Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-14

Is music the most democratic thing
In the world?
He walked along a block containing
homes ranging in value from $4,000 tt
$50, 00O and he heard the same cheap
Jazz coming from each one.
steady, fundamental beat of the foX-trot
rhythm, good when it Is delivering g
melody of some genuine inventive worth
cheap only when 1t hammers out a poor
musical pattern.
This was poor pattern, utterly lack
ing in any musical value.
And the sad fact, from musical
standpoint, was that those who lived In
the expensive house listened to it evil
IDENTIFY with the same pleasure as those
who lived in the cheap house.
It was not a matter of houses or Their
costs, then, but solely thing of musical
taste-or indifference.
This is one of the questionable traits
which the radio has brought into being
Too many listeners forego the joys oil
selection for the ease Of taking anything
and everything that Is offered.
A good piece of dance music Is good
but there are many mediocre ones, ano
no one who knows the difference should
be content for q minute, let alone fol
hours at time, to listen to the weller
of whang doodle drool which drips
from the brazen Threats of instruments
manhandled by lusty young fellows who
are enjoying themselves at the expense
Of divine music.
Yet the democracy of music remains
one of its finest features. 1t Is univer.
sal language which knows no boundaries
In any direction, especially in the things
of the spirit. including appreciation.
AVNVNrAOfnkfNv fCH r.rr1f-
narily does not include the ability II
go and do likewise. There is nothing
more common, however, than for O mar
who loves poetry to imagine that he car
write it. too, or for man interested ir
statecraft to believe that he knows al
about politics. Those who never get
closer to a base ball than the bleacheri
or grandstand always know how the
plays should be made, and why yondel
participant is duffer.
Appreciation Is a gift, an art in itself
Many men who could not write a move
TO save their lives nevertheless appreci-
ate every fine line, every good point II
the master works of fiction. The same
applies to every other art form. The
danger ocmes only when one confuses
appreciation with ability in creation.
Creation, either with words. music
concrete, nations, Is q distinct branch
Vi uuIIldn dCLAVlLy. i nc HldSJSIS DIX
born, the mediocre and clumsy are
made, or, rather, attempt to make
themselves.
Creation is invention in music. The
great music masters have been born
with gift, especially for melody. Ever
the cheapest thing they do has a nott
or two in which the discriminating will
hear genius.
The late Victor Herbert, for instance
although his gift was of q lighter sort
had a special fair for endings. Those
familiar with this mans work came tc
recognize q Herbert melody through the
last two bars. there usually was some
thing so intriguing about them, so fllleo
with certain elfin, yet sweet spirit.
\ n r
The democracy of music, while 1t ad-
mits the universally of the mediocre
for mediocre tastes, also permits tbs
love of the best TO all, irrespective OF
money, training or ability to go and dc
likewise
This is seen in some of the European
countries, perhaps, better than in oul
own America. The love for good music /,
something which knows no boundaries
except those imposed by good taste
Even their violation, as exemplifled ir
the same poor music coming from al
the houses down block, shows demo-
cratic spirit, based possibly on indifer.
ence, rather than on choice.