Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-23

IN within the past three years,
A \ it has become increasingly
evident that Washington
really is laying 9t1nore solid founda-
ton toward its Eventually becoming
a vital MUSIC center of the country,
Just as It IS the political center, the
CONVENTION center and, in spite of
New York's 400" may be safely
called the social center of the United
States of America.
The progress steadily toward more.
complete and specific musical train
ing for children III the public schools
IS one OF the most encouraging signs
Also, as stated more in detail else
where on this page, the Junior clubs
which are affiliated with the District
Federation of Music Clubs are plan
ming their second annual concert
after fashion that shows originality
and care i'll preparations.
Every so often a local musician
comes out in a program that shows
not only the results of concentrated.
logical work, but also marked talent.
The day OF the singer who is popular
because he or she is asked to sing
AT Dawning" at a wedding or Lead,
Kindly Light at funeral, as a sign
OF musical ability is definitely pass
ing. The local amateur programs
show more ambitious works. The
radio has done not a little to help
this state of affairs. Also the cham
Der music type of program is return
ing to popularity and, following tre
White House precedent, many Society
folk who also have real n,.ssical taste
are .re..establishing tIe after-dinner
musical as an INCREASINGLY popular
form OF evening entertainment. Sucr
musicals ..ave an intimate air that
Is impossible to secure from concert
stage. They demand much from the
performer in the way of personality
as well as musical ability.
X y x
WASHINGTON has never had
W finer incentive toward musical
pre-eminence than the establishment
here of the little chamber music
auditorium in the Library of Con-
gress. Only year ago last Fall was
this auditorium formally opened.
Since that time many programs. each
VI liANAi It's (ldSS dllu Will
dehnite meaning to its construction,
and numerous performers, have been
presented to the public of Washing
ton.
Originally when these Elizabeth
Sprague Coolidge Foundation con-
certs were established, a list was
made of local musicians and names
were added to the list from time
to time at the request of other
musicians or music lovers vino
wished to be notified of coming
events at the little auditorium. In
d short time, however, the length
of the list grew so alarmingly that
it became unwieldy and impracti-
cable. Carl Engel, chief of the
music division, and Herbert Put
nam, Librarian of Congress, put
their well poised heads together |
and discovered an even more dem |
ocratic method to reach surely all |
those who sincerely cared to hear
the programs. Instead of using the |
list they merely put notices in the
newspapers, notifying the public at
large that these concerts were to
be given on such dates and cards OF
GuLllSSlOn COuiQ DC ScCuTGO Tree al
charge beginning certain day men
toned, usually about a week in ad-
vance of the concert. No cards were
reserved and no telephone reserva-
tons were taken or cards mailed
except to musicians who lived out
side of Washington and wrote in
asking that they might hear certain
programs.
Due to this change there was not
little Misunderstanding in local
music circles. Many of those who
are most frequent in asking for space
for free mention of their own per-
formances do not seem to read the
newspapers at all thoroughly, and
there were those whose names had
been on the original list" who de-
veloped entirely unnecessary and I'M
called-for chips on their shoulders,
feeling they were sighted when they
found no notice sent them personal
ly regarding the concerts to be
given.
Hoping that they may read this
column II least this once, the fol-
lowing statement as issued by the
music division is printed:
For the public concerts given at
the Library of Congress under the
provisions of the Elizabeth Sprague