Evening star., 1932-02-21

BOlerO" records at Con-
4 L stitution Hall last Sunday
in the manner of its rendition,
has increased his fan" mail by
leaps and bounds and whose
daily life consists in answering
the telephone, pondering scores,
playing the cello, rehearsing,
buying new batons, eating (occa-
sionally), listening to hungry as
pirants for solo glory with the
National Symphony and Suchlike,
has been good enough to enter
the somewhat raging debate ex-
listing between the "modernists'
and their opposites, and what
should be what on a program.
Herewith are printed his own
words on the subject.
There Is no classic music and
no modern music" says Mr..
Kinder. There is only good
music and bad music. The man
who considers all modern music
an Internal row. whether it be
the music of Strawinsky, Proko-
fieff and other by now recognized
masters, or that of younger and,
because of their youth, naturally
more revolutionary pathflnderS,
is just as mistaken as the modern
faddist who sneers at Beethoven
and Brahms as old fogies and at
Tschaikowsky and Schubert as
sentimental romanticiStS.
"By all means let us be open
minded. Let us try and listen
with unprejudiced ears. Let us
not become the kind of moron
who says, I know what I like,
and who is unwilling to make any
kind of mental readjuStment es-
sential to the assimilation Of
music that he can appreciate
without any effort on his part.
He is horror to me.
Let us condemn, however, and
condemn with conviction, that
music which, after listening care
fully to it Gf possible several
tines, conveys the impression
Gas some modern music undoubt-
edly does) of having been written
with the sole purpose to epater
lie bourgeois. But let us be care
full not to dismiss it lightly. Let
us not ever forget that Beethoven,
Wagner, Strauss and Debussy
were all regarded as takers in the
early part of their careers-the
same as in painting-Manet,
Cezanne. Gauguin and other now
universally recognized impress
SionistS.
"As to the all-modern program
I'm against it, except on a spe-
cial occasion where the public
knows in advance what 1t has to
expect-If one goes to. for in
stance, a special concert of mod
ern music at the Composers
Guild in New York, or at one Of
Mrs. Coolidge's interesting con-
certs and one knows that 1t will
be a problem concert one can
and should stay away If one has
apriori objections.
But to try and force nothing
but most radical music down the
throats or rather the ears of all
sorts and conditions of men is
cat least, so it seems to me), a
failure in advance A policy of
judicious mixture will have much
more effect in the effort of prop
aganda for modern music CT the
value of which a conductor is
convinced; a high-handed take
1t or leave it. attitude merely re-
suits in antagoniZing some who,
otherwise, might become poten-
tial and even discriminating mu-
sic lovers"
THIS policy of judicial mix
ture" Mr.. Kinder is carrying
out with great success with his
own orchestra-the programs
having become more and more
alive and stimulating-until now
one wonders when he will begin
to mix Gershwin with Brahms
and when the Washington SYM
phonians will offer the multi
colored "Rhapsodie in Blue"
HEREWITH, on the same topic
IL are reprinted the opinions Of
two further interested citizens
who have music at heart and
who have been good enough to
express them openly:
Dear Sir:
To the great number OF arguments
for and against the "n1Oderns'
played this season in Washington by
the Philadelphia Orchestra under
those very distinguished gentlemen,
Leopold Stokowski and Fritz Reiner,
must add my perdict as to the con-
certs of January IL and February 9.
BIZ all means keep the "moderns."
The symphony orchestra has in
StokoUski one of the greatest d.
rectors of all time and the equal OF
anu today. Should Ue not, therefore,
trust him to play the best of todays
music for US. eUen though it may
sound strange and at times repulsiUe
to our ears? He is a thorough NIL
sic;an, and can hardly be expected to
play music OF no North. Not giving
contemporary music chance is US
ing but part of the brain. In the
past, such men as Wagner hare been
called too reDolting and insincere
phen first heard, but their works in
time hare become loved by all. So 1t
Is nop. BY hearing reasonable
amount OF modern music iDe shall
be able to get its real beauty and
meaning.
Finally, it Is to be hoped that the
Philadelphia Orchestra seasons here
1piH continue to giUe it at least t,Do
modern concerts. so that 1De ,clo are
interested in the progress OF music
today and wish to 90 forDard rather
than rest entirely on the music OF
the past may not be overcome BY
those uho. through prejudice and
otherwise. refuse to look ahead
r1usicaHy. Remember, standing still
Saeans slipping back eventually.
Yours very truly,
RICHARD H. BALES.