Evening star., 1936-02-15

citing or bizarre-anything that win
breathe life into o tired brain or nerv-
GUS system.
IT Is q lost custom for people TO
= gather for the simple exchange Of
ideas, and even the language In which
those ideas might be couched has de-
Perforated, so that the imagination
finds no impulse for choice phraseol-
ogy. as was once the pride Of every
educated person. The famous salons
of Nine. de Stael whose frequenters
spent much time and thought before
hand on what they would talk about
and with what polished form, would
prove boresome today.
The composer of today Is the prod
uct of the times, and If he does not
inspire acclaim it Is because deep IN
the hearts of the people Of this senti-
mental country lies hidden an emo
tional response hardly acknowledged
but brought to light by the older COM
poSers, who had thought and suffered
in the privacy of their own souls and
found release in musical creation.
It is not solely, however, the attitude
of the public which retards the recog-
milton of American composers, but the
composers themselves, who are ap-
preaching their music from q purely
exterior point of view. When they flnd
the time or inclination to retire within
themselves for study and analyses.
and from this vantage point see the
world and the times. they win create
the type of music that win be ac-
claimed, not only here, but through
out the world.
THERE Is no reason why this coun-
= try, which has ready for its ac-
ceptance the rich musical output Of
every country, should accept mediocre
work. simply because it springs from
native soil. BUT what it can do Is to
provide q way by which the inner
consciousness Of its talented artists
can thrive on the substances which
inspire the soul to spread its wings
in music.
1t can insist that the thought and
emotional content overbalance the
clever utilization Of rhythm or har-
mony or the mathematical calculation
of composition. When the American
composer can equal the European In
portraying the emotional depths Of
his people, or can visualize in music
the trend of such thought, and that
with the stamp Of sincerity, then will
his compatriots welcome him and
assist him. as it has been the delight
Of Americans to do.
It Is the same with individual artists
as with composers. With rare ex-
ceptions the fine musical talent OF
this country. which cannot be equaled
in any other, is still too superficial in
its attitude toward art. still too con-
vinced that the outward form will
take the place Of the inner substance.
Thousands Of dollars pass yearly
out Of this country into the pockets
Of foreigners. and the American artist
suffers financially by It. But when
ever an American has found the way
by which he can move his listeners
to tears or rouse them to the pitch
of emotional enthusiasm, then his
followers become legion. and of their
loyalty there is no question.
Music deals with the emotions, tenn
pered by the intellect, and its purpose
Is to stir its public to higher aspira-
tions and to greater idealism. In this
hurried, noisy, tired country how can
the artist speak Of the great moving
forces Of life unless he seek every
means Of cultivating his own soul?
When this is done there will be no
room for the foreign musician in this
country, for the American artist and
composer will have come into his
own, and other Americans will make
a god of him.