Evening star., 1942-08-16
Music
Notes
Music Has Vital
Role in Calming
Wartime Nerves
By Alice EperSm0n.

There has been a great deal OF
talk since the war began OF the need
of relaxation and music has been
cited as the best means,to that end.
Particularly here in Washington 1t
has been felt of supreme Importance
to provide entertainment for both
the many civilian workers and the
men in uniform on leave. Music
has played g. considerable part in
this amusement program and even
the concerts of our most renowned
artists or organizations have born
the stamp of this idea.
Music has many objectives among
which Is that of pure entertain
ment. While this is most desirable
we should recognize at the same
time the deeper significance of mu-
sic and utilize it during these days
of stress. The civilian population
as we'll as those in the service have
vital need of two things-courage to
face the future and calm nerves to
carry on the daily routine. OF the
two, perhaps, the greatest is keep
ing we'll balanced nervously SO that
we may think straight and act right
under all circumstances.
Listening to good music is one
way of relaxing the nervous system.
1t affirms to the human spirit the
great truths of living, which now,
more than ever, it is necessary to
keep constantly before our minds.
In an article by r. D. Darrell issued
by the RCA Manufacturing Co., the
author says: To-day we have
deep, consuming need of music for
its positive qualities and for its most
potent, constructive functions-mu-
sic that is not a blind avenue of
escape from realities, but itself one
of the few hopeful realites-a sword
of strength and courage, a battle
banner of the human spirit. Under
stress the spirit no less than the
body grows weary and exhausted.
We know that the body must rest
and sleep. But too often we forget
, that ones mind and will cannot be
kept under constant tension with
out weakening and yielding. They,
too, must find a source of fresh en-
ergy. renewing Of vitality and con-
fidence And one of the greatest of
such energy sources is music"
There is no question but what the
American people are willing and
anxious to do everything they can
toward the war effort. But the
greatness of their desire is bound
to make for nerve strain. The high
mental and bodily tension is show
ing up already in many ways that
spell danger. This must be guard
ed against and no better way can
be found than to have music more
and more in the homes, among the
| workers and in the churches. Let
us consider the medicinal as well
as the spiritual value of music and
apply it to keeping the morale of
the home, of industry and of the
community on high plane.
Word has come from the Institute
Interamericano de Musicologia of
Montevideo whose president is Fran
cisco Curt Lange, of the publication
Of little-known contemporary music
of Latin America. The list accom-
panying the first announcement con-
tains piano, solo violin, vocal, choral,
band and chamber music. Orders
for the new publication may be
placed with the American repre-
sentative, the American Music Cen
ter, II East AID street. New York
City.
During the conferences held at the
Library of Congress some years ago
when a first attempt was made to
familiarize the republics of this
hemisphere with each others music,
| the fact that much of the Latin
American composers output was
not published created difficulty.
| Mr. Lange, who was present at these
discussions, has found way to
remedy the trouble and through
his instigation the Institute has
| founded the InJeramerican Com
posers' Cooperative Publishing
House, which will handle also the
publication of works by contempo-
rary composers of the United States.
The first series of works was
released July /, and for the current
year the institute is preparing 40
works by prominent composers OF
both Americas and the first series
of II scores of the famous Col
lection of Colonial Music re-
quested by the government OF
Venezuela Also, within a few
weeks, will appear the Boletln
Latinamericano de Musica which
will contain 40 articles and studies
of this country's important musical
personalities with supplement OF
$50 pages of unpublicized Ameri-
can music and some Latin Ameri-
can studies.
This spring the music division OF
the Library of Congress prepared
preliminary edition OF bibliog-
raphy of Latin American folk mu-
sic. The compiler OF this ma
terial is Gilbert Chase, well-known
writer on music subjects OF various
kinds. The photography will be in
~,