Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-05
RADIO GOSSIP AND NEWS

Music on order" Is a slogan which
might easily be adopted by the musi-
cal and literary research department
of the National Broadcasting Co. This
department of, the concern, which
owns and operates WEAF, manages
WIZ and WRC, and furnishes radio
programs to three separate networks
of broadcasting stations, has expanded
it's activities to the point where 1t IS
prepared to furnish. on extremely
short notice, complete orchestratlons
and vocal arrangements of compost
ton suitable for any sort of a broad
cast feature.
This service is only one phase OF
the departments work, however.
Originally established to avoid legal
difficulties in connection with literary
and musical material used in broad
casting, the department has come TO
include very complete music library,
groups Of musicians skilled in compo-
sition and in vocal and instrumental
arrangement, research workers con-
tinually in search of new material,
copyright experts and clerks, Is peo-
pie in all. incidentally, original scripts
for broadcast programs and original
music to accompany them are now be-
ing regularly prepared under the su'
perviSion of the department.
The question OF copyrights in the
music and literary fields is a highly
involved oae. Wide distribution of
various rights connected with musical
and literary compositions and in many
cases the overlapping of such rights
make the whole problem of fees for
the use of this material on the air
extremely technical. In many cases,
reservations have been made by com
posers, authors and their representa-
tives regarding the frequency with
which their material may be used in
broadcasting. Other compositions are
limited to the arrangements which
NAV be made from the originals.
Sometimes, while original compositions
ments and translations of them may
be thus protected. The entire matter
is a complicated one.
1t is sufficient to relate that a very
accurate check must be kept by people
we'll versed in the intricacies of copy
rights on all material which is used
in preparing broadcast programs, and
in addition complete data on exactly
what works are used, with dates. This
routine requires the constant atten-
ton Of a corps of workers. since the
data must be filed and cross-indeXed
to provide ready reference.
Perhaps more interesting phase
of the departments activities concerns
itself with research work and the
manner in which the music library
is maintained. Skilled music readers
are always at work seeking out new
and forgotten compositions. ranging
from grand operas to the simplest
songs. Many different sources are
used, including induces of all kinds,
various reference works, files of old
and magazines and count
less others.
The music library itself is cross-in-
dexed in a number of ways, so that
compositions appropriate to any
theme can be located within a very
short time. One index is maintained
by composers, one by titles, one by
first lines and several by subjects with
which the music treats. The present
accurate and helpful condition of these
induces has entailed n great deal of
continuous effort. but it has proved
its worth many times.
The object of the work is apparent.
When broadcast program is being
prepared dealing with any particular
subject. country or period, musical
about that theme are almost instantly
available.
Most of this work for the National
Broadcasting Co. has been done
in or under the supervision of the
musical and literary research depart
ment. Standard fairy tales have been
adopted for radio use, involving the
preparation Of original scripts and the
composition of original music. This
series was highly successful.
Other series of broadcasts which
have been outstanding are two which
are now being furnished on regular
schedule to the National Broadcasting
Co.'S network stations. the Great Mo-
ments in History" and the Biblical
dramas. Much of the music which
has been used to provide atmosphere
for these program features has been
composed especially for the broadcasts
by members of the musical and liter.
airy research department.