Evening star., 1926-10-24
y ONCERTS come and concerts
go, but for many, many
~ years the old method OF


~ years the old method of
having hve groups of songs
or instrumental numbers, usually
classified according to the national
ity of the composer, has remained
with us and threatens to continue to
do SO. There have been "one-man'
programs. More recently costume
recitals have proved popular. These
began with Frieda Hempefs great
success in her famous Jenny Lind
recitals. and similar ideas have been
adopted by other singers with salts
flying results Then came the recital
with jazz in it, following upon the
steps of the more conservative pro-
gram which timidiy admitted group
OF songs or other compositions by
native American composers at the
very end of the program. Eva
Gauthier with her Java to Jazz"
concerts. and now Marguerite D'.Al-
varez and George Cershwin have ad
mitted this happer in music into the
hall along with the e aborated beau
ties of old Italian melodies and the
marvelously constructed songs OF
the scmi-modern Germans.
And now the radio. with persistent
and increasing competition, is prod
ding the typical concert program in
the ribs and giving it real run for
its money" What are we going to
do about it: This question is promi
nent in the list to be answered by
concert managers and artists. One
concern has waved its hand noncha-
lant'y at the idea that this may be
complicated problem at |. The con-
Germ has put its feet on the desk that
is never busted of put the cigar of
smoky dreams in the righthand cor
ner of its mouth and settled back
in its swivel chair for long rest.
remarking: Let's have a contest
about IT, Thatll settle it,
Somehow the practice Of offering
prizes for everything under the sun,
inc'uf'ng the most aSuai of thoughts
o. coinions. has gotten an unshak
able grip on US Americans. We find
u he solution OF many problems,
from selecting bathing beauties to
Vie writing of patriotic anthems. or
from naming a new dishwashing ma
ch::;o TO choosing the most apt title
fo~ 2 cartoon The ony varying
cI2nty OF these contests is the
an,N''nt of financial compensation Of
fed for sucl, valuable use OF ones
brains. Probably if all the money
scent in contests Of various sorts
wcrc added together it would suffice
TO Keep All ooera company and
sN nphony orchestra both connfor-
tally gong in every city and town
III the United States, not to mention
giving children all over the country
free music lessons with competent
teachers.
However. to return TO the particu-
lar contest at hand: "A prize of S10O
Is offered by the Mcndelssohn Club
OF Chicago and the Music Forum OF
New York for the best opinion on
the subject: The Idea. Concert
Program. The opinions must be
submitted in writing. and may be in
any length up to a maximum OF 800
words. They may be in any form.
written as brief essay or letter
to the committee of Judges.
"A number OF representative 'opin-
ions will be published during the
next few weeks by the Program
Magazine. organ of the Mcndelssohn
Club and the Roosevelt Recitsls AS
sociation Of New York. ard will be
paid for at the customary space
rates of that publication Such pub
HShed ESSAYS will still he eli,ih1e for
the prize award. but will receive no
preference from the committee of
judges"
The committee has offered the fol-
lowing suggestions for consideration
by those planning to enter the con-
test: Should musical program be
educ cational or entertaining? Should
musicians play or sing down to the