Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31

feel that the majority, at least,
are my personal friends through
the several years of contacts
which we have enjoyed, as well as
icing friends of The Star. There
are some. perhaps, who do not
feel friendly to me. Such is in
evitable. To them I offer at
least the gesture of friendly fare
we'll.
Since 1923 it has been my as
signment to try and help the mu-
steal folk of Washington by Civ
ing them as much space and en-
enlargement In worthy endeavors
along musical lines in The Star
Music Page on Sundays as pos
Sible. have not begun to
achieve half that l would like to
most l can say for my efforts is
that they have consistently been
sincere and have involved a lot
Of earnest, hard work. 1t has been
a pleasure to see the solidly
founded usical endeavors
change, develop and progress
There have been some others,
originated with worthy ideals,
which have fallen into the dust of
history.
AT the moment of leaving this
work, I feel, personally, that
there is no musical effort on foot
that is so worthy of the strong,
concerted support of the citizens
of Washington, or will mean more
to the musical development of
the National Capital, than a well
founded organization for a Ma
tional Symphony Orchestra.
There are other fine musical
activities already established, both
professionally and in amateur cir
Giles, in this city. Now, however,
is the logical and opportune time
to really found a symphonic
group for the Capital of the one
Nation among the so-called civil
lized countries of the world which
does not have such an organiza-
ton. New York, Philadelphia,
Cleveland, Detroit, Cincinnati,
Minneapolis, ST. Louis, San Fran
cisco, Los Angeles, Seattle and
other cities in our prosperous
country all have such groups
They show that these organiza-
tions are civic assets.
Il = n
At the present time the must
clans of Washington are in
a peculiarly fortunate posi-
ton to plan for the building of
symphony orchestra. They al
ready proved last Winter in three
programs that they were willing
to sacrifice to develop such an
organization. Also, they proved
that they had the ability-the
musicianly capacity-to achieve
such an orchestra. In addition,
when they got Hans Kinder to
lead them, the local musicians
demonstrated that they had
man who was capable of building
in time to the very highest ideals
for such a group, a man with mu-
steamship, leadership, gracious
personality and every qualification
for making a success. Not the
least of these is his desire to
make his home in Washington
and to make name for himself
as a leader of such an orchestra
rather than being merely content
with being one of the worlds
most famous virtuoso artists.
There are those of the old
school of musicians and residents,
too, who point gloomily to the
failure of both Heinrich Hammer
and Reginald de Koven with or
chestras that seemed of fine cali
Der. Such people, perhaps, do
not take into consideration the
fact that in those days many of
the aforementioned cities that
now have f1ourishing and valu-
able assets in their symphony or
chestras had not even considered
the possibility of having such or
CARNATIONS There is no more po-
tent argument in favor of SYM
phony orchestra than the remind
er that the Boston Symphony
Orchestra, which, although found
ed and supported for a time by
one great individual, is now an
integral part of the cultural life
of Boston and many other places
that hear it on tour. This or
chestra is celebrating this year
half a century of existence.
Also, both radio and sound
films are enhancing the apprecia-
ton on the part of the public of
ensemble music. There is not one
feature, even the most insignifi-
cant, that is broadcast, which
does not have its favorite tune
an orchestra-to announce that
IN -
lions. The very fact that the
sound films are working out their
elaborate orchestral scores along
with the development of the pic
ture itself Is an argument in ia
vor of the Importance of SYM
phonic organizations. Condi-
tions are far from parallel at this
time with conditions at the time
either Mr.. Hammer or Mr.. de
Koven tried to succeed with an
orchestra here.
A LREADY both amateur and
professional groups and in
dividuals are announcing inter-
esting plans for what should prove
a brilliant season in the National
Capital, musically. 1t seems fit
ting for me to leave more de-
tailed announcement of specific
events to the able pen of my sue
cessor in the music editorship of
The Star.
This young man is Edward de
Selding Melcher, graduate Of
Harvard University, a native of
Maine, and, unsteady, a trained
disciple in the art of fiddling. Mr..
Melcher studied the violin from