Evening star., 1925-04-03
ENFORCED MUSIC
TEACHING IS URGED
Bruno HUM Declares In.
struction of Children
Highly Essential.

The most important factor in the
development of American music Is
to interest the children OF this gem
GRAFTON in it," is the opinion of Bruno
Huhn, American composer, who came
here from New York yesterday to
spend few days and give a recital
al Rauscher's tomorrow afternoon at
3 O'Clock for the benefit Of the Mac
Dowell Colony on the estate Of the
late Edward MacDowell where tall
ented young American writer's, nu-
sictans and artists may work In un-
disturbed peace during the Summer
to accomplish definite pieces OF ar
tistic endeavor.
mo, ] am not native born Amer.
ican, but, in a way. feel much
more an American than II i we're
native. ANY body can be an American
who happened to be born here, but
| am an American because I delibsr-
ately chose to adopt this nationality
after having travelled all over the
world" said Mr.. Huhn. Mr.. HUM
wa born in London and spent his
early life in Australia Although
he had had a sound fundamental edu-
cation In England and received his
diploma from Trinity College. he did
not study music as profession until
some time later. Then he wrote his
first composition, called a Butterfly
March"
DepIore. First Works.
Really. you know that is such a
ridiculous title" commented Mr. HUM
whole regiment OF butterflies
marching? And, TO make 1t worse, I
scored II for brass band. That is
the only composition that I ever
scored for a band. 1t was really very
bad and I was unfortunate in having
publishers accept 1t right away. Then,
too, my second endeavor-writing two
songs that were really awful, for at
the time | had no working knowledge
of the fundamentals of composition
were likewise unfortunately ac-
cepted." Mr.. HUM showed the pains
taking talent that IL genius, how
ever, when. after such easy success.
he settled down to detailed study of
composition.
IF only the young ambitious must
clans and singers OF America would
realize how necessary detailed knowl-
edge is to them. No student pre-
pairing to be doctor or an engineer
or a lawyer dreams of achieving any
thing without four to eight years of
grinding study. Why should singer
or composer believe he can accom-
plish artistic wonders with only two
or three years OF study? Yet they do
Superfciality 10 the curse OF Ameri-
can music TO-DAY. The place to start
is with the little children. They
should be made to study music just
as they are made to study reading,
writing and arithmetic. 1t is exactly
as essential
No parent ever consults his child
as TO whether or not he wants 10
study mathematics, yet If the child
whines about plano practice the par
ant says with a hnality that Is dis
hsartenins. My child DOESN'T like
music" Every child should have at
least two years OF piano work, as
that instrument teaches the funda-
mentals that can be applied later TO
other instrumental study, or to sing
ing IL il is found the child's desires
and talents lie in another musical d.
recticn. Piano study is never wasted.
Hits Commusity Singing.
Another phase of-American- music
progress that needs sponsoring is
the announcement of more construc-
tive participation in music rather
than more music for people to listen
to- said Mr.. HUM. "rhe womens
clubs are doing fine work in this
societies and local orehestras for pres
entation of good. little-heard compo-
sitions that are not beyond their
abilities; then they will grow in caps-
bilities and musical knowledge. So
many small towns that ] have visited
in this country spend the entire COM
munity music budget on two or three
expensive concerts just to hear a
couple of famous artists. II they
on a salary for an ambitious young
American choral or orchestra con-
ductor to organize music within their
community instead of spending all
their funds to be taken away by visit
ing artists, how much more construc-
tive that would be. Music training OF
large groups must be done irtelli-
gently 20 be effective. Nothing IL
! more inane than much of the so-calied
community singing where large
groups of self-conscisus adults shout
, the old favorites' in sIap-dssh fash
ion.
Mr. Huhn's music is essentially
| American. for his training as well a.
| his inspiration for his songs has
| been obtained in this country. He
tells an interesting tsls about hi,
Irish songs that have proved so popu-
| lar.
'
| the beauty OF poems in a little book
by Irish poets which my wife had
| when l was courtinE her inspired
| me and, with faith on her part urging
| me on ] wrote my hrst Irish SONGS,
| Of which "Denny's Daughter" and
| Back to Ireland" which will be sung
| tomorrow by Mr.. Raymond Moore,
| are two.
| Mr.. HUM, like most earnest compos-
ers who have one supremely popular
! song to their credit, is extremely
| bored with his song 'Invictus" and
does not hear ID whenever he can,
| as he says, escape"
! My real cleverness lies not in my
song writing. but in the choice
L make OF poems" confided Mr.. HUM.
II choose Rossetti, Pope, Henley
| great poets beautiful works. 1t is
the words that put the songs over"
| OF course, this is only part of the
truth, for Mr.. Huhn is modest.