Evening star., 1935-12-29

ana RldIlClIlk DdCkWdTQ OVcT lie ulAL1y
outstanding programs and interesting
artists that were heard, the extent of
the progress made can be estimated
from o consideration Of several points.
The first Of these may be the Ca
pacity audiences which have patro-
nized musical events Of different
character. Time and again Constitu-
ton Hall has proven to be too small for
the number of enthusiasts who sought
to hear their favorite artist or or
chestra in serious programs.
Some years ago the musical public
of the city was set at round figure of
a few thousand for the celebrated
artists, while less spectacular but
artistic events drew but small portion
of this total. Today, an eager public
follows the announcements of every
week, and concerts are included in
the planning of nearly every one, no
matter what amount is allowed by the
budget for entertainment. This
eagerness for music from all classes
is the greatest gain to be found in the
years many blessings and is the solid
foundation on which the musical fu-
ture can be built.
THERE can be no question that the
greater part of this newly awak-
ened desire for music is due to the
National Symphony Orchestra. The
fact that this orchestra was organized
for the people of the community and
is sustained by their contributions
has made the presentation of music
a more personal thing to many, and
the interest which at first was, per-
haps, only wish to be part Of COM
munity undertaking, is now based on a
real love for music, the gradual out
growth of perfunctory attendance, in
the beginning, at concerts for which
subscription had been taken.
The introduction Of the Sunset
Symphonies" at the Watergate last
Summer is the second standpost by
which the musical progress Of the city
can be reckoned. These delightful
concerts, in the unique surroundings
of natural beauty, carried the greatest
appeal to all types of music lovers
and provided an experience Of rarely
stimulating value. No one who visited
the concerts and watched the rapt
faces of the throng of listeners lost
in the contemplation aroused by the
masterpieces being played for them
but felt a thrill at the sight and a
deeper realization of the great mission
of music For these concerts alone
and to those who conceived the idea
should the citizens Of the Nations
Capital be supremely grateful. The
Summer season proved more con-
clusively than any other series of
events how we'll grounded had be-
come the love of music in this city.
RESIDES the masterpieces which 1t
~ is the duty of a symphony Or
ganization to present, DR.. Kinder has
widened the knowledge of his auditors
by specially designed programs. Thus
the special charm of Viennese, Span
ish and Slavic music has been under
lined for them in concerts devoted
solely to one national idiom. No bet
ter way could be devised to acquaint
the public with the style Of musical
writing which is as nationally dis
tinctive as the spoken language.
American composers have not been
forgotten, nor the latest output Of
the modernists, no matter how eccen-
trie may appear the new tonal speech.
And best of all has been DR.. Kindleris
courage in leading the public to a
greater understanding and apprecia-
tion of Wagner, whose music is limit
less in both ideas and emotion.
Through the efforts of Dorothy
Dorsey, Mrs. Lawrence Townsend and
the T. Arthur Smith Bureau new