Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-18
NJ U SIG
BY HELEN FETTER.

, what I think is wrong with the
concert business in a few words.
It all lies in that last word-'buSi-
ness Real artists are not good
business men. In this country of
ours, America, we have taken the
attitude that everything from
trade products to artists must be
judged by the dollar mark when
considering their success. This Is {.
great mistake. I think we will
outgrow it in time, but we must
have patience and inculcate in the
young students, as individuals, the
appreciation of the real thing
that counts, II we hope to bring
about a better state of the con-
cert business
when, one evening shortly fol-
lowing tour abroad in concert
work, I was entertained at dinner
at the home of wealthy friends in
New York and asked as to the sue
cess of my recent tour, in turn
asked a question. I said to my in
quiring hostess, 1T all depends on
just what you mean when you ask
me "Was my tour a SuccesS?"' She
answered by saying, Well, of
course, when we think of success
we mean how much money did
you make out of your tour? I re-
piled, Then, my dear lady, I am
afraid my tour was not highly sue
ceSSful, If you put it on that basis
The European standards are so
different. Their whole attitude
toward concert work is based upon
an entirely different idea. My
hostess smiled rather weakly and
said, What wonderful thing to
feel you can hold to ideals. am
sure any one would admire you
greatly for it,-but over here, gen.
orally, your success must be meas
ured in accordance with the
money you make in any en-
When asked what he considers
the immediate, practical steps to
be taken to remedy the deplorable
state of the concert field, Mr.. Sea-
gle said:
ut seems to me that the answer
lies with us, as it lay with the Eu-
ropean and South American coun-
tries, in government support, both
financially and morally. In every
other country in the world prac-
tically Conservatives are support
ed by the government and opera
houses and concert halls are un-
der state or municipal super
vision. If our Government would
organize we'll balanced conServa-
tories and also create an organ
lied bureau to help place the
young artists when they are ready
to be passed on from the conServ-
atory into the concert and opera
work, they would be solving the
problem of the concert business.
After all, music is not the luxury
in most peoples lives that many
consider it to be. Music is a real
necessity. Through the means of
photograph and radio, millions of
people are beginning to realize
this truth. I believe both these
mechanical instruments are doing
great work in developing music
appreciation. too. In time. what
we hope for undoubtedly will
come. In the meantime, I teach
my pupils to study their breathing
and vocalizing exercises always.
creating in every moment Of
study a happy thought Money
may be the goal of some who
haven't looked beyond and
glimpSed the possibilities of pleas
ure that lie outside the reach of
the mere money-seeker with his
single-trac concentrated efforts.
However, after all, is there an in
dividual who doesn't really want.
most of all, happiness? And hap
piness must come from within
ourselves. That which we create
for ourselves with happy thoughts
leads along the track toward that
elusive goal. If we learn to make
music as we go, forgetful Of our
selves, trying to give pleasure to
others, not with the ingrained idea
of making money for ourselves,
we acquire something that all the
money in the big business in the
world cannot buy"