Evening star., 1928-03-18
NJ u SIC
BY HELEN FETTER.

E0latCQ IdtICdt NisdilACS IL
their policies regarding
critical music reviews recently
and aroused much discussion
thereby. The New York Sun. of
which W. J. Henderson. generally
recognized as dean" of the New
York corps of critics, is head Of
the music department. is not 81
severe in its decision as the New
York Evening Telegram, of which
Pitts Sanborn is chief critic. Mr,
HenderSon'S paper prints reviews
of all leading musical events that
are considered TO possess news
value" regardless of advertising.
Smaller events given by advertiS-
crS also are published. Others arc
ignored. With Mr.. Sanborn' s
paper. however, only such events
as are advertised in the columns
OF the Telegram are covered" fer
review. AS a result of this def
mite change. there already have
been recitalS and concerts b.
leading artists. including three
prominent pianistS. Walter GieSe-
king, Nikolai Oyloff and ELY Ney,
which have not been reviewed III
Mr. Sanborn'S paper. On the
other hand. much less significant
events from point Of view of news
interest TO readers at large have
been given good space.
Among the most ardent and i'm
mediate reactions 10 this state OF
affairs is long editorial written
by Holiister Noble, managing edi
tor of Musical America. He also
quotes a recent article written in
the New York Herald Tribune BY
F. D. Perkins in which the latter
discussed the rapidly increasing
number Of musical events in New
York that far outnumbered the
possible assignments a musical re-
porter can handle IN single aft
crnoon and evening every day Of
the week. with a greater increase
on Sundays. Practically every
leading newspaper of New York
has at least three music reporters.
in addition 10 the music editor.
and also use the services fire.
uuentlv Of music students. who
ere glad 10 attend the Smallef
musical events for experience ana
gain of knowledge in their par
ticuiar studies. Mr.. Perkins says
in conclusion:
What is TO be done about IL?
Amateur critical talent is not Al
ways dependable. or valued by the
artist. One suggestion might be
TO enlarge the music staff. but
even if the principal New Yorl:
papers were willing TO maintain
unusually large regular STATS of
reviewers. there would still be the
question of space. For. after all.
the newspapers concern them
selves with other matters as we'll
as music, and full. careful reviews
OF 10 concerts day wculd take j
Stupend0us amount of space.
Meanwhile, to worthy artists wil0
receive less favorable or extensive
mention than they deserve. on ac-
count Of a food of simultaneous
concerts. We can. for the present,
only extend sympathy"
Mr. Noble is inclined TO the
opinion that ''the policies matt
gurated by the Sun and Telegram
seem 10 us pernicious in the ex-
treme. There Is every chance for
injustice 20 the very artists who
are most in need OF publicity and
SlIpport-that is. young artists and
organizations with no money who
may have something OF the
utmost importance to say in
music" He adds that the policy Of
his magazine, on the contrary, is
already laying plans 10 concen-
trate upon its critical staff mex.
year. 70 enlarge the space devoted
~ reviews. TO cover fully, thor
oughIy and honestly every public
concert and recital given in New
York" He also adds that the
critics viii be given free rein anc
not restricted either By advertis-
ing or other policies from STATING
what each conscientiously believes
tn be a true report Of a musical
event.
This policy as outlined By Mr..
Noble would indicate an ideal
safe Of affairs. Too often does
the music reviewer meet the prob
Iem Of musician who says, do
come 10 my concert and give me a
good write-up, won't you?" Whole
rams Of space could be dev0trd q
~ a relating Of anecdotes that
would question the possibility ard
s5ViSab.llty Of music critic cm,-
tiVating friends among musicians
j. lis a very risGy and frequently
tl1ankiesS task. No musician. not
even the greatest artist, Is always
At his bef.. No critic with tne
finest intentions and highest
ideals in the world 10 be honest
and fair can always be in the
proper MOOD 10 give an unbiased
report of Il concert.
There is the experience thai
practically every music critic
meets soon after he has begun
that line of work when he finds
the less gifted so-calied artist
clipping only the h0neyed sen
tences from a review Of a per
30rmanee and sometimes. with q
clever use Of ssteriskS. cunningly
peryerting entirely the sense of q
criticism for Use In an ad. This is
one of the earliest lessons criti (:
learns, just as cub reporter
JearnE " limit the number of ad~
;ectiseg and eliminate very" and
"and" In his stories"
The question, what value re-