Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-30
Furtherance of Music
In Capital Is Urged

TO the Editor OF the star:
Before the vibration of Mr. Merle
Thofpe's voice dies upon the air, sur
rounding the business men Of Washing
ton gathered at the Chamber Of Com
merce conference the other evening, let
me supplement 1t with an earnest plea
| for the citizens Of washington to open
their eyes to the opportunities for the
flne arts, especially that Of music, In
washington.
If its background of beauty and his
tory, which Mr.. Thorpe speaks Of, Is
such a wondrous one for economic and
civic purposes, how much more is it one
Of magnificent opportunities for music
and its sister artist
There Is scarcely a human being from
the lowest to the highest for whom
some chord Of music does not bring
forth q priceless memory or stir some
poignant emotion.
Are we to forever look merely at
beautiful architecture which some one
HIS called frozen music?
But that is not real music, for music
never is static. It Is atmosphere In its
finest and most vibrant form. It begins
where speech ends and carries us to
indescribable heights of sublime feeling.
It steps on the heels Of love and leads
all the other inspirations poetry, paint
ing, drama, dancing-even literature
with its vast treasures Of heroic deeds
and plain tales is only . handmade to
music.
Here In this divine city opportuned
by God and man through its locale and
plan we seem truly to sleep building
that future generations may touch into
life these cold forms.
No building in this planning OF our
lovely city should be without its spe-
cific corner for music. Every civic or
economic group should have its own
orchestra or chorus and each month
or week or day an opportunity to
hear this voice.
Cultural growths are gradual, work.
ing like leaven, in human Hour, ana
our national life. AS time goes on we
as a people and a Nation will reach
to higher levels, bringing to our daily
existence a sense of proportion and
value which will be expressed in COM
parative beauty.
Washington is on the threshold Of q
new era in music. Two important ven
lures influencing and touching large
groups are to be presentations very
soon, the other during National Music
week in May.
It Is q duty as well as q privilege
for the residents Of Washington to en-
courage by their attendance and sup
port the National Symphony Orchestra,
which has been organized on q noble
plan of cooperation by its member
musicians and which gives its first con-
cert on Friday afternoon. Also this
week the announcement comes OF the
organization of the Washington Choral
Festival Association for the purpose Of
producing the finest master compost
lions In choral work for mixed voices
under exceptional leadership.
The background Is here Of incom-
parable beauty and scope: the mu-
sicians are here with q spirit Of fine
loyalty and interest; q citizenship
above the average city in intellectual
and cultural appreciation, due to its
residential qualities and governmental
pursuits, Is here; it only needs a
realization that these elements must be
concentrated in presence and in thought
to make Washington an outstanding
city worthy Of a national as well as art
conferred capital.
NELLIE F. D. STODDARD,
President of the District Of Columbia
Federation Of Music Clubs.