Evening star., 1929-07-21
Mrs. Stoddard Writes About
High Lights of Convention

MRS. JOSEPH M. STODDARD, presi-
A'A dent Of the District of Columbia
Federation of Music Clubs. has submit
ted the following notes as comments on
some OF the outstanding features of the
National Convention of Music Clubs of
the United States Of America held last
month in Boston:
Clubs Is growing to q vaStnesS which
Is almost incredible. Hundreds of
clubs, choirs and musical organizations
in city, town and village are going
forward in all musical lines contracting
with every phase Of our civic and social
life. Nearly 100000 clubs are federated
including more than 40O, 900 individual
memberships in 10000 towns and cities.
This great cultural force cannot fail
to produce an esthetic expression of
tneStimable value for America. Every
State in the Union Is represented on
its national board and yearly meetings
are held in various parts of the country.
country.
Among the many interesting ses-
SionS at the recent convention held in
Boston were those on American compo-
sitions, and the problem Of creating
audiences the use Of the English
language.
"I was amazed at the interest being
shown and the efforts made in ad-
vancing American music for Americans
and in bringing into its own the Eng
lish language, which has been much
decried as q singing medium. The
English language is beautiful, euphonic
and quite adaptable to musical express
poor medium for singers for several
reasons. Bad translations stand out
pre-eminently. Failure to know its
sound values and construction and
wretched articulation have done much
to bring it under reproach.
I'VE hear an opera, written abroad.
clothed IN its true musical colors, which
we deeply enjoy. We are enthusiastic
over its presentation, its smoothness
and perfection. We hear that same
opera in English badly translated.
Thinking that the music Is, Of course,
beautiful. we conclude that 1t must be
the words which hinder our enjoyment.
Also, many singers in America ignore
grammar, articulation, phraSing and
syllable values in English. Many sing
erS give beautiful sounds, but We fail
to understand what the sound Is all
about.
Although we may not understand q
word Of what the foreign artist Is say
ing, there Is q distinctly felt relation
ship between composer, writer and
singer, who seem to understand each
other quite perfectly. Author, COM
poser and interpreter, the musical
trinity which must be en- rapport to
give the satisfaction which brings the
greatest enjoyment.
zone Of the most dif1icult problems
in promoting musical culture today Is
that of creating audiences for musical
presentations that are not of metro
politan or prominent symphonic quail
| ity Radio programs have done much
to keep people away from excellent pro-
grams. given in the best Of style in the
community where they live. We can
help national interests in developing
appreciation in music by attending local
| concerts and young soloists' debuts. II
we would pledge ourselves to attend at
least once q week (call 1t our music
night q club. choir or artist presenta-
! ton. think what q definite impetus
would be expressed and what encour-
agement would be given to those who
are working so eagerly to raise the
standards of music and to make Amer
| lea q leader in musical appreciation"