Evening star., 1939-11-12

brightness have on the young gen.
Grafton. talented and energetic, ane
used to comfort and good living from
their earliest years. What is there
in the general mode of training
young people today to make then
realize that the road to fame has
not changed with the changing
times and that constant industry
self-denial and courage in facing oh.
stacles are still the accompaniment.
of public success. There is nothing
on the surface to indicate that more
than certain amount of talent, 8
certain amount of determination
and good luck is necessary to reach
the heights.
Drudgery Hidden.
OF course. people of experience
know that the surface glitter hides
many heart aches and years OF
drudgery. But how to make the in
experienced realize this, is the major
problem of our musical times. 1t is
quite natural, when turning on the
radio to favorite singers or instru-
mentalist's hour or in visiting con-
certs where well-groomed artists are
showered with applause or seeing in
the movies youngster the idol OF
that romantic setting, for the
talented young ones to turn a deaf
ear to the gloomy counsel of older
persons.
One of the tragedies of this coun-
try is the great amount of talent
going to waste because its possessors
will not perfect themselves before
seeking. public recognition. In this
lies the answer to the query. What
becomes of the quantity of music
students who apparently had such a
bright future before them?' They
have learned the inevitable lesson
OF the survival of the fittest and the
reason of that survival is hard work
in the right direction.
The possession of talent is but the
first step on the ladder of fame
The remaining rungs are made of
application, thought, humility and
seriousness. When all these are
strong enough success becomes more
or less automatic, for the world is
eager to welcome and shower with
approval any new artist that can
carry on the greatness of music
IN the right path. The financial
gain, the easy living and the poise
OF those sure of themselves follows
as matter of course. They are
not gifts bestowed for talent alone
no matter how great that may be.
Face Critical Public.
What the young people and their
advisers do not realize is that they
must face a critical and satiated
public, many of whom have for
years and years known only the
best, and are now in the position
OF putting a worthwhile stamp of
approval on a rising star. Those
who handle the financial launching
OF an artist are chiefly concerned
with what they will get out of it
and are not willing to run any risks.
An artist who can deliver the goods,
who has some bit of brilliancy or
individuality to contribute to the
standard pattern will easily find
sponsors.
There is no profession, except that
of music, where any one would
dream of starting forth without
complete training and complete
knowledge. No lawyer, doctor or
dentist could succeed without being
sure of the technique that goes
with his particular line of work.
No circus acrobat or juggler would
make bid for public recognition
without endless hours of hard work
In the obscurity of years filled with
sacrifice and away from the public
eye. Yet musician will begin to
dream, with the first lesson, of the
success that will be his on the great
stages of the world and be impatient
with the restraining hand of wiser
If musician would but ask him.
self the question, rs there anything
that cannot do or is there anything
I do not thoroughly grasp?" he
would Immediately have the answer.
AS long as there is flaw anywhere
in technical control or musical
understanding, he is not ready for
public work. What is the reason
that artists like Moriz Rosenthal,
at II years of age, Fritz Kreisler at
"a, Rachmaninof at Sc, Paderewski.
Hofmann and many others are still
able to perform in public with such
unapproachable style. The answer
is quite simple. In their youth they
perfected their technique and have
been constantly vigilant of it ever
since while giving to their music all
the emotional experiences that life
brought them. They have worked
and thought and sacrificed them
selves all their lives for the sake of
their art.
Time of Reckoning.
There is always time of reckon
Ing in the career of every artist. The
wise ones do their reckoning before
they appear in public, but if, per-
chance. fortune favors even when
all is not ready, time will have to be
taken out, some day, to go back and
learn the things that were so lightly
passed over in student hours. There
have been several examples of too
early fame in the last years and the
result has been oblivion for really
fine talent. Those who are so
glamorously before the public to-
day could tell an astonishing tale,
If they would, and were honest about
1t, of all the hardships, the dreary
routine work and the great personal
sacrifices that have gone into the
of their success. There is
no easy road to success in spite of
what the outward appearance may
be and that fact must be learned
by our young musicians if we would
build a race of artists.