The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-05-18
Helping Young Composers
By FREDERIC !. HAskIN

WASHINGTON. D. c.. May Is. =
Indiana is the first state to make spe-
cial effort to encourage its own mus
ical composers, according to Grace
Porterfield Polk, well known song
writer of Indiana.
Three years ago, Mrs. Polk determ-
ined to do for other Indiana folk just
what she wished someone had done
for her when she was a struggling
composer. She had to work alone,
trusting in her own judgment to di-
vine what was good and bad in her
early attempts. She had to learn,
by slow experiment, ways to success
that an experienced song writer could
have explained to her in a few min,
utes talk. She decided that in future
the young composers of her state al
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 ballads were offered, and also a
prize for the best manuscript by a
junior composer.
Mrs. Folks belief that Indiana need
ed this sort of encoura gement was
justified. From farms, homesteads
and city offices manuscripts came In
to Greenwood, the suburb Of Indian
apolis where Mrs. Polk lives. More
than 200 entries were made in the
first year of the contest. Last veal
$50 manuscripts came in. This veal
the number will probably be larger
though the art song prizes have beer
discontinued. 1t was found that al
art song to the amateur composer
meant a very complicated and ambi
tious work. Many of the contestant:
were not ready for intricate compost
| lions, so it was decided to concentrate
! on ballad forms.
The prizes are awarded every yea
! at the American Song Composers
| Festival held at Greenwood in June
| The festival is another idea for en-
| coura ging home talent, both state ant
national Each year many musica
composers come to Greenwood for ;
/ three days celebration and festival
Both experienced composers and am
ateurs, some from distant states, COM
1glO Inio OOLf C11l4OA III tAO OGA0OO "
American music. The beginners ge
!, helpful suggestions and counsel. tn
oldest musicians consult together, ant
all get inspiration for their work l.
the concerts and meetings.
/ Mrs. Polk is especially interested
| in the rising generation Of musicians
| For several years she was JUNO
chairman of the National Federation
| of Music clubs. and she is still tn
champion of the struggling composer
and of the potential composers in tn
/ school-room who have not yet real
| lied, perhaps, that they have unwri:
ten songs running in their heads.
| Every state should encourage 1T
home musicians, and particularly tn
young composers. The surest way t
promote American music is to inter
est the young people and give then
the assistance they should. have.
Concrete suggestioHA
There are various ways of doin
this. The National Federation of MI
sic Clubs is working to interest boy
and girls of the grammar and hig
school age by forming them int
Junior Music Clubs. These club
give recitals, and sometimes the pre-
grams are made up entirely of orig
inal compositions. They go to hea
concerts. Some of the clubs hav
made a study of the parts played b
! the different instruments in the OF
chestra, so that they might bette
understand orchestra music. An
some of them have orchestras of thei
Sometimes small prizes are give