Evening star., 1927-05-04
MUSIC NEEDS HERE
DISCUSSED AT CLUB.
Problem of Establishing D. C..
Symphony Orchestra Leads
to Lively Debate.

Washington's needs in music were
discussed by club members and lead
ers in musical endeavors here at the
Arts Club of Washington last night.
William Bruce King. who was prom
inent in music. especially in the ca
Dacity of president of the old Wash
ington Choral Society, led the discus
sion. He outlined four phases of the
musical needs Of Washington-op-
cratic, orchestral chamber music and
choral music He said he hoped the
audience would consider itself in the
role of a questioning jury and active
ly participate in the meeting. The
idea met with such approval that the
outlined discussion never reached the
chamber music or choral music stage
and resolved itself into lively dis
Cussion cf the problems of establish
ing a symphony orchestra in Wash
ington.
MIR. King expressed the opinion
that the establishment of a symphony
orchestra here would be too much of
a financial undertaking. and spoke
deprecatingly of the attempts even
under such a fine composer as Regi-
maid de Koyen.
Refers to de KOven.
voice teacher and musician, reminded
Mr.. King that Mr.. de koven, although
a fine musician. was not a really
talented conductor" Another COM
ment was that in former days the
stringed instrument and wind instru-
ment players were scarce. whereas at
the present time there are many musi-
clans in this city who perform cap
ably on those instruments. Mr.. Kings
generalization as to the deficits of the
big symphony orchestra of America
also was questioned.
Mrs. Edward III. Watson, local rep
resentative of Musical America, sug-
gested when Mr. King deprecated
having motion picture orchestra play
ers attempt symphonic works. that
the National String Quartet, zone of
SVashington's finest musical organ
izations,' is made up of men from
movie orcheStraS.
Speaks on European Conditions.
Kurt Hetzel, pianist and conductor
of the one symphony orchestra con-
cert given last Spring under a handi.
cap of few rehearsals and many com
plicat tions, talked briefly on conditions
in the smaller orchestras abroad.
Mr. King approved Mr.. Hetzel's
plan for popular programs and spoke
emphatically upon the need for more |
music for questionable" audiences. |
il. K. Bush Brown, sculptor, a keen |
patron of the musical arts, requested |
that those present not neglect the |
national Importance of the Capitals |
needs and suggested as the first step |
for real progress the building of a I
fine opera house, which in turn would |
necessitate the development along all |
the lines suggested during the discus |
sion.
Felix Mahoney also reminded the |
Arts Club members that the many at |
tempts to establish an Arts Club of
Washington had failed up to 1915
when a similar but more persistent
effort succeeded in founding the
present excellent organization: he
asked that this same process of rea-
soning be applied to a renewed at
tempt for local orchestra.
Early in the evening both Mr.. and
Mrs. Edouard Albion made few re-
ma rks on their plans for building a
Washington Opera House. It was
generally conceded that there is a
need for an organization such as the |
Washington Opera Co.