Evening star., 1939-02-26


bring his N. B. C.. Orchestra for a
concert at Constitution Hall. His pro-
gram has not yet been announced.
Will he also include a work by an
American composer for presentation
In the Nations Capital? A gesture
of this kind would have far-reaching
effect, and it is to be hoped that the
idea will present itself to this popu-
lar conductor.
What American composers need
Is the championship of man of the
widespread renoWn and influence of
Toscanini He has helped many of
his own countrymen to fame by per-
forming their works, and has not
overlooked French or German COM
posers when he has become inter-
ested in what they have written.
He is greatly beloved in this country,
and through his broadcaSts has be-
come even better known and won ap-
probation in every corner of Amer
lea. The works which he chooses for
his programs have the widest ad-
VertiSement possible.
Championing the American COM
poser is a large order, for not every
American composer is worth the
championing just because he wants
to write music, but there are some
that are worthy of the attention of
a man like Toscanini, whose dis
elimination and understanding are
above criticism Were he to place
one work on his forthcoming pro-
gram by an American, it would mean
that he had selected what he con-
sidered as representing the best and
so give a standard for others to live
up to.
There is no doubt about it that
American composers need help and
encouragement. At the same time,
much of the talk that goes on about
the American composer in a gen.
eral sense is harmful, for it is too
all-embracing in terms to be justi-
fable. We have composers of all de-
drees of talent, with the really great
talent. as always, in the minority.
It is this minority that suffers be-
cause of both the conductors and
the public'S neglect and because of
the mediocrity of some of the works
which are programmed and which
the public recognizes as inferior.
The composers worthy of the name
have tried every possible means to
help themselves. A little over year
ago Roy Harris. man firmly
established in the esteem of the
musical world, asked that each pro-
gram played by native orchestras
include one work by an American
instead of notice being taken of
native talent only occasionally A.
Walter Kramer. speaking before
the Music Teachers National Asso-
citation Convention in Philadelphia
in December. 1885, asked Federal
aid for American composers, so they
could have some surcease from
financial worry to devote to compos-
Ing. About a year ago the American
Composers Alliance was formed
''to campaign for the right to make
a living by composing" AS Mr.. Har-
ris pointed out, 'the American COM
poser must have the encouragement
and incentive of an American public
interested in his works if he is ex-
pected to create"
Conductors on the whole have
been sympathetic with the problems
of the American composer. They
have tried to do their b.t as far
as policy and public demand would
permit. Mr.. Toscanini, however, is
a law unto himself, and so great
is the respect and admiration ac-
corded him that any special at
tention paid to the composers of
this country would bring numerous
repetitions of the honor. His con-
cert here, the first in many years,
would be an ideal occasion to focus
the interest of the Capitals music