Evening star., 1933-12-17

of music excellently, If extensively, pro-
duced, has Mlled the energies of the
majority into inertia, for the need for
help was not openly apparent. With
the financial debacle, music was the
first to suffer but the extent of what
that meant is only now becoming fully
known.
For the first time it would seem,
the needs of the public and the pro-
fesSional musician are closely inter-
woven. The music lovers, who form
the audience, are thrown on their own
resources, more or less, and the pro-
fessional, ready to help out, has no way
Of doing so. The situation resolves
itself into deeper consideration OF
how to bring music into the home and
educational system. to supply the new
needs of the public and how to provide
larger, musical endeavors which will
give employment for the professional
musicians.
With the realization of this necessity
comes the conviction that the resolu-
ton of the problem cannot be done in
a haphazard way nor left to profiteers
Mr. Keys demand for a department
of fine arts. where the governing Of
such matters will be fixed by law and
taken out of the hands of individuals is
the first crystallization of the much
talked of idea and should stimulate
constructive thought on the subject.
1t has always been the plan Of
European countries to Subsidize and
protect music. For centuries China in
cluded a Board of Music in her gov
ernmental plan and not so long ago
Mussolini took energetic means to put
the musical activities of Italy under
certain laws. 1t is but reasonable to
ask Government aid. In glancing over
the appropriations made by State
Legislatures for State universities, 1t is
fair to assume that the taxpayer would
be willing to bear his share for the
advancement of the arts, provided
concrete plan could be adopted.
To accomplish this a comprehensive
study of the situation, its needs, po-
tentialities and objectives must be un-
dertaken over a long period by Gov
ernment commission. Congress could
appoint such a commission and on
small appropriation, and after all in
formation, data and statistics on the
subject had been assembled by the
commission, various plans could be
formulated. Such commission should
be selected from among the outstand-
ing representatives of musical land
other) art and subcommittee formed
to explore every division of the sub
ject. Hearings. at which various Or
ganiZations interested in the move
ment could submit their ideas, could
be called from time to time. so that
consensus of opinion could even
tually be reached.
The subject admits of great elabora-
ton. but the first step is to accurately
gauge the thought of the American
people and this can only be done by
establishing a commission to receive
data and ideas from which to formu-
late a working department, and none
of these things can be accomplished |
unless Congress is actively behind the
movement.
DRIES for the Nation wide contest !
of American poets to write an in
ternational hymn to the first Is bars |
of the "Ode to Joy" of Beethoven's |
Ninth Symphony" was awarded De-
cember II by the League of Nations
Association. Inc, which sponsored the |
contest. The winning poem is to be |
presented to the Committee on Intel
1ectual Cooperation at Geneva as a |
prelude to hopedfor worldwide con-
test of composers and poets for the |
eventual international hymn. To jose
phine Daskam Bacon of New York City |
goes the prize of 500 by unanimous /
decision of the final judges, Bliss Perry |
Robert Hillyer and S. Foster Damon. |
The second prize of $50 is awarded to |
Rosalie Hickler of Waltham. Mass. I
Honorable mention for the third best !
poem was omitted