Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-27
Music
IN " =
America Is Urged
To Recognize Its
Own Native Talent
By Alice Euersman.

any within the last quarter OF a
century has made us realize the
blessings which we possess as
citizens of the United States. 1t has
changed the character OF our pa
triotiSm giving it special kinship
with our religious convictions. It
has made us proud Of our stamina
and of our material and intellectual
progress. Among the latter is the
great. strides made in music ap-
probation and today music Of the
best quality is considered a spiritual
need rounding out our many other
accomplishments.
There are in this country men and
women who have devoted their lives
for many years past to the further
ing Of musical development in land
necessarily 80 occupied with the
ordinary demands of living as to
have little time for the arts. These
men and women have struggled
against overwhelming odds for they
had as ideals an aim that seemed
Of small consequence beside the
pressing purposes of the moment.
They have become the writer's and
interpreters of music and have
created national art Of no mean
worth.
With all our patriotism, however,
we are loath to. give credit to this
special group trying now, as it has
tried for many years. to lay foun-
dation of an art strictly of this
country. The American artist and
the American composer have very
little honor from their own people
and, for some strange reason, the
majority Is content to have it so.
We are kept fully acquainted with
the great masters of all nationalities
and when a new light appears on
their musical horizons we hasten to
recognize him and spread the news
OF his accomplishment far and wide.
Foreign artists and foreign peda-
gogues still bedazzle the eyes of
American musicians who rarely dare
to question their ability.
Is it not about time that we ex-
tend our patriotism to the support
OF our own musicians? What differ
ence does it make, when one comes
down to hard facts. if they are not
the equal of Beethoven. a Tschai-
kowsky or a Sibelius? They are ours,
giving of their ability to create a
musical hierarchy in this country,
and doing so, not always from a per-
sonal ambition. but with genuine
wish to fill vacancy in our develop
ment. They, more than their pub
lie, know their own limitations and
are anxious to continue studying in
order to better their knowledge.
There is a pathetic list of for
gotten American composers whose
names are inscribed on the founda-
ton stone of American music. We
know nothing of them today, have
had no opportunity to judge their
worth. They lived in an era when
an American composer of note was
an unthinkable possibility, and they
are left in that era by the present.
day worshipers of foreign idols. Were
these banished composers works
resurrected, they might reveal a
musical heritage of supreme value.
But we are given no chance to
approve or disapproye of them today,
when our judgment is so much
keener. Their orchestral works are
not fit for our symphonic programs,
which are given over to the tried
and true or to some newcomer with
an unpronounceable name. Our solo
artists fare a little better, and we
can enlarge their list by including
those whom necessity forced to take
refuge under American citizenship.
But still, the grand and glorious
feeling of having their own people
thoroughly behind them is denied
our American musicians.
We have had many interesting
programs offered to us this last year.
The number of American names i'll
cluded among the composers pre-
sented could be counted on one
hand. We stand with reverence when
The Star Spangled Banner" is
played and sit down to listen to for
elgn products many of which we are
glad to honor as distinct from what
their country stands for today. But
the individuals who have worked so
conscientiously to make our Nation
outstanding in music as it is in other
things and whose aim is to i1icorpo-
rate an American spirit into 1t are
conspicuous by their absence.