Pueblo chieftain., 1921-06-17
LET US SING

periences that people of this country
really want to sing and are muslcal
In spite of the contrary impression so
prevalent.
Stimulates Musical Taste
.rrltra conservative. musicians" hs
explains, Sometimes think It waste
OF time to try to interest the general
public in music. The results obtained
in cities that have seriously tried 10
do II are the best answer. BtrminS-
ham started having programs with re-
creational singing in the intermi8ions
four years ago, and the public inter
est has grown each year Up until
this year. Birmingham has been los
ing pronosition for artists who make
concert tours, but last season a pront
was made there, and a concert manager
attributed the increase in patronage
to the influence OF recreational sing
Ing"
Music week is a recent invention to
arouse America to its musical possibil-
tiles. New York had the first Muaic
week last year. and since then NUM-
ber OF cities such as DallAs. Denver,
Long Beach. Little Rock. and Pough-
kecpsie. have had similar celebrations.
New York has had another Music
| ue the practice every year San Fran
| cisco is about to stage rs nrst cele-
| bration.
Music week shows the people OF
city how they can put music into their
community and gives them a chance
! to try il out. Before WashinRton's af.
| fair. Mr.. Lawrence trained nearly
hundred men and women as song lead
ers. and planned programs.
| During Music week itself there were
mucical events in all sections Of tn,
city at night and few in the after.
nooons. One night there were u pro.
grams going on. all representing thu
best professional and amateur talent
| of the city. Colleges OF music, bands
school children. Elee clubs. choirs and
| professional concert artists presented
wide variety of attractions. with
each program was combined some re-
| ereational singing by the audience.
After Music week Is over. the city
Is expected to keep up some OF its
| features as permanent institutions.
\ city the si1. of Washington should
| have not less than 10 school houses
regularly open once week for pro-
| grams and singing. Mr.. Lawrence de-
| clares. This is not so dimcult pro
| jcct to establish now because peop'e
have got over the nrst shock at the
idea of everybody singing. Sings"
| have become well known form Of re-
! reation since the affairs at Army camps
! and community centers- ~ ia Inter
! cstinr to note that stores and factor
ies that took up the idea as an AID
to morale during the war. and late,
\ dropped II, arc starting recreational
singing AGAIN to promote industry and
| good feeling. People have lost their
drst sclr-consciousnesa and are he
ginning 10 take group singing MS .
| matter Of course.
Mr.. Lawrence believes that an
Awakening interest in musical express
sion will lead To the development Of
| folk music for America. We are youns
a. nation. and have NO folk songs
! except perhaps aome negro dialect
songs. There IL no group of pones eN.
pressing the emotions-the lovts. sor-
rows. national hopes. ana war spirit
Of the American people. But when poo
pie take to singing they want songs,
and there is encouragement for tbs
composer to produce something. sing
ing makes people unbots,s their emo
| tions. and that too stimulates the Gre
| Ative impulse.
Thr process has alrsSdy begun. Al
| most every DAY some one stuffs lyric
! into Mr. Lavrence's hand or his pock-
, ~ when he is conducting q Music week
event. We has received as many as
| snn songs In a short time. Most NJ
them arr crude; few are worthy o'
being sung. But they are . hopeful
beginning toward a musical America