Evening star., 1926-12-26
NJ u S &c
BY HELEN FETTER.

| victor Herbert. who stands as the
Sullivan of American operetta writ
ers, is another. Even John Philip
Sousa, the American march king,
has given contributions TO this jazz
school.
TT seems particularly admirable
that Deems Taylor. the American
composer, whose orchestral setting
of the delightful themes of Alice
Through the Looking glass brought
him especially into prominence as a
writer of initiative and great talent,
in addition to thorough musicianship
and preparation first in the capacity
of music critic, has broken away
from American Indian themes in
choosing the story for his first
opera, which will be sung i'll Eng
liSh at the Metropolitan Opera
House about the middle of February.
Also the leading singers will be first
rank stars who are Americana
either natives of the United States
or Canadians (another favorite Eu-
ropean sour grapes idea about lack
of recognition of Americans in opera
companies to the discardO. They
are expected TO be Florence Easton,
Ernest Johnson and Lawrence Tib-
bett. Mr.. Taylor tells an English
story in English--the only fact for
publication about the libretto which
is given out generally to date being
that the story is of tenth century
England. This is the newest expert
ment in operatic fields III this coun
try. People have proved more in
terested in opera in England and
America than in any other country
to date, because they have increased
patronage of an art that is incom
prehensible to them entirely except
for music values. Persistently.
operas are sung i'll the English
speaking lands in Italian. French.
German, Russian--everything but
English. While there are many ar
guments in favor of this procedure.
it is significant that all the Euro
pean countries which scoff so gen
erously at the "non-musical Ameri-
cans" refuse to listen to operas sung
in any tongue other than that of the
land in which the production is
given. regardless of artistic difficult
ties in the way of translations.
Therefore. il is with added inter
est as awaiting a real milestone in
American musical progress that the
reception of Mr.. Taylors opera is
anticipated.
Il insist that whatever else NAV
have to be sacrificed in this produc-
ton, the words must be sung clear
ly and distinctly said Mr.. Taylor,
TOR it is on its success with the
audience as an opera that they can
enjoy as theatrical entertainment
that the success or failure of my
work depends. An opera must have
more than just fine musical score,
especially if it is to compete in win
ming patronage with such institu-
tions as motion picture art produc-
tions, fine radio programs of orches-
trail and other music and really
worthwhile plays"
X y **
A LTHOUGH this subject OF the
\ real musical tendencies that are
Towering constantly in the United
States is almost limitless in exam
Piles and matter for discussion, this
last word must be devoted to the
recognition at last in such funda-
mental institutions as the church and
public school of giving accurate,
musical training to
the children of America. Here lies
the force that will eventually Law to
inconspicuous dust all the criticisms
that are hurled at the American
public today by patronizing for
eigners.
Under community and school
auspices, timidly in some localities,
gorgeously aggressive with the sure
ness of their purpose in others, little
children are being given musical in
struction that means a background
fertile for appreciation upon reach
ing adalthood. The Dayton West
minister Choir is one organization
that is doing great deal for the
turtherance of knowledge of good
church music and developing in its
members the capacity of we'll
equipped teacher to carry on the
work elsewhere.
A note received from DR.. Dufield
of this city. who is on the Board of
Christian Education Of the Presby-
terian Church in the United States
of America, says: "You will be
interested to know that there is
in process of formation a city,
wide musical committee, which
will ask to be connected with the
Central High School Community
Center. and will organize sometime
during the week of January 1914
for carrying on the work and pro-
noting better music"
Also another sign of the times
is the announcement by Frances
Gutelius to the effect that the sec
ond annual concert Of the Junior
Federation of Music Clubs, of the
District of Columbia will be given
February 4, 1927, at o'clock in the
evening at the Wilson Normal
School.