Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24
YORTH America, and the
United States in particular,

TO take the SuUieCt VA
music seriously at last. Grow
ing pains along these lines are
. in evidence all over the continent.
In Canada the growth of musical
interests shows colorfully in the
co-operation of railroad COM
panieS. handicraft industries, ana
those interested in promoting rec
IGNITION of Canada'S wealth OF
original and picturesque folk song
material. This practical comolna.-
ton has worked out its boosting
problems in series OF festivals
in leading cities from Quebec to
Vancouver in a program that be-
gan in late May and will continue
into the Fall,
The United States is going
about the matter somewhat dill
ferently. yet apparently equally
with an eye to the practicable and
always placing the dollar mark
close TO the musical symbol. AS
has been mentioned in this col
unn on previous occasions, the
grand opera companies OF the
Summer season in New York.
Chicago, st. Louis. and slightly
later. in the Fall, the West Coast
cities. are almost as dazzling with
the names of famous stars as the
Winter season at the Met" and
in the Windy City. The Holly
wood Bowl concerts are to be led
by a distinguished asSemblage Of
conductors. In New York the
stadium concerts for the Summer
also have big plans. Entirely
aside from their musical values
to the particular audiences which
will witness these events, these
musical ventures for Summer
have their appeal to counteract
the call of the European music
festivals in regard to the alert
American tourist. We Americans
will travel. Now the slogan, See
America First" is being said with
music and might well read this
Summer, Hear in America First"
AS a matter of strict fact, it can
not yet read with completeness,
Hear America First" However,
In time 1t may be so.
IN this problem of developing the
L musical values inherent in
Americans, most of the energies
and funds that admirable music
patrons supply at the present
time are concentrated on two
channels, prizes for performers
especially Singersl and prizes for
compositions. Really amazing
sums Of money are offered in
some Of these contests.
One photograph concern has
offered the prizes totaling $40, 900
for compositions entered interna-
tionally in the Schubert centen-
NAL contest. tt is interesting in
passing TO note that France is the
only one Of 26 nations submitting
prize-winning works to this con-
test, that awarded her national
share of the prizes to composers
who attempted to construct COM
pletions for the famous Schubert
Unfinished Symphony"
Another American monograph
concern has more recently an
nounced three prizes totaling
$4,000 for symphonic and popu-
lar compositions written by Amer
lean citizens only. The contest Is
divided into the two classes, with
a prize OF SIS, 900 for the best
symphonic work submitted be-
fore May 81, 1929, and two prizes
Of $4,000 and S., 900, respectively,
for the best popular works, which
may be "jazzn In character.
The announcement of the win
ner of the Musical America SYM
phonic Prize Of s. 900 was made
here last week. Allusion also has
been made to Mrs. Frederick S.
Coolidge's prize competitions for
the next festival in the Library Of
Congress Music Hall, to take place
in the Autumn of 1929. Mrs.
Coolidge, through her well known
foundation" offers one prize to
composers of all nationalities. 1t
is the $1,000 Coolidge Prize" for
a chamber piece written for five
wind instruments - flute, oboe,
clarinet, bassoon and horn-or for
piano and four wind instruments.
The second prize of $500 Is open
only TO composers who are citi-
zens Of the United States and is
called the Library of Congress
Prize" It Is offered for a suite or
other competition IN extended
form for two pianos two play
ersl. Both competitions close
April Is, 1929. Manuscript scores
and parts should be sent anony-
mously 10 the chief of the division
Of music, with the name and ad-
dress Of the composer i'm sealed
envelope. The prize-winning
pieces VIII be produced at the
Autumn festival.
For singers, in addition TO the
American Opera Co.'S opportuni-
ties for practical experience in
opera in English and the Wolf
sohn Bureaus much discussed an
nouncement TO send 100 Ameri-
can singers abroad for training,
there also exists the second an
nual Atwater Kent Radio Audi
ton. with prizes totaling SIT 500
In cash, and also other awards
that will be given 10 more than
$50 young singers Of the United
States 70 encourage them and
acknowledge their talents.
In many places the community
groups and the business men In
their own groups are getting to-
gether TO back the building OF
opera houses and also symphony
orchestra projects for their own
home towns" Unfortunately the
National Capital does not share
IN such efforts. A symphony
orchestra, as mentioned here sew
eral weeks ago and also as dis
cugsed by different individuals in
L.. H. 80