Evening star., 1937-09-25
By John ". Sfebb.

preaching the close Of its first
year of existence. On a scale that is
as vast and potentially more enduring
than most Government agencies, the
project signifies a tidng-over process
If not an actual rebirth in American
music
Formed originally to retrieve musi-
clans from the rugged labor of other
relief programs and to install them in
positions to which they are adapted.
the music project has become in a
short space of time highly organized
and smoothly functioning organiza-
tion.' Under its capable director, DR..
Nicholai Sokoloff, it has made unpre-
cedented strides in nurturing an
American musical structure, and, pos
sibly in the future, an indigenous ira
dition.
Every phase of the musical field is
being covered-from instrument tuners
to symphonic orchestras. Only appli-
cants of pronounced skin, judged by
additions or investigation, are ac-
cepted. Furthermore, they are main-
tanned only if their work is consist
emily satisfactory. If improvement is
shown, recommendation is made by
project directors to private organiza-
tions seeking additions. Between
March and June in one months
time 30,7O0 w. P. A. musicians
left the rolls for private employ
ment. Many became members of
symphony orchestras and radio pro-
grams. while others are salaried by
teaching institutions. THE panorama
Is constantly changing" states Assist
ant Director William c. Mayfarth. 1T
is not the aim of the project to merely
hire unemployed musicians, but to
keep their talents from decaying Of
tdleness and to coach and thereby aid
them until they have an opportunity
to be sustaining once again."
THIRTY-ONE States have active
Federal music projects, each State
under an individual director, and each
of these in turn directed by four re-
gional staff members. An advisory
board for the administration includes
such men as DR.. Walter Damrosch,
Leopold Stokowski, Hans Kinder, Olin
Downes, William Earhart and Paul
Whiteman. This board assists in for
mulating standards for examinations
and gives advice on methods to be
pursued in achieving the aims of the
Federal music project. Mrs. Vincent
Hilles Ober, recently elected president
of the National Federation of Music
Nf ha
project by stating that 1T has been
successful in awakening a new inter-
est in music and the federation must
be ready to take its place in maintain
ing this interest"
Individual music organizations un-
der the movement have grown up all
over the country within the year.
More than 6 score of symphony Or
chestras comprising between 10 and
100 members have been created. There
is one in most of the large cities Of
the country. New York and Boston
have three and two, respectively.
Smaller concert orchestras numbering
from 25 to so members are more fire.
uuently scattered among the cities. In
many localities these orcheStras ven-
tllre into the rural districts to bring
music before those who seldom have
chances to hear. Chamber music is
also a part of the organization, al
though confined in fewer numbers to
metropolitan centers. Works by Ameri-
can composers and major compost
tions of standard authors are the prin-
eipal features of these concerts.
Nor is the field of vocalists neglect
ed. Grand opera and light opera have
been presented on numerous occasions
as well as large total of choral
pieces. Hundreds of programs by vocal
units have been given in year.
IN SEVERAL States exist projects
for music copyists, arrangers and Ii
brarians. Due to vast growth of in
terest in music by local community
groups, many formed by w. P. A.
teachers, music-lending libraries are
performing direct services. The copy
lists and arrangers transcribe, trans
pose, stencil and proofread copies of
the compositions on which copyright
has expired or of manuscript works.
In Los Angeles 70 musicians have been
employed on an arrangers' project
which is divided into three depart
ments, music preparation, photo re-
production and the Interchange
music library. A single week in June
witnessed turnout of more than
10000 pages of music from this source.
Copyists have been assigned to the
Congressional Library to perform a
valuable work with rare manuscripts,
that Of restoring missing parts of music
manuscripts and developing parts of
single scores for chamber and Or
chestral groups The work of these
expert transcribers is submitted for
review, addition and final approval to
committee of distinguished musi-
clans.
The employment of 15,000-odd musi-
clans means everything to the
preservation of the art 1t means
that these people, tested and approved
so that purely employment seekers are
barred, have the chance to follow their
desires for the profession; that hands
really suited to artistic endeavor are
not lost in work of an opposite nature.
1t means that inherently musical
minds will not be allowed to become
dulled from inactivity and discourage
ment
At the same time, there is a deeper,
more permanent significance to the
whole movement, which makes it out
standing and which may mark the
point of establishment for a new and
separate era of the art in this country.
Music in America, like every phase
A'A of existence in the New World,
has been comparatively overnight
rush proposition, a sort of Fastening
to catch up with the rest of the world.
America had to attain in two CEN
turies what it took Europe thousands
of years to reach. In most respects
our advancement has come up to and