Evening star., 1933-04-30
ME condition Of affairs po-
litical that so dramatically

litical that so dramatically
developed recently in Ger
u many has not been confined
to politics alone, but has invaded
the field of music with startling re-
suits. Not often has this eSthetlc
branch of mans interest been dis
turbed by the political emotions
seething around it and orGlnar-
lily it purSueS its own way undis-
turbed by national hate or in
trigue. It has always been &C
ceded that the dividing barrier
between nations and religions dis
appears under the influence OF the
SEbreme art and that there Is a
Brotherhood in music that uniteS
IA q bond so close that no racial
or mental popularity can under
mine its strength. 1t is true that
certain birthmarkS are highly
priced by each nation, but stub
born and narrow, indeed, is the
musician who will begrude ad-
miration and not capitulate to the
power of real genius no matter
what tribal name it may bear.
The sad truth must be faced
that music has failed in its mis-
sion. The sudden outburSt in Ger
many of what is designated as
"Zeitgeist" has forgotten the uni
versatility Of music and that the
different hues which nationally
colored lens discovers is necessary
and inSpirational. The recent up
heaval of feeling against the
Jews has been of such a medieval
character that it has succeeded in
binding this music-loving nation
to it's Indebtedness to the race 1t
is prosecuting. The inSiStence on
nationalism has reached a IA
natic stage. The Union OF Ger
man Intellectual Workers has
issued a manifesto commanding
that no place of amusement
where foreign bands or orchestraS
play shall be visited. Through
the double force of national and
religious feeling, the most illus
trious of the worlds artists have
been barred from appearing in
Germany. Only music by Ger
mans of unadulterated blood will
be tolerated and the frenzy in
this way has gone so far as to
strike out from a concert program
a symphony by MendelSSohn and
to cancel the scheduled perform
ance of celebrated compositions
by foreign composers.
What the outcome will be can
not as yet be predicted. Through
the urging of fellow artists who
reminded him of his own revolt
against the Fascists in Italy, Tos-
canini permitted his name to head
the list of prominent musicians
who protested by cablegram to
Hitler. No direct answer has been
received, but a report has been
circulated that the alderman
broadcasting stations have re-
fused to broadcast any program
which contained the works COM
posed by the signers Of the cable
gram.
The coming season at Bayreuth,
for which such great preparations
have been under way for some
time, may be disrupted by the
attitude taken against the artists.
Toscanini refuses to conduct, it is
rumored, and several celebrated
singers have followed suit. At
present the man in power, music
ally, is Wilhelm Furtwaengler,
who seems to have buried all diff
ferenceS he has had in the past
years with the musical leaders, and
is taking active part in the ma
tional enlightenment" campaign.
One good has been accomplished,
however, by necessitating the re-
turn of Richard Strauss to the
concert life of Germany from
which he has held himself aloOf
for some years. When an edict
went forth ostracizing Bruno
Walter from his position Of con-
ductor of the Berlin Philharmonic
Orchestra, a call was sent for
Strauss to continue the work
begun by Walter. He came re-
luctantly and only on condition
that his fee be divided between
the orchestra men. He gave a
superb performance of the sched-
uled program and is continuing
to follow the plans made by his
colleague who fell under the ban
of the Hitlerites.
To the countless American mu-
sicians who are attached to Ger
many with an indisSoluble musi-
cal bond and a love and rever-
ence for her noble art, the present
state of things can only be heart
rending. One cannot help but
wonder what would be the thought
of the grand, old men of Ger
many who walked through life
with their eyes fixed on the
heavens from whence they drew
their inspiration. were they here
today. So in communion with the
sublime, so world-embracing in
the bigneSS of their conceptions,
so loving in their message to
others, they would surely be sor-
rowful that music, which is
synonymous with the soul Of Ger
many, and which they elevated to
such exalted heights should be
sullied by the ambitions and ha-
treds of a few worldly minded
men.
THE interest which has attended
- the change Of the Wilson,
Greene Concert Bureau into that
of Dorothy Hodgkin Dorsey has
been further augmented by the
definite announcement OF the
plan of next seasons concerts and
the artists to be presented. From
the list of famous names it will
be seen that the cream of the
artistic world has been gathered
by Mrs. Dorsey with the same
managerial acumen that has
been associated with her predeceS-
sor. The standard of the new
organization is as high and the
ideals as lofty as could be de-