Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-18
Ihe Hlskin Letter o. s : Rs:sa
HELPING YOUNG COMPOSERS.

Washington, d. c., May B.-Indiana
is the first state to make a special eff
fort to encourage its own musical COM
poscrs, according to Grace Porterfieid
Polk, well known song writer of In
diana.
Three years ago, Mrs. Polk deter
mined to do for other Indiana folk just
what she wished someone had done for
her when she was a struggling COM
poser. She had had to work alone,
trusting in her W judgment to divine
what was good and bad in her early at
tempts. She had had to learn, by slow
experiment, ways to success that an
experienced song writer could have
explained to her in q few minutes talk.
She decided that in future the young
composers of her state at least should
profit by the experience of others.
Accordingly she began to offer a
group of annual prizes for the best
original songs submitted by persons
native or resident of the Hoosier state.
Prizes for the best art songs and bal
lads were offered, and also a prize for
the best manuscript by a junior COM
poser.
Mrs. Folks belief that Indiana need
ed this sort Of encouragement was JUS
titled. From farms, homesteads and
city offices manuscripts came into
Greenwood, the suburb of indianapolis
where Mrs. Polk lives. More than 200
entries were made in the first year Of
the contest. Last year $50 manu-
Der win probably be larger, though the
art song prizes have been discontinued.
1t was found that an art song to the
amateur composer meant a very COM
plicated and ambitious work. Many
of the contestants were not ready for
intricate compositions, so it was de-
cided to concentrate on ballad forms.
The prizes are awarded every year
at the American Song Composers fes-
tival held at Greenwood in June. The
festival is another idea for e%ncourag-
ing home talent, both state and ma
tional. Each year many musical COM
posers come to Greenwood for a three
days celebration and festival. Both
experienced composers and amateurs,
some from distant states, come to this
convention in the cause of American
music. The beginners get helpful
suggestions and counsel. the older
musicians consult together, and all
concerts and meetings.
III I'm IS especially 1utcTSSLEu III
the rising generation of musicians.
man of The National Federation of
Music clubs, and she is still the cham
pion of the struggling composer, and
of the potential composers in the
school room who have not yet real
lied, perhaps, that they have unwritten
songs running in their heads.
Every state should encourage its
home musicians, and particularly the
young composers. The surest way to
promote American music is to interest
the young people and give them the
assistance they should have.
Concrete Suggestions
There are various ways Of doing
this. The National Federation of
Music clubs is working to interest boys
and girls of the grammar and high
school age by forming them into junior
music clubs. These clubs give re-
citals. and sometimes the programs are
made up entirely of original compost
tons. They go to hear concerts. Some
of the clubs have made a study of the
parts played by the different instru-
ments in the orchestra, so that they
might better understand orchestra
music. And some of them have or
ehestras of their own.
Sometimes small prizes are given
for the best original composition by a
club member. These original pieces
little waltzes, marches, and songs
are often crude. Few are worthy of
publication, but early attempts may
lead to finer work, especially if sym
pathetic encouragement is given.
In the Indiana composers contest
an effort is made TO get An idea as
to what led the different junior con-
testants to write the pieces submitted.
Most Of them realize the Importance
of starting with a theme, just as ex-