Evening star., 1943-03-07
Music in the Art Museums
Finds Great Public Favor
Concerts at the National Gallery
Combine the Two Closely Related Arts
In Color and Tone

tlOndl musical training and became
orchestras as well as bands. It
chanced that Walter Damrosch
went abroad to conduct series of
concerts in the small cities of
France, but was prevented from
doing so through interruption of
traffic. Gen. Pershing asked him to
assist in establishing a school for
bandmasters and men which, with
the cooperation of the French gov
| ernment and French musicians, was
done. Our bandsmen returned to
America far better musicians than
when they left; so also did our
fighting men. "A singing army"
said Gen Bell, 'is winning army"
And so it is. Music gives courage
as well as consolation.
Sunday Evenine Concerts.
Several of the Sunday evening
concerts In the National Gallery Of
Art have been given by detach-
mentscf our Army, Navy and Ma
rine bands-given gladly as public
service, and without fee. On Feb
ruary 81 the evening concert was
given by Is men of the Army Music
School at Fort Myer, Va, the ma
jority singers. Among the selections
rendered were "A Hymn of Crea-
tion," by Beethoven: Psalm XIV"
by Lilli Boulanger, and Entrance
and March Of the Peers" by Gilbert
and Sullivan, in the singing of
which the audience was invited to
join.
One of the first evening concerts
given in the National Gallery of
Art was on the opening Of the Ches-
ter Dale loan collection OF paintings.
The musicians, in their red coats,
sat in the east garden court to the
north OF the fountain, around which
were foliage plants and dull pink
chrysanthemumS in bloom. The /
fountain figure In bronze lent strong
accent; the dresses Of the ladies
attending and the uniforms OF the
men, coming and going, wove the
whole into the semblance Of lovely
tapestry. The music lifted all hearts
and gave Joy.
So 1t may have seemed to Mr.. and
Mrs. Chester Dale, for, shortly there
after, they donated the cost Of II
additional concerts to be given on
successive Sunday evenings BY groups
OF musicians from our National
Symphony Orchestra and others.
There has been great variety in
these concerts. Occasionally soloists
have been featured, but not as a
rule. An innovation, during the
Christmas season, was concert by
the vested choir of the Washington
Cathedral, by whom carols were
sung, the audience taking part in
the singing.
Evidence of appreciation.
All Of these concerts are of the
"to-be-listened-to" kind, rather than
the promenade" variety. That
those in attendance do listen atten-
lively gives evidence of the truest
appreciation.
There Is, to be sure, a close relation
between the arts, especially those
OF painting and music. Color can
be interpreted through musical
sound, and musical sound through
color; "tone" is equally applicable to
music and to painting. The work
of modern painters, especially the
"impressionists," is high keyed; that
by Rembrandt and his school deep
toned and resonant. A painting by
Monet, or by Whistler, will bring
to mind the music Of violin,
whereas works by the Spanish
painters recall instead the more pro-
found notes of an organ. The arts
differ In form, but are one in spirit.
Beauty is not isolated from but
part of life, and the wider our COM
prehension and participation the
richer our lives will be.
That many feel this without
always giving 1t expression is evi-
denced by the fact that the attend
ance at the National Gallery Of Art
on Sundays has ranged from 5000
to $4,000. 1t may be remarked that
despite such large attendance there
has never been confusion nor
suggestion of careless disregard.
Those who visit the National Gal
lery OF Art seem to realize that it is
a national, hence personal, possess
sion. and so regard 1t with care.
The architecture of the building
contributes to this impression. It is
dignified. monumental, befitting a
home of the arts. but at the same
time democratic in its simplicity.
AS Morris Gray, formerly president
of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston,
once said: THE love of beauty is
not restricted to the aristocracy of
wealth and education; it belongs
rather to the democracy Of the
things of the spirit. 1t has not only
a value to the happiness OF the indi-
vidual: 1t has value to the welfare
of the Nation"
The Sunday Concerts.
The National Gallery OF Art opens
on Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
In addition to the masterpieces in
its permanent collection, 1t is now
showing rare collection of draw
ings by great French artists lent by
the Louvre. Three illustrated lee
lures on certain exhibits are given
by members Of the stan between the
opening hour and suppertime, supper
being served in the cafeteria. Visi-
tors may wander at will through
the halls and galleries. The con-