New-York tribune., 1922-11-26
National League
Of Male Csiaoruses
I'm Proposed Plan

A movement for the extension and
popularixing OF male singing clubs
throughout the country, on the lines Of
the Welsh Eisteddfod or the German
saengeybund, Is being developed by
three old Glee Club men and one other
with the constructive criticism and
final approval Of several club conduct
ors. Tho main idea Is one OF ma
tional organisation called, for instance,
the American Federation Of Glee Clubs,
with, fog the Eastern section from
Cleveland 60 Maine, plan on the fol-
lowing lines,
There are about fifty glee clubs in
the section. Assuming that they all
Join, officers are 20 be elected by pop
ular vote, each club having as many
votes as 1t had singing members at its
last concert. Besides the usual pre-
siding officers there will be commit
tee OF governors, say twenty men,
meeting In New York every second
month, travelling expenses 60 be paid by
the organization. They will appoint, at
Q suitable ssla-y, q group Of eminent
musicians, maybe ten, 60 constitute
the committee Of judges.
Once every thres years great four
day meet will be held here at the Met
ropolitan Opera House, to be attended
by all clubs which have been members
for the last two years, to which the
public can buy admission.
Tha nost eninsns mus!cal talent in
the country Will be engaged 20 assist,
bus the features Of great attraction TO
the public and members alike Will be
Che mass singing Of the organisations
common repertoire and the compet!-
t!ons which will be held on the lass
two days. These competitions will be
decided by the official committee OF
Judges, who will sit in an Enclosure
screened from the staga SO that they
will not know which club Is singing.
The clubs winning the prize OF the
Eastern meet Will, at later date and
place named, be entitled to compete
against the winners of the Central,
!
national emblem In each class. The
organization In this Anal test will pay
the travelling expenses OF she compet-
ing clubs.
AS a stimulus 30 esmposss!on Of glee
club music a prize will be offered for
the best song submitted during the last
intermeet period. A special committee
Of judges representing the national or
ganization will award the prizes, and
the singing Of the prize song will be
made the crowning feature Of the meat.
The ability to read music Is essential
60 effective gles club work, and TO this
end it Is desired to bring about the
study OF sight singing In the schools
Of every city, and greatly to increase
the number OF glee clubs Sor the use
Of ability thus acquired. This should
do much 60 raise the standards Of ap-
probation and make Americans in gen
ersl more musics! people. An OBJ
server In Wales noted how Mr.. Lloyd
Georges audiences greeted him, not
with shouts, but with wsll-rendered
part singing Of good songs.
1t has been observed that the poorer
peopls do not necessarily want Jazz,
but accept 1t because 1t is cheap; they
need music as q relief from the strain
OF modern industrial life, especially
now tha& liquor Is gone. Some large
organizations realize this; the Good
rich Tire Company and National Cash
Register Company have encouraged the
formation OF large ualo choruses in
their works. In each case they provide
quarters fer rehearsal and concert, g
conductor and music, and in the case
Of the Goodrich company advanced
the sum OF $4,000 to buy evening
clothes for che men, 80 that they may
make prssentable appearance.
In New York the high quality Of the
work OF the Metropolitan Ydfe Glce
Club, composed Of about fifty male
employees. has been noted, with its
beneficial effect on It's members and
the entire corps Of employees.
The various features OF the plan: the
organisation, the work In schools, pro-
noting new clubs in cities and towns,
interesting great industrial and COM
rnercial organizations in forming their
own clubs, and, especially. paying at
tention TO the yet unassimilated must
cal foregner, will, OF course. require
money; but its promoters point out
that men Of wealth and vision are
gladly financing local musical enter
prises and should readily support such
national movement to make this
country great In music.