Evening star., 1924-02-14
The North Window
BY LEILA MECHLIN


neid' Mass, and put into effect last
week through the cooperation Of the
Library Of Congress and the Freer
Gallery for three chamber music con-
certs seems to have attained to this
nigh standard, not merely musically.
but In the matter of arrangement
and detail OF presentations ..
The music, obviously, was more
than good. 1t was. in fact, on a par
with the works of the painters and
sculptors OF foremost distinction, and
1t was most artistically rendered by
musicians Of high standing. But over
and above all this the concerts were
given In an auditorium beautifully
proportioned and designed by an
architect who Is In every sense of
the word an artist. This auditorium
49, IN turn. beneath the roof OF
gallery housing exquisite works OF
art wherein nothing is found in ex-
cess; everything is displayed with
due recognition of intrinsic value:
In other words, a temple wherein art
Is rightly reverenced. Furthermore.
the program OF the concerts. a
ewenty-four-page booklet, was artistic
IN the matter Of design and printing.
the cover being in two shades OF
brown with ornamental border
adapted from some old French de-
sign for musical publication--if we
mistake not.
x K X X
AS was eminently befitting in con-
nection with occasions of this sort,
an air of mutual friendliness and
sympathy pervaded the audience and
marked the reception Of the guests
and the introduction Of the players.
Mr.. Putnam. the librarian OF Con-
gress. in a brief Introductory address
On the first afternoon laid stress
upon the fact that science and art,
which could mover be joined in we'd
lock, had, through mutual respect,
Joined hands in this instance TO at
tain desired end-to honor art
and thereby the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition had demonstrated it's willing
ness not merely to increase knowl-
edge. but advance culture. For the
Smithsonian Institution, as all know,
IS the overlord" OF the Freer Gal
lery.
To have had such a combination Of
the arts and a consummation of ar
tistry of this day and generation is
matter for rejoicing. The present
tendency Is not, all will admit, toward
perfection even in such matters, but
to the contrary, inclined to accept
good enough" as a standard.
In an attempt to popularize art
some have gone so far that they have
cheapened it. In one Of the great art
museums Of this country during the
war a live pig was auctioned for a
war relief fund. Not infrequently
those who would teach appreciation of
art descend to buffoonery, believing
that the public must be amused and
that the way to amuse is to be conf
cal. There Is tendency today TO
democratize art by interpreting 1t In
the vernacular of Main Street." but
II should be remembered that there
has never been a great work of art,
one of superlative merit. produced
that has not in time won the plaudits
and the appreciation of the common
people.
= X x
From another standpoint this series
of concerts, so generously given here
in Washington as the gift of Mrs
Frederick Shurtlef Coolidge in con-
nection with her gift Of scores to
the music division of the Library of
Congress, was significant. 1t stressed
tho correlation Of the arts, music
literature, painting, sculpture, decora-
ton.
Not a great many years ago the
majority of the boards Of directors
Of art museums saw no reason for
including music in the programs of
their Institutions activities. Within
the past Ave years this conviction
has been changing, and now. all over
the United States, not only art mu-
seums but art associations have
broadened the scope of their interests
The conservative Boston Museum
regularly arranges for concerts In It's
halls; the Metropolitan Museums or
chestral concerts. under the leader
ship of David Names, have become
one of the features of musical New
York; the Cleveland museum has in
stalled an organ in its court and has
an endowed department of music: the
Detroit museum and the Chicago Art
Institute both include concerts. Word
has recently come from Italy that In
Florence during the last week OF
December Peri's opera. "Eurydice:
written in 1900 ;ad for fete na OF 9vsn afie in
IL, &
the great hall Of the Pitt Palace, one
OF the greatest art galleries OF the
world.
In the introduction to the program
Of the three recitals lately given at
,be Freer Gallery Of Art mention is
made of the Berkshire festivals
and how they originated. These fes-
t,vals. as many know. are held in
"temple" of music, on South Noun
tain. where they have "as beautiful
a setting as autumnal New England
can offer" and "are removed from
the sphere OF social rivalry and COM
mercial intrigue" This Is the at
mosphere that the well appointed
gallery Of art gives not only occa-
sionally to music, but Invariably TO
Give to the fullest enjoyment and real
II is Tor the reason that the sum-
mer exhibitions at the fashionable re-
vears have become customary. do not
maintain this aloofness, but rather
ranrodiice these unfortunate ele-
N ents in exaggeration, that some feel
their influence has been and is det-
rimenta1.
In a brief greeting, which took the
form of appreciation of the musi-
clans whose compositions were play
ed and of the musicians who played
them. Mrs. Coolidge, at the last con-
cert OF the series. referred hopefully
to governmental patronage for mu-
sic as a possibility in the future.
She did not say, however, in what
form. whether 1t should be through
department Of fine arts with a sec
retarv at its head. taking his place
as a cabinet officer. or through the