Evening star., 1938-01-09

1
have series Of concerts Of their own.
fashioned on the same informal style,
but intended primarily for the older
listeners"
Thus 1t was that Mr. Hill and his
committee, which even now is scarcely
more than year old, sent out their
challenging question. Why it took a
certain amount of courage to propose
such an idea can be understood il
one pauses for moment to reflect on
the seeming unpopularity of symptom
ic music in large sections Of the
American populace.
The American, as Gerald w. John.
son, editor OF the Baltimore Sun,
points out in his entertaining and
stimulating book, "A Little Night
Music" has done more than any other
man to establish an association-false
and vicious. but none the less a reality
to him-between good composers and
tail coats.
SYMPHONY concerts mean expen-
sive seats. white ties and boredom
to many people, Mr.. johnson explains.
AS result, when the American hears
Bach, Beethoven and Brahms or, for
that matter. even less formida BILE mas
tiers, even If he doesn't actually array
his body in tails he dresses his mind
in "sheet-iron shirt" and prepares
to endure heroically in behalf of cul-
ture"
| 1t is to dispel such notions by pro-
viding a genuine understanding and
appreciation Of symphonic music that
the Music Committees "childrens
concerts for adults" was planned.
AS matter Of fact, adult sduca-
ton in music is not 50 new as We are
sometimes prone to believe DR.. Ed
win N. c. Barnes, head Of the depart
ment of music Of the Washington
public schools. in a brochure entitled
Should Lowell Mason Come to
TOWN." cites the singing school, in
tracing the course OF music in public
education in the last 100 years. This
early American institution might pos
sibly be regarded as a kind Of prece-
dent for the concerts now being pro-
jected.
! The Singing school" arose after the
publication of the Bay Psalm Book"
in 1898. Dr. Barnes declares in his in
formative book. The famous hymnal
and instruction books that followed
IN its wake created desire among
New Englanders to sing by rule and
art" That desire resulted in the ere
alton of the singing schools" about
1880. These unusual and little known
institutions flourished throughout the
18th century and during the first four
decades of the 10Th. They were con-
Quoted by itinerant teachers. Gradu-
ally the material studied changed
from hymns to secular music as the
influence Of European-trained mu-
sicians and teachers improved the
quality OF music in the United States.
The singing school movement finally
petered out, although the field Of
adult education was undergoing . con.
slant process of expansion. But by
the time it disappeared it had served
its purpose of preparing the way for
|
the public school systems of the land.
A ND that, by indirection at least,
brings us back to the Music Com
mlttees "Children's Concerts for
Adults" for We have already seen
that they were in sense an outgrowth
Of the regular students series PLAYED
by the National Symphony Orchestra
IN the public schools of Washington.
DR.. Kinder has planned the series
OF concerts to cover three absorbing
aspects of music. The first concert,
on February IA. has been entitled
Poetry in Music" The second, on
February 81. is called Pictures in
Music" The final program is labeled
Patterns in Music" and will be given
on February %. The concerts begin
at $50 pm.
While primarily designed to be
informative, the concerts will be
worked out also to fulfill the desires
both of DR.. Kinder and the members
OF the Music Committee that the
formal atmosphere of the concert
hall is to be banished for three nights
at least and more informal spirit
is to prevail.
The audience, according to present
plans. will be invited to join in the
singing OF familiar songs-very much
in the same way that the Everybody
Sing" sections in the regular students
programs are handled. Possibly also
in other ways, the audience will be
drawn into q more active participation
in the programs than would be pos
sible at the regular symphony con-
certs given by the orchestra.
AS in the students concerts, DR..
Kinder will spend portion Of the
time at each event commenting on
the music and instruments In nom
technical language and explaining
many of the terms that the average
concertgoer finds confusing as he turns
to the program book at the SYM
phony, or even as he consultS the
Sunday radio section Of his newspaper
in search for orchestral programs. For
purposes Of illustration DR.. Kinder
will have at his disposal the entire
National Symphony Orchestra.
To the Music Committee Of the
Junior Board Of Commerce must 60
the major share Of the credit for
originating the idea Of this series,
enlisting the cooperation Of the Com
munity Center Department and the
National Symphony Orchestra. and
working with the other groups to
perfect the innumerable details that
such concerts entail.
A THOUGH it may seem strange at
first thought. 1t is perfectly logi-
cal that a committee Of the Junior
Board Of Commerce should be spon-
soring such series. The Junior Board
is itself only 3l2 years old, and yet In
that relatively short space Of time 1t
has earned for itself tho reputation
Of being = constructive and invigo-
rating force In Washington.