Evening star., 1933-06-04
%HE National Federation of
Music Clubs, which has just
finished its convention in

Consideration of the future o
American music. The world a
large seems to be accentuating
trend toward nationaliSm. Tht
recognized quality of universalisn
in music has also suffered anc
been discarded in this eXaltatior
of the birdS-eye view of the grea'
subject that each nation formerly
admitted, with humility, to be it!
own. European countries have
erected barriers around their mu-
sical life, concentrating on thell
own musicians and composers ane
shutting out any intrusive foreign
exponent or foreign art. The
financial reliability that has al
ways been the foreigners greatest
appeal in Europe has failed in It's
power and foreign art is appar-
emily only rarely capable of win
ming recognition for its sake
alone.
AS usual in musical analIs
America is the last to TURN Is
attention seriously to It's own
nrnblem of a national art and ma
fional artists. For this reason
the intelligent consideration that
has been given this subject at the
Convention in Minneapolis mas
heen of great and welcome value
.Throueh the discussions tnat
have formed a major part OF the
events, all the vague desires aIlG
ambitions as to Americas muslcal
future have been crystallzed lIlIo
a more concrete form.
Many of the points that nave
been brought out at these discus
sions are worthy of profound con,
sideration and should be place.o1
before the general public SO II
can ponder further and be stlmu-
lated to continued endeavor. BY
this means the individual COM
munity or city can cheek up Oh
how much it is doing to advance
the cause of it's national masl-
clans or in what way it is remedy
ing the evils that prevent prog
reSs. Several angles OF muSlcal
development were under CONSIDER
alton and. if no definite platform
of endeavor was adopted, at least
the advice of many authorities
registered deeply with those VINO
work for the betterment OF the
fine talent of this country.
Most interesting of accusations
that have been hurled at. us from
time to time is that of "bashful-
ness" brought out by DR.. Leigh
Henry of London in his talk on
international Reciprocity"
american music will never grow
internationally" says DR.. Henry,
unless they overcome their BASH
fulness. American artists seem
exceedingly shame-faced about
playing works of American COM
posers abroad" He further sug-
gcsted that a quota basis, such as
IS now IN operation in immlgra-
ton, be applied to foreign musi-
clans and also that European
artists appearing in this country
be taxed to the extent of demand
ing that 10 per cent OF their pro-
grams contain works OF American
musicians. Lawrence Tibbett, in
a talk on opera, said: Here IN
the United States we have been
extremely generous with foreign
artists and foreign musical works.
We believe, and with justice, that
they are better than our own. But
we should stop and realize that
they have been better, not because
of inherent native talents, but be-
cause of opportunity and train
ing"
John Tasker Howard, music
critic and composer, startled the
opening session Of the convention
.by severly criticising Arturo Tos-.
1canini for his overt neglect OF
lAmerican music. He accused MN
gof a distinct discrimination
fagainst American composers,
spointing out that he was lnstru-
sInental in giving a hearing to eX-
Tremely mediocre works OF his
Sfellow countrymen and, in the
soccasional novelties which he
makes a practice Of producing
that it was only fair to devote q
lust proportion to American
works. During the seven years IN
(which Mr.. Toscanini has con-
Quoted the New York Philhar-
monic only four American COM
spositions were given, which was
hardly lust, when it is considered
that the orchestra is supported by
sAmericans.
AS is often his custom, Harold
Bauer came forward with an
original and courageous reply to
a question we'll calculated TO trap
the unwary. When asked Whethel
one should hear and cheel
American music simply because II
was American he answered posi-
lively in the affirmative. Wher
asked whether one should attempt
to discriminate to the limit o.
ones a'oilitv as to the quality O
the r1u~io. he answered positively
'Nol" Cheering is what American
artists need and faith and belle
in their powers to stimulate TN
native talent to give of its best
he affirmed.
The two anchors that weigh
down the flight of American mu
sical genius are Indifference ant
patronizing condescension ant
these the federation is doing al
In it's power to combat. Studying
the facts about American musi
is part Of the duties of the va
rious clubs in the federation
Some time ago a decision wa
made to ask all clubs to urge tha
at least one American composition
be included in the program givel
under their auspices, and at tn
same time to warn against tn
harmful boosting of inferior work
or the unbalancing of a program
through purely patriotic feeling
Mr.. Howard took occasion to ad
wise the federation to avoid tn
use of the words "our duty t
American music and composers,
ren1in ding oil fhat uhon only tn