Evening star., 1933-12-24

bklclI QlSIESSS HAS perhaps t1OI ~
some others. LaborerS and pro
which the world has definite ne
logical reason for being taken
realize its indebtedness to artists
the end of the list when relief m
In times of afiluence and relaxation,
there Is O general demand for music,
and good music. to provide for which
men and women have devoted their
entire lives. Now, when they, and the
music they created, is called luxury,
one can do without, with never q
thought Of what will become Of these
unfortunates. A little money donated
now and then, little work given occa-
sionally, does not solve the problem for
the men and women who use music as
q profession and who support them
selves and their families by its means.
At this time of the year when the
spirit Of good will is purifying human
ity. it is not amiss to think Of the
artists who carry the divine mark q
little more evidently about them. Right
in our midst Is great suffering, some
of 1t known, some of 1t unknown.
Some OF it has been alleviated, hut the
moment comes when it is definitely in
corporated in the programs being
formed on every hand for other suffer-
ing professions 1t will return again and
again to the same low status.
With certain big endeavors operating
with evident success in our midst, one
Is apt TO believe the situation Is not so
bad after all. The other side Of the
picture Is not so apparent. As an in
stance Of what goes on back OF the
scenes, several conditions in our own
thriving National symphony Orchestra
are Illuminating examples. IL was
rather startling to come face to face
with real facts, which the orchestra's
manager, G. C. Cappel, disclosed re-
Gently as to conditions that harass the
orchestra men when their seasons work
Is over.
The large sums that so valiantly and
generously have been donated to the
orchestra's support have given work for
a limited period to these accomplished
musicians, but there remains long
stretch of unemployment during which
these men actually struggle for an
existence.
For the entire season of "a con-
certs, the preparation for which occu-
pies their time pretty thoroughly, the
men receive S640. The rehearsals are
included In that salary. The majority
have families to support or, II not,
have no means Of livelihood apart from
their music. Some are able to augment
their salaries by giving lessons and
the finding of outside engagements,
but any one knowing the remuneration
offered by most local organizations
must realize that this never reaches
any substantial sum. There are many
instruments, such as the double bass,
the oboe, French horn or the bassoon,
for which musical students have little
interest and concert givers none at all.
After the concert season-in the long
period between April and the last Of
October-these musicians are out Of
work. One day DR.. Kinder met two
of his best players, conservatory gradu-
ates, pedaling ice cream in the streets.
One Of the orchestra musicians died
, through actual lack Of nourishment.
A fine artist, on one of the rarer in
sential to an orchestra, he was placed.
by the very reason of having devoted
his time to perfecting himself on a
difficult instrument, in position where
he could find no work to keep him alive.
With the responsibility Of wife and
three children, he denied himself food,
SO that they might eat, became i'll and
children are in an orphan asylum and
his wife is being helped by donations
out Of the meager salaries of the
orchestra men themselves. Had the
money that now must be spent to help
this family been given to him, through
providing him with work, surely the
result would have been better and
less costly.
Right here Is an immediate way of
doing good from which there will ac-
crue general good. There is a way
needy musicians. If the orchestra men
could be put on yearly salary basis
they could arrange to live accordingly.
Being bound throughout the year, more
rehearsals could be had which would
lift the quality Of the orchestra's work
to q still more artistic leve,, providing
greater aesthetic enjoyment to its
patrons.
with the orchestra men taken care
of. the outside engagements now being
sought by them could be given to
musicians not Of the orchestra and
pupils turned over to the local teachers,
who also are seriously in need of more
work. The orchestra association has
managed well on little funds and run
the financial end as economically as
possible, but are powerless to do more
with the money at their disposal
The establishing Of the orchestra on
q sound basis would help materially in
relieving unemployment among mu-
sicians. Providing work employment In
other work besides their own calling
is not sensibly solving the question, for
the ramifications Of the harm done can
be very great The interest in music
will be killed-for why work for a
living?-teachefs will be out Of work,
,~.,,eio cfnroc o,,t ~ hJ1cirncc ord xU1nay,
the time returns when music can again
musicians to fulfn the demand.
Aside from the humanitarian stand
point, there Is grave danger Of destroy
ing what should be guarded as the
most precious influence In civic life.
MuAc, about which one need know
nothing and yet enjoy it, music so
gentle, yet so powerfully capable Of in
fluencing for good; music, greater
consolation even than religion, must be
retained prominently in our midst and
some active measures taken this new
year to bring relief to those who have
many times brought spiritual uplift
to us.
At this Wednesdays Morning Musi-
Gale at the Mayhower, the Aguilar Lutte
Quartet and Mime. Ninon Vallin, cele-
brated French soprano, will be the
artists presented by Mrs. Townsend. 1t
Is safe to say that this Is the first time
the lutte a. q concert instrument has
been heard In this city, and 1t Will be
Q distinct privilege to listen to this sur
vivor Of ancient and romantic times
played by the celebrated Aguilars.
The musical worlds indebtedness to
the lutte can never be estimated and has
never been sufficiently appreciated.
Long before the great event which will
be celebrated tomorrow, the lutte, as
mentioned in the Bible, was a well
known and loved part Of all religious