Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-05-18

WASHINGTON. D. c., May 10
Indiana is the first state TO make a
special effort to encourage its "
musical composers, according to
Grace Porterheld Polk, well known
song writer of Indiana.
Three years & Mrs. Polk deter
mined to do for other Indiana folk
| Just what she wished someone had
done for her when she was a strug-
Cling composer. She had had TO
work alone, trusting in her W
judgment to divine what was good
and bad in her early attempts. She
had had TO learn. by slow expert
ment, ways to success that an expe-
rienced song writer could have eX-
planned to her in a 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 residents 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 hat Indiana
needed this sort of encouragement
was justified. From farms, home
steads and city offices manuscripts
came into Greenwood, the suburb
of Indianapolis where Mrs. Polk
lives. More than 200 entries We're
| made in the first year OF the con-
test Last year $50 manuscripts came
in. This year the number will
probably DE larger. though the art
song prizes have been discontinued.
1t was found that an art song to The
| amateur composer meant a very
complicated and ambitious work.
| Many of the contestants were not
ready for intricate compositions, so
it was decided to concentrate on
ballad forms.
The prizes are awarded every year
at the American Song Composers
Festival held at Greenwood in June.
The festival is another idea for en-
couraging home talent, both state
and national. Each year many mu-
steal composers come to Greenwood
for a three days celebration and
festival Both experienced COM
posers and amateurs some from dis
tant 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 get inspi-
ration for heir work in the con-
certs and meetings.
Mrs Polk is especially interested
in the rising generation of must
clans. For several years h was
Junior chairman of the National
Federation of Music CLUBS. and she
is still the champion of the struS-
Cling and of the poten-
tial composers in the school room
who have not yet realized. perhaps,
that they have unwritten songs run
ming in their heads.
Every state should encourage its
nome musicians. and particularly
the young composers. The suresi
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
bows and girls of the grammar and
high school age by forming them
int Junior Music Clubs. These
clubs give recitals, and sometimes
the programs are made Up entirely
OF original compositions. They go
to hear concerts. Some of the clubs
have made a study of the parts play
ed by the different instruments in
the orchestra, so that they might
better understand orchestra music
And some of them have orchestras
of their own.
Sometimes small prizes are given
for the best original composition by
a club member. These Original
pieees-little waltzes, marches ano
| sones-are often crude. Few are
worthy of publication. but early at
tempts may lead TO finer work, es'
| pecially if sympathetic encourage
ment is given.
2 In the Indiana composers contes'
an effort is made to get an idea al
TO what led the different junior
contestants to write the pieces sub
! mitted. Most of them realize the
l importance of starting with 2
1 theme. Just as experienced artists
do. There is surprisingly little
l meaningless music submitted.
One little girl. telling about hei
lmanQseEigL said taat Der father va;