New Britain herald., 1922-11-23
|YULETIDE. SINGING
 GROWING IN FAVOR
Movement Expected to Include
 1000 Cities This Christmas

So thoroughly established now in this country is the venerable cus- tom of outdoor Christmas caroling that to date 1t has been incorporated as feature of the public Yuletide celebrations in no less than 661 cities and towns. The list of these is given in an illuminating survey on the spread of the movement made by the National Bureau for the Advance ment of Music, which is cooperating with churches, schools, music teach CTS, club leaders and other organizing groups of carolers among the young people of the community and re- hearing them in the beautiful old melodies. According to the bureaus records, gathered through newspaper clippings from all parts of the coun- try, 3S0 cities had had the caroling in 1920, as compared with the 661 in December last, so that at the present rate of growth the list should reach at least 1000 this year.
 Among the pioneers in the revival of the custom of outdoor singing dur ing the holiday season is New Brit ain, which has made it practice for the past few years. Community sing ing around the Christmas tree at Central park has furnished inspira- tion for thousands. We'll manag kl and growing in popularity, this fea- ture of civic life is now regarded as Q permanent fixture on the calendar.
 Speaking of the modest beginnings of the movement in America the sur- vey of the National Bureau says:
 Ten years ago outdoor Christmas Eve caroling. especially by itinerant groups through the streets of town and village, was almost unknown in this country. The beautiful old cus- tom that had once been universal in England had all but died.
 The widespread adoption of the Community Christmas tree did much to bring the. carols to public attention again.. Yet the singing of the charm ing old Yuletide songs for the public benefit was all too infrequent and the general absence of the waits the travelling bands of carolers in their picturesque red cambric capes, was pdTtICuldTly IeBTettdDIe.
 ''The National Bureau for the Ad- vancement of Music is interested ill extending more widely the influence and utilization of music among the American people, and 1t saw in the Christmas caroling one of the most inspiring uses of song, as satisfac- tion to the singer, a joy to the com munity, and a means of expressing the Christmas spirit. In 1917, there fore, shortly after it's own inception, the bureau began working actively for the countrywide expansion of the custom"
 Not only has the idea itself at- tained the great popularity indicated in the survey, which it is admitted probably leaves out number of cities that should be included, but there have been many new develop, ments introduced from year to year, some of which have themselves met with wide favor. One of these is the practice of serenading by the carolers outside the homes of shut-ins and the visiting of hospitals, institutions for the aged, etc. The traditional costume of cape and hood is also be- Ing more extensively used. In many towns some of the itinerant bands consist entirely of adults in others of adults. T
 number of these special features as well as general information for those desirous of forming caroling groups, are described in the booklet, Christmas Eve Caroling Being Re- vived." which may be obtained free upon request by readers of this news paper who write the National Bu- reau for the Advancement of Music, l05 West 40 street, New York