Evening star., 1934-04-29

This bringing OF the art of music
out Of the realm of the especially
gifted and its application to the every
day needs of community Is a sign
of the progress that has been and is
continuing to be made in musical ap-
probation in this county. 1t should
be cause for rejoicing, for 1t is the
achievement of the real objective Of
musical education.
Furthermore, as the planned events
indicate, it is a growing feeling for
group activity, of working together
of which the musical profession has
always been sadly in need The
idea Of self and the jealous shutting
IN of the individual within the narrow
confines of his personal musical con-
ception Is being done away with and
the benefit of this broadening of out
look is vast in its possibilities. There
has been too much looking askance
at the endeavors of competitors in the
musical field and this attitude has
been one of the great drawbacks to
progress in many communities. In
music as in other professions there is
room for all, and perhaps this is truer
in music than in other professions.
Each talent is SO individual, so impos-
sible Of forcing beyond the amount
that has been bestowed upon an indi-
vidual, so thoroughly confined within
certain boundaries that there is no
reason to begrudge another the diff
ferent angle of talent which is his.
The great festival of music to be
given by the united II choirs which
begins tomorrow is one of the noblest
musical events of the year. 1t COM
bines all the elements that should
permeate both progressive and an
artistic attitude toward music. 1t has
chosen for its purpose the helping of
q worthy institution, the Columbia
Bible Training School, it is streSsing
the Importance of one of the finest de-
partmentS of music, choral singing
and it is encouraging the participation
of many musicians who, without the
opportunity of choir singing, would
have no means of expressing their
love for music.
Since the gift of music seems to
come from something other than a
natural source and cannot be eX-
planned by either heredity or environ
ment, it is but natural to attribute
its inclusion in the scheme of life to
the same divine power that provides
for us the beauties of nature, the in
spiration of great ideas and the desire
for spiritual betterment which Is pres
ent in every human being. There is
nothing more fitting than that this
supreme gift should be used in praise
Of the One who bestowed it upon US.
The consciousness of the intimate
bond that music forges between man
and his Maker Is renewed or kept
alive through the medium of choral
singing. 1t is interesting to let the
imagination picture the far-reaching
results Of this festival Of music In aid
Of an organization which deals with
the problems of humanity or the still
more difficult task of bringing the un-
believing to a knowledge of what
Christianity means. These earnest
members of the IL choirs scheduled
for the festival, with their tireless
leaders, are accomplishing another
step toward the goal for finer musical
understanding. If for nothing more
than the unity of effort and the one
ness Of spirit which this festival is
bringing about, it should have the
cooperation of every individual who
believes that religion and the fine arts
are necessary for social betterment.
Fulfilling another need and equally
progressive in purpose is the celebra-
ton of national music week, which
begins next Sunday. This is the
eleventh year that a national call