believed thai
this scheme and the national con.
servatory plan would ultimately b.
merged into one movement, all q
be brought under government con
troll and subsidy"
Arguments against so-calleC
government control" Of music arS
ill-founded, Mr.. Abel nnds, for ''it
is not government control of music
that is aimed at, but government
support and encouragement. WHY
are the old world musical institu'
lions so far ahead OF ours7 Be.
cause they have for centuries haC
government support and encour'
agement.
The Washington public" he de,
clares, would hail the realization
of these plans with delight. Th'
people are ready for all OF thes,
musical advancements. Public
patronage of musical Offering,
brought to the city from outsid,
has increased enormously the pas,
few years. Nor do the Washing,
tonians merely nock to the greai
artists from abroad: they also pat.
ronize local talent Of merit, as tn
a affAnGonaa ~ h. -
grand opera given at Polls las,
December by the Washington Opers
Company under Edward Albion anc
a series Of concerts by the Ruben
stein Club, an excellent loca
chorus, testified"
Among local managers and pro,
motors Of music and things musi,
cal, he especially compliments 7
Arthur Smith. Mrs. wilson-Green,
and Mr.. Albion. He .enumerates tn,
musical talent and teachers of tn,
Capital in the following compli
mentary conclusion:
Long Roll Of Talent.
IT have heard gifted pupils Of
Hermann Rakemann, violin. who
has been teaching here for thirty.
five years; Edward Albion, vocal
Marie Won Unschuld. piano; and the
late lamented Samuel Fabian, him.
self Liszt pupil, who taught here
thirty years. Among his pupili
who have won distinction are Wal,
ter Rummel and Edwin Hughes
Another prominent and successful
piano teacher IL Alice Burbag,
CMrs. Hasselbach). The Nestor Of
violin teachers Is Joseph Kaspar
who/ has a Washington record o,
forty years to his credit. Hi
daughter, Mrs. Francesca Kaspa,
lawson. 10 Q successful concer