Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01

an increasingly sympathetic
state Of cooperation in musical
interests, internationally, as the
Summers of successful music fes-
rivals abroad and at home grow
in number. 1t is openly admitted
that many of the European music
festivals are practically supported
by the patronage of American
tourists. Even in Canada reports
of the opening of the Scottish
Festival at Ban1f indicate that the
visitors from the United States
form a large proportion of the
audience for this colorful series
of events.
Through the international OBJ
ServanceS of the death centenarieS,
first of Beethoven, III 1927, and
then of Schubert, last year, the
representative musicians and
musical authorities of various ma
tionS have gathered at organized
memorial events and composers of
every land have competed for
prizes.
The newest international move
ment in music recently has been
announced by otto Kahn, diStin-
guiShed American patron of this
art. The plan is to inaugurate an
international music festival ir
New York for the season 1930-31.
Mr.. Kahn is honorary chairman
and Frederick Sard, in Vienna, is
organizer. Prof. John ErSkine of
the Juilliard Foundation also
claims a part in the originating of
this newest idea during a con-
verSation he had with Mr.. Sard.
1t seems that most of the musical
organizations of Europe have
promised cooperation. The Curtis
Institute and many other Amer
lean Conservatives will partici-
pate.
Count di San MARITIME, president
of the AuguSteo Orchestra of
Rome, is given as head of the
European committee and Marquis
Tokugawa of Japan is chairman
OF the Far Eastern committee.
lTHE above mentioned announce
ment Immediately invites the
thought that Washington should
be the logical place for such feS-
tival rather than New York. How
ever beautiful as the National
Capital is, distinguished as the
audience of diplomatic represent
atives, members of the cabinet
and Congress and other eXcep-
tionally noted individuals that
aly aI1Ijnnanc iI1 Mo CHI iY1 Off ON
during the Winter is, the fact re-
mains that the Capital of the
United States has no opera house
and is inadequately provided with
concert halls.
1t is to be hoped that the new
Constitution Hall. which is to be
inaugurated as a concert audi
forum this season, may avoid the
disasters that have beSet other
similar endeavorS and prove an
asset in the musical life of Wash
ington.
With at least three of the four
leading operate companies of this
country announcing seasons" of
performances for the coming
Winter and Spring in Washington,
1t does seem as though the Capital
should have an opera house
worthy of the Capital of the
wealthiest country in the world.
X 4 X X
A RECENT report of the cham
Der music festival at Baden
Baden, Germany, this past Sum-
mer shows another angle to the
international cooperative inter
estS in music. The leading talk
ing picture feature of this festival
was entitled 1.-The Worlds Mel
ody." 1t is described as a travel
picture done with the Russian
Potemkin technic and with
latent pacifist tendency. On the
whole, however, it seems that
music plays a minor part.
The chief musical event, &C
cording to the schedule, was the
entitled "Lindbergh'S Flight" An
other American theme was pre-
Sented on the same program,
called pep, or Gods Own Coun-
try" with words by Lion Feucht-
wanger and music by Walter
Goehr. This latter composition is
apparently a very Teutonic YER
sion of America, with suite of
dances in tango, blues, waltz and
fox trot rhythms, written cleverly |
with themes for the closing chorus |
including the now aged Eyes, We !
Have No Bananas" The writer of |
the libretto is noted for his best
sellers, Power" and THE Ugly |
Duchess" His hero for this new !
est work is described as a Rabbit !
sort of person. The author was
not, evidently, over-proud of his
work, for he has taken partial
refuge behind the English version |
of his name-J. L. Wetcheek.
'Lindbergh'S Flight" the cantata
for radio. has a libretto by Bert |
Brecht. The music was written by |
Paul Hindemith and Kurt WE'LL. |
OF these composers Mr.. Hindemith |
States. His new organ concerto |
is to be given its American pre-
miere the evening of October 9
at the Library of Congress. Mr..
WE'LL has become best known to
date for his music for the German
version of John Gays 1.-The Beg
CARS Opera" He it is who wrote the
music in the work dedicated to the |
young Americans great air feat,
that concerns Lindbergh personal |
ly. Mr.. Hindemith took the task
of broader aspect, setting the uni
verse that surrounded this accom-
plished young man on his pioneer
ing to music. He is said to have
contributed a particularly lovely
cntntralfn song which has as its