Evening star., 1932-11-13
American Music Features
Seasons Programs Here
Plans for Mcdowell Silver Jubilee Call for Par
ticipation of National Symphony and Other
Local Groups in Nationwide Celebration
By Alice Eversman.

is such thing as American
music. The latest releases
of American composers are SUD
jected to microscopic examination
to find that germ which is sup
posed to travel through the mu
Sical system of nation and de-
velop into a fever of composition
of what can be diagnosed as ma
tional music. To have a pole on
which to hoist the flag seems the
desired thing. 1t is claimed that
each nation to be counted worth
while, muSically, must have the
coloring of its individual life in its
music. Certain characteristics
and certain tendencies are point
ed out as the inevitable boun-
daries wherein the music of ma
ton moves and has its being and
so much thought and analysis
have been given the dress that
all the world can see that. the
essence, the real spirit with its
problems are aspirations has been
overlooked.
The warm sun and riotouS col
ors of Italy that are expressed in
senGuouS melody, the lonely wide
ness of Russia that seeks It's own
& enlivement in songs of melan-
choly complaining, Or rhythms of
barbaric activity, or the philoso-
phically controlled sentimentaliSm
OF the Nordic races preferring
more classic expression are but
local coverings for the same shape
land subStance-muSic.
A French writer, speaking of
american music, once said that it
was through the dance that
American music was born, that
the dance has been the national
form of amusement that has ap-
pealed as a relaxation from the
concentration which the hard
struggle for life has required. This
fs, of course, due to jazz of which
americans still retain the key,
both as to it's composition and
Interpretation, but which has
nevertheless set the world to
dancirlg Some of the learned
say that these savage rhythmS are
the first natural expression of a
people still near to the aborigi-
mics and they would put on us
the cloak of jazZiSm, but in doing
so they forget, in the tumult with
which Jazz has bedazed them,
hat America has already been
admitted to that inner circle
where sit music denuded of any
national covering.
4
THIS weeks programs and an
nouncementS amply prove
hiS to be fact, drawing atten-
ion as they do to the originality
ind seriousness of our musical
rend and our alliance with the
orm and material that provides
hsting results. Today'S program
Il the National Symphony Or
Ahestra will feature American
Compositions and the composers
he mselveS, a unique violin re-
ital on last Thursday by Elena
e Sayn glorified the American
Foman composers and an an
ouncement has been made of the
Celebration of the 25th anniver-
sary of the founding of the Mac
powell Colony at Peterborough,
Y, legacy left to future art
pts by the man who was the first
10 focus the eyes of the musical
Forld on this country, and that
efore the days of jazz.
This is to be a Nationwide CO.
speration in the commemoration
this event. All the symphony
hrchestras and their celebrated
onductorS, including the Ma
onal Symphony under Hans
6indler, are to take part in this
estival by giving works of Mac
bowell or the works of the Mac
Rowell colonistS, and the National
federation of Music Clubs will
i've several benefit concerts as
heir contribution to the cause.
Edward MacDowell has been
allied the first great American
pmpoSer and the true forerun-
Ter of an American School OF
Eusic. He was recognized as such
Broad and the constant friend
hip of Litzt, who was the means
Il interesting a publisher in his
ROoADAOAAoB 40 RAOOA AN
bas worthy of it. Nevertheless
IN his return to America, his con-
Stant lament was his inability tc
Understand American life anc
american people. His young edu-
gational years were spent in a Eu-
ope of long ago where life flowed
asily and where leisure had it,
alue and was not considered q
waste of time. The helpleSSneSS
NE felt toward the hurry and
buick thinking demanded in his
native land was a contributing
cause to his final tragic end.
' It was only in the little loe
cabin at Peterborough that Mac
ERDoWelI was able to continue hi.
al0productive work and it was hi:
Hsdesire to furnish for those who
would follow him like retreat
lwhere genius could work out 1t!
i salvation in peace and quiet. Thl!
Idea became almost an obsesslor
and Mrs. MacDowell was only abl'
to bring him peace in his las
moments by a solemn promiS'
that she would found such a col