The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-25
DRAMA IN
Soviet Union on the
Music Ascendant

should find music on Cne aScehuahI
and contribute an outstanding mas
ter to the world, was the hope ex-
pressed by DIN Downes, noted music
critic, in lecture on Contemporary
Russian Composers" at the Roerlch
Museum, last week.
although one Of the youngest
countries" he said, in the actual lapse
of its musical history, Russia has con-
tributed one of the most dynamic and
vital arts to world history. There
seems to be three stages in the his
tory of every racial music. First,
the stage when the music is the
music Of the folk, sprung from the
soil of a country, and Outpouring OF
the popular soul.
Second is the stage when COM
posers weave around the folk music
an art composition, consciously tax
ing the folk music itself, as a basis.
Third when a completely new out
growth is formed, in which the COM
poser has built up an entirely new
creation, not based on folk music, and
vet so essentially full Of the feeling
of his soul, that it seems to be as
true and spontaneous as any tolk
music.
"In my belief, Russia has passed
the first two stages and IS emerging
into the third. Perhaps before dis
cussing contemporary Russian COM
position it would be best to return
previously to the past. CHANGING over
Russia's folk music, we may say that
perhaps there is no nation which has
such a wealth and bounty OF tolk
music, as Russia. Ranging from the
Ukraine across her vast spaces there
has sprung from the soul of the peo-
ple the greatest variety and beauty
of folk music, that perhaps any ma
ton has ever seen. AS musical MS
tory goes, it is but comparatively re-
cent that Glinka who may be called
the first of Russia's conscious art
writers. wrote around the folk music
his "Iife for the Tar" which caused
so great a stir and enthusiasm"
Mr.. Downes also spoke of Dargom-
iisky, Glinka's contemporary, and al
SO Of ''The Five"- Rimsky-Korsa-
koff, Moussorgsky, Borodine, Cui
and also of the great cosmopolitan
Tchaikovsky. It was in the three
leading figures of today that he found
the full poisoning of Russia's art
composition - Strayinsky, Prokofieff
and Miaskowslxy. OF the three, it was
Stravinsky who stood out as one OF
the greatest musical forces. Analyz-
ing the three works of Stravinskyl
"Oiseau de Feu," "Petrouchka" and
"Sacre du Printemps" on the libretto
given by Nicholas Roerich, Mr.
Downes showed their tremendous in
fluence on all contemporary art. I'll
is amazing in "Sacre du Printemps,'
how Stravinsky found within himself
some mysterious rhythm, some essen
tial dynamic force.
Of Prokofieff, Mr.. Downes ex
pressed great enthusiasm for some
of his works, altho he distrusteC
others, the results Of cleverness anC
mastery of technique rather thar
lasting gift. Miaskowsd he founC
weakened and watered by the in
fluence of European suggestion" Blu
it is in the present moment tina
Downes believes there will emerge ;
master who will bring young Russi;
to the third stage of its development
a master comparable to Wagner VIII
will produce great works, not base
necessarily on the folk music Of
country, but so essential to the sol
of country, so logical and so spon
taneous and outflowing. as to be
come true folk inspiration produce
through the medium of a genius.