The Washington times., 1921-05-29
WEEK OF MUSIC
GOOD FOR PEOPLE,
LEADER DECLARES
Emphasizes Value Of Song in
Everyday Life, Says Robert
Lawrence, Director OF Fste.
By JESSIE MacBRIDE.

By JESSIE MCBRIDE.
Music Week emphasizes the value
of music in the everyday life of the
people"
Thus speaks Robert Lawrence.
who has come to Washington as or
ganizing director of the greatest
Music Week the country has ever
contemplated.
For where else could these United
States give 30 spontaneous q ma
tional touch to this event, that
crowns life with good fellowship
and with an expression of beauty
shared in by every soul in the Ma
tional Capital.
Music week to Robert Lawrence is
a thing for humanity.
"A thought for the folks. just the
simple sweet folks who make up
the most of u.s." as he says.
do you realize the Importance Of
tniS Muesc "ech III "oohhesoh'
Mr.. Lawrence asked. Think Of It!
The President, the Cabinet the Con-
gress--all of the representatives Of
the National Government-have fully
endorsed a movement to fulhi our new
motto:
Music for Everybody
To-day the majority of the Ameri-
can public jealousy read tbs press, sit
tend concert after concert but take
no active part in anything. The audi
ence habit soon becomes chronic with
the general public. 1t is one of the
most serious of modern social diseases.
"The result 10 q dangerous one for
a democracy. 1t means that the aver
ago personal opinion Is borrowed
rather than created. The old-time
genius for debate has largely afro
phied. and vocal chords are grown
flabby.
OUR UNsUNG SONGS
People love to sing IL you give
them opportunity.
Music of the concert hall Is, TO
people who have never had the ex-
perience OF music, too cold. too austere-
But take music to people by let
ting them sing together, then listen
together, and by and by q love for
music will be created. And that love
for music will grow into a need for
music.
why this accent on music as an aid
to life and happiness?" Mr.. Lawrence
repeated the question.
Il would like to quote you some
thing David Grayson says in fsscin-
ating book, The Friendly Road He
writes:
~ think men perish sometimes
II ON sheer untalked talk. For lack
Ct a creative listener they gradually
iIl up with unexpressed emotion.
Presently this emotion begins to fer
ment and fnally-bang! They blow
up, burst. disappear into thin AIR
Perhaps men do not blow up for
lack of singing" Mr.. Lawrence con-
tinued with that very human smile
that makes him a friend with Every
man" but they do something equally
dreadful-they dry up"
In tellingly stating his ideal for
music for humanity Mr.. Lawrence not
only emphasized the singing of the
masses, but the listening of the
masses as well-that listening which
is to enter the being of our children
Of the future and develop a creative
impulse in them for better and more
beautiful things. For that creative
instinct in our people 10 almost now
q thing untouched.
Then art music can be taken to the
people.
NEIGHBORHOOD SINGING.
Out of the big impulse born in New
ork's first music week OF a year ago,
custom that Mr.. Lawrence calls
''neighborhood singing came into
heing.
Anyone intimately acquainted with
, the folk ways of the teeming populs-
tons of great American business and
| industrial centers," said Mr.. Law
| renee, back again to his mission OF
creating potential concert audiences
out OF the untouched" IS per cent OF
the American people, knows that for
y large part Of each year the street
is the neighborhood meeting place,
playground. and social center. The
salvation Army and local politicians
learned this fact a long time ago.
Perhaps the finest thing that can
be argued for street singing Is that II
reaches the city children in greater
numbers and with happier results
than anything else ever attempted
along recreational lines"
And a glance at the illustrations
that Mr.. Lewrence has with him OF
New York's 'neighborhood sings"
with the laughter and JOY in the faces
Of Riddles and grown-up alike, con-
vince the most skepucal.
FORGOTTEN SONGS.
adult America has simply forgot
ten how to sing! But you in wash
ington will spread this impulse into
the whole nation" Mr.. Lawrence
said with conviction.
"And it Is not wholly for mass
singing: that Is merely the beginning
Our official program for Washington
holds the best music programs the
city has to OFFER from an art view
point These artists are taking their
best into the neighborhoods of the
IN -. - f,E