Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15
GALL1~CURCI
BY WARD r. BAILEY

By HOW ARD i. BAILEY.
Twice this Summer Americans have
gone to Europe and taken the lead in
sporting events. once when Bobby
Jones won the British open golf cham
pionship. and then again last week,
when Gertrude Ederle accomplished
her great feat in swimming the Eng
fish Channel. not only being the first
woman to swim the Channel. but beat
ing by far the best time ever made
by a. man.
These were victories of athletic
prowess field in which Americans
have long held sway. But almost un-
noticed last week a group Of Ameri-
cans won in another competition, a
competition involving a musical cul-
ture. of which Americans have sell
dom been credited abroad. The Or
pheus Male Choir of cleveland. an or
'ganiZation Of first rank but little
fame. invaded the home grounds Of
the Welsh. long known as he great
est Of male singers. and took the prize
in the eisteddfod from a list of 10
competing male ChOrs
This victory was noteworthy. for in
America, where men have looked on
singing as a little bit under the
shadow of effeminacy. there has been
little to encourage the development
of an organization capable of compel
ing with the Welsh. whose traditions
so far back through the centuries.
The success of the Orpheus Choir
should do much 10 spur on other male
choirs TO seek greater proficiency.
The music-lovInG Welsh have long
been famous for their eisteddfods
The results have been the develop
ment OF not only a keen interest in
music, but a great deal Of ability gen
orally throughout the popula ton.
In this country little has been done
along this line. In Utica. y. Y. an
large number of competitors and aud
itors attend, but the affair has hardly
attained a national importance.
1t would be Il wonderful thing. mu-
sically for America if the eisteddfod
idea, could be established. Washing
ton. naturally. would he the ideal
place for a national competition, al
though it could be staged at various
parts of the country. in different
years.
A week of competition could he
linked up with q national music week
in the Capital and would draw thou.
sands of people from all over the
country.
Various classes Of musicians could
be arranged. such as male ChOirs.
womens choirS and mixed choirs, Vo-
calists. violinists, pianists and so on.
Even orchestral competition might
be attempted
Preliminary competitions could be
arranged In various parts OF the cOun-
try, just as, for instance. the orator.
cal contests were held. With the
elimination of all but few Of the en-
trants these could he further curtailed
at preliminary hearings here. and
finally the public test would be held
for the winner.
The value of the stimulation of such
an annual contest to the growth OF
the love Of music In this country
would he beyond estimation. There
is nothing like local pride for sup
porting any cndeavor Professional
la Sc ball has been built up 10 Il point
where it is one of the outstanding in
terestS of the country. largely as the
result Of intertoWn matches. 1t does
not seem unrea sOnab bic to believe that
interest in musicians and musical or.
carnations could also become wide
spread as the result of competition.
To get down to praCtical cases. II
a competition We're held here. with
and unbia Sed judges. to choose
the best choir in this city. and In
Baltimore a similar test were carried
on. and then these two should meet
ito see which would take the crown,
there is 10 doubling the interest that
would be crea ted and the size Of The
audiences that would be present at
the final test Let the final contest
involve. say. half a dozen large cities.
such as Philadelphia, Chicago. Boston
and New York along with Washing
ton and ia fillmore. and il would he i'm
possible TO handle even a small part
of the crowds that would like 10 at
tend
consider what il would mean 10 am
bilious musical organizations all over
The country fred with he desire to
he termed the best in the Nation in
It's own particular line. The approach
to perfection in the work would 10
almost complete. Think what II
would mean to shington to have
the annual test mere What greater
climax to the season OF music could
be arranged than festiva week FOL
lowed by the eisteddfod. lasting an
other week Washington alone Couid
furnish enough patronage 10 maze
The eis.eddfod financial success, 10
say nothing of the thousands who
music lover. able 70 attend. Wou'G
miss chance 10 hear several of the
greatest orchestras in the country
cornpste if they could he induced to
do so. and they likely could he If there
were enough interest aroused in the
movement
The energy of Americans has always
carried them TO the front in any AN
riertakinG they have attempted. and
il seems pity that some of this
energy could not he concentrated
in developing things musical through
out the Nation.
The staging OF great national tes-
tivaI here and the holding of an
eisteddfod would he great under
taking calling for much executive
ability and great amount of labor.
hut they could both he put over,
Washington as location for these
biz events has the added ADVANTAGE
of holding the lure that draws hun
dreds Of thousand yearly 10 visit
their CAPITAL. The combining Of
trim here with attendance AZ A great
musical event would make the visit
attractive in the extreme.
Anoth musical endeaNor IN which
Wash n2to1 IS tagging is in the FUN
eonloyment Of the beautiful organ
IN the Washing on Auditorium. Il
seems shame that th'S wonderful
instrument ono ~ The three finest
IN the country, should GO almost an
used. An effort was made during the
s>aso, ropd,Ic; of