The New York herald., 1922-06-11

Copyright, 1929, bU TIE NEW YORK HTHALp-
New York Herald Bureau.
Rome. June 1.
"A ER. WALTER DAMROSCH,
MI conductor of the New York
Symphony Orchestra. left
kere tonight for Munich and Vienna
after four days spent at the Music
School of the American Academy.
which he helped to organize.
Mr.. Damrosch expressed himself to
THE NEW YORK HERALD correspondent
as delighted with the results which
the music school has accomplished in
It's single year of existence. He paid
tribute to the organizing genius of its
director, Felix Lamond, formerly Of
Now York, who before undertaking
this work was organist of Trinity
Chapel, in West Twenty-fifth street,
whose guest he has been for a week.
"The idea of the musical fellowship
rosch. Napoleon l., in organizing the
French Academy in Rome, gave the
opportunity for development and study
to French composers. Gounod. Charpen-
tier. Debussy and Berlioz were all Pr.x
de Rome men. We are fortunate in
America to have followed this example
at last. In an administrative sense, at
least. America is the greatest musical
country in the world. and we owe 1t 20
the cultivation OF our national taste to
maintain this bit of American territory
hero in Rome for our young composers
of ability.
"The period when composer has
finished 10 formal training Is a very
dangerous and important one. II he
must Immediately go to work teaching
or copying manuscripts or drudging IN
some other way his creative ability may
be warped or hampered permanently
The man of lusty genius may rise above
the hardest circumstances, but the world
never knows how much it Is losing from
other geniuses who squander their
energies In the struggle to live
Mr.. Damrosch has heard the compo-,
sitions of the two composers now resi-
dent at the academy, Mr.. Lee Sowerby
and Mr.. Howard Hanson. and expressed
his admiration OF the work they have
been doing In Rome. He said that the
New York Symphony Orchestra may
perform latev a symphony which Mr..
Hanson is n\w completing and which
will be playtll by the Rome Philhar-
monic this winter.
third composer, whose Fellowship
has been naiEed in honor of Mr.. Dam
rosch. will soon leave America. for
Rome. His name has not yet been an
nounced as the competitions are judged
anonymously, and the winner has not
yet been made known. Mr.. Damrosch
helped Judge the competition before
leaving New York.
Roman Atmosphere Helps.
why Rome for American conpos-
ers?" Mr.. Damrosch repeated query.
Not because 1t is the musical center OF
the world. to be sure, but because II is.
perhaps. the richest and most creative
background Tor the artist Rome has a
mellowing influence on the westerner.
1t contains the riches of many civilt-
zations. And I find the background OF
the academy most important infiu-
ence on these composers. The artist.
especially the musician, Is inclined to be
one sided. He does not realize his fntt-
mate relationship with architecture and
painting and sculpture.
Here in the academy forty young
time, talking. discussing, exchanging
ideas on every branch of creative art.
No better atmosphere could be imsg-
ined for the harmonious development Of
the artist.
More than that. find that Mr..
Lamond has in this short time made
the American Music School one of the
important musical centers of Rome.
Every Sunday afternoon you can find
here the leaders OF Italian music. who
come up to play over their compositions
and discuss them or to perform the
compositions on which our Americans
are at work. This intimate exchange
of ideas and the atmosphere of close
friendship which has been built up with
Roman composers and artists are tre-
mendously important step"
Mr.. Damrosch expressed his convic-
tion that the fellowships In the music
school should continue TO be limited in
number. He said. After all. even
large country cannot produce more than
three or four men of first class compos-
ing ability at time. And as our ma
tional musical taste develops we must
raise the requirements for the Prix de
Rome. instead OF admitting more mon"
The director remarked that he is still
looking for the generations great COM
poser" and will review the work done
in Vienna and Munich since the war.
I'VE can't produce great composers
here in Rome. but we can certainly de-
velop them he said.
Mr.. Damrosch will return to Paris for
the opening OF the Fontainebleu Music
School late in June. and them sail for
America.