Evening star., 1925-10-21

iapLdNluS spirit OF enthusia Sm
and cooperation which gave every
protI1iSe OF success. the representative
men and women of the city who gath
cred at the District Building vesteI.-
DAY afternoon fundamentally adopted
the proposal OF the commissioners for
"a great music festival in Wash!ngton
next Spring.
Nllhout hesitation. the entire audi
ehcc voted To approve the project and
promptly adopted resolutions pvoyid-
ing Tor the creation of the Washing.
ION May Music Festival Association.
\ few moments later they authorized
commissioner Rudolph to name an
executive committee of so members 10
perfect an organization and to nom
tate permanent officers
Some Of the music lovers present
n"ught that in establlshinr the
Spring festival az an annual custom
y ashlnGton would have 10 start IN a
modest way and gradually build up
he event to the plane on which Simi-
ar festivals are given in other Amer
can cities. There were as many 9th
'i'S at The meeting who took the view
nat Washington need not be timid Of
IS ability 10 rival from the start the
estivalS of other cities.
All Speaker, i'm Accord.
But all OF the speakers were In alb
1"lute accord in the belief that Wash
,n@ton should have a music festival
very wear md ,na- the National Cap
al should SCI out 10 sIrpaSS all 9th
American cities in the staging OF
his annual event.
Tho molten to approve the plan of
he commissioners was offered by
y. ]. DlfSroll. president Of the Mid
ftE Citizens Association. and was
promptly carried The resolution
author ling Commissioner Rudolph 10
lame an executive committee was
proposed by Gen. John L. Chamber
lain and. likewise. was carried with
but Il dissenting voice.
Charles T. Tittmann, who is familiar
with what Cincinnati and several
other American cities have done with
music festivals. advised Washington
% look about for one man Of broad
vision and of ample means TO devote
full time to the task of directing the
"ork of building UP the festival as
soctation. He said the success that
has been achieved in Cincinnati has
been due to that plan.
Urges Gradual Progress.
Mr. Tittmann was glad that Wash.
ington has taken the first step toward
IS ablishine an annual music festival.
uut he urged the District not 10 set
too high a goal the first year. Wash
iugtcn, he said. can reach great
heights in music. but should reach
the achievement gradually.
capt. L. q. Sherman. Commandaut
of the Army Music school. felt that
has within Us gates the
material for u music festival that
would rival those OF other cities. He
cited the presence in the city Of three
military service bands as
one instance OF how Washington
might excel other cities in music. He
further predicted that the Dist rict nn-
,lcuptediy has Il wealth OF musical
talent that could only he estimated
properly and brought together by an
elaborate festival.
Quality of Programs.
Nine. Marie Won Cnschuld stressed
the importance of f&ising the success
If the festival entirely upon the quail
ity OF the program offered. She
pointed out that Washington festi-
val will lie compared with those al
-eady being held in other parts OF the
country and that the value OF the
Musical programs offered must be ar
ranged to stand such comparison.
T. Guy Lucas emphasized the i'm
portance OF educating the children ot
the city tu take part in and appreci-
ate the rendition OF good music if the
festival IS 70 grow and if the city is t"
take the lead in fostering music In
Commissioner Rudolph ap-
proved the suggestion and said he
presumed the children would he con
in arranging the festival
DR. W l.. Darby and Miss Ella May
Powell told OF the success attained
last Spring in holding In Washington
the first convention of the World Eel
Iowship Through Music movement.
which arranged that event last year
should be given recognition on the
committee for the proposed festival
next year.
Percy s. Foster. who has long been
prominent in local music circles. was
elated over the movement started by
Commissioner Rudolph.
Mr.. Foster empha sized the ilnpor-
tance Of whole hearted cooperation be
tween all 'of the musical groups in
the city and urged them TO unite III
the proposed annual festival
the greatest musical event ever stag
ed in the National Capital.
In the address with which he
opened the meeting Commissioner
Rudolph voiced the hope that the
staging OF an annual festival would
lead eventually to the establishment
Of u great national conservatory OF
music In Washington.
Ever since the Commissioners let
il be known that they would be glad
TO take the initiative In sponsoring a
Y early music festival" Commissioner
Rudolph began, they have been much
encoura ged by the receipt Of nuner-
Gus letters approving the project. per
sonal calls by citizens and by editori-
ais on the subject appearing in the
public press OF other cities.
The gist of these communications
and editorials was to the effect-eX-
pressed in most complimentary
phrases - that Washington was the
logical city for National Capital OF
music, just as II Is the center OF the
great National Government.
Declares Time Is Ripe.
Our city has always been recog-
n.zed as a community appreciating
and supporting the development Of
music, but 1t has been apparent that
some greater and broader step should
be taken 10 firmly and permanently
establish the city as one Of the great
music centers of our great country. II
not OF the world. Other world CAPT
tails have taken the lead in develop
ing musical consciousness in the edu-
cation of their respective countries.
&c rs..4