Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08


renowned artist having reached the
age of 20 with distinction and full of
honors" should take time to ruminate
the music Of the present and find
it good Alfred H. Meyer, IN a recent article
in Musical America. shows this to be the case
eth Charles Martin Loeffler.
Mr. Loeff1er who. as every one knows, is one
of the giants in this countryS congressional
field, not only admires Stravinsky-and here
Washington audiences will be seen to shudder-
but he says that Jazz is the greatest reno
waiting force of the present age" Then almost
in the same breath he says about Bach: I'VE
hear BachS modernism his chromatic pro-
greSSions spoken of. We should go farther.
Bach broke all the rules That is why we like
him. Play through the entire AZ fugues. No
two are alike, no two follow the same plan.
Then play the fugues of the period according
to rule; you went get through one of them
Bach wrote music to be alive, not to follow
rules"
This seems as though it were almost the
= first time that Bach and jazz have been
praised together. The virtuosos who wax elo-
quent over the fugues and play them with their
very all are not apt 10 want to think about
jazz. Jazz is to them-snd this from one of
them noise fit to kill, because 1t is so
monotonous." And while Mr.. Loefler pats jazz
forcibly the back, he adds about the saxo-
phone-and here this particular department
disagreeS vehemently-"Where else do you find
such loneliness of tone, such hexbility of utter
ance? When cellos sound weak, what they
need is the help of one or two saxophones."
At the age of 20, then, this venerable and
much Loved artist approves of Bach. Stravinsky,
jazz and Saxophones. If there are any other
Septuagenarians who think likewise let them
stand forth and sgnalize their beliefs. And
let them also receive the palm leaf for all their
maximS about that dull and diabolic in
strument the saxophone.
RELIEVING that music can be made potent
influence for the betterment of international
understanding and world peace, a group of
British and American musicians have taken the
leadership in organizing an international music
conference, which has one of its primary
aims the promotion of international good will
and peace. Because of the fact that this
group was originated by English speaking must
=: clans, it Is now known as the Anglo-Amertcan
: Music Conference. From the beginning OF its
activities, however it has aimed at inter-
nationalism, and at the meeting which Is to
be held this Summer in Lausanne some six
other European nations will participate.
It is probable that at least 800 American
musicians and educators will attend the
Lausanne meeting of the conference during the
first week of August, 1881, and that the total
attendance. including that from various Euro
pean countries, will reach the 1000 mark. The
meeting is being planned jointly by British and
American committees. Prof Paul j. Weaver
OF Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y, is chairman
of the American Committee and any one who
is interested may obtain complete information
from him as to the purpose of the meeting,
the detailed program, European music festivals
and special musical events for the Summer of
1881.
A COOPERATIVE council, consisting of some
40 of the most prominent musicians and
educators. has been formed to help in this
work. The group is headed by Dr. John
Erskine, American president Of the conference,
and includes such well known musical authori-
ties as Dr. Walter Damrosch, DIR. Frederick A.
Stock, Nikolai Sokoloff. Henry Hadley, Albert
StOeSSel and H. Alexander Matthews, well
Harold Bauer, Guy Maier. Ernest Schelng,
Nine. Ernestine Schumann-Heink and Mime.
Marcella Sembrich.
4 Attest word from the Bach festival, which
- is to be held according to custom, at Beth
lehem. Pa. the 18th and 18th of May, indicates
- that Washington will be represented among
the soloists by Charles Trowbridge Tittmann
whose virtues in his capacity as local bass
need no revealing
ID RECOMMENDED .Ilg last weeks musical
~ diversions: The way Sophocles Papas played
lutte and guitar; Nine. Schumann- Heink
doing some of the honors with the Roxy aggre-
cation; some of the music of Harry Wheaton
Towards latest operetta, AT Wirifred's We'd
ding Florence Howard's week before-last duct
team at the Friday Morning Music Club; Mrs
Persons singing at the same event; Rosa Pom
neEa closing the Townsend musical season, and
that strange and unearthly quiet. which has
geOeneay come over Constitution Hall.