Evening star., 1943-06-08
Kinder, Returning From Talent Hunt, UrgesD. c.
Funds for Music to Balance Capitals War Strain
Water Gate Concert
Series to Open Next
Sunday Evening

DSSdASC RCOPlG AL Cl1C ANdUlO1l .
Capital need balance amid the
strain Of war. Congress should pro-
vide funds in the District appropria-
ton bill for high-claSs music, DR..
Hans Kinder, conductor of the Ma
tional Symphony Orchestra, said in
an interview yesterday.
Compared with San Francisco, for
example, children here are musical
illiterates," asserted the leader of
the 70-piece orchestra, which gives
its opening concert of the summer
season at $3.50 pm. next Sunday at
the Potomac Watergate.
San Francisco, he added, imposes
a tax of one-half of l per cent on
all real estate transactions for the
promotion of musical culture.
Returning from a talent search
that took him as far as the Pacific
Coast, the noted National Symphony
Orchestra conductor obtained the
following Impressions:
/. The manpower shortage has hit
musicians as well as other profess
sions, with the result that women in
larger numbers will be found in
symphony orchestras.
More Talent on West Coast.
2. A love of music can be possessed
by persons unable to read musical
score.
3. The West Coast has more
musical talent than other sections,
due to the emphasis placed on chill
dren's orchestras.
4. Businessmen who risk dollars
In the commercial marts should take
a chance on becoming exposed to
the charm of music.
5. The District of Columbia sum-
mer season. with an imposing list
of guest artists booked for Water
gate appearances, should be the most
successful in the citys history.
DR.. Kinder visited Philadelphia,
New York, Boston. Chicago. Los
Angeles. Hollywood and San Fran
cisco. among other points.
The farther west you 90. the
greater the musical talent encoun-
tered" he said. quickly adding he
did not attribute this development
w AAoAAy NSSA AAAAAASAlSS.
Conducts Youth Orchestra.
He said he conducted a youth
orchestra composed of boys and
girls. an orchestra which played
in the movie They Shall Have
Music This orchestra. in Cali
fornia. has been developed into two
orchestras. one consisting of children
under II, the other including players
from II to the ripe old age of IT,"
DR.. Kinder observed with a twinkle
In his eye.
He noted with profound satisfac-
ton, he said, the development of an
individualistic style by budding mu-
sicians on the Pacific Coast.
The basic qualifications of any
good musician are technical pro-
ficiency, beauty of tone and ensem-
BILE, but style and Interpretation
grow out of these basic things" DR..
Kinder remarked.
There is almost something SYM
holic, he added. about the 1943 sum-
mer season of the National Sym
phony Orchestra in relation to the
orchestral S first year of life.
I'VE started in a depression" he
observed. If people don't want
music when they are depressed,
when will they want it? We are
back where we started. We are
under an abnormal strain, the ter
rife strain of war We need bal
ance; good music is a tonic to the
soul, an inspiration to the mind.
Now, as never before, Washington
must have music. Now is the time
to build. In unhappy times the arts
have to steel themselves
Finds Boy Tuba Player.
DR.. Kinder picked up a tuba
player, 16-year-old boy direct
from the farm.
He is wrapped up in. and en-
raptured by music" the maestro
said. He will join us next winter,
when our 70-piece orchestra will be
Increased to 80 musicians"
The conductor tossed an orchid in
the direction of women musicians.
BY nature" he said, women are
more responsive to suggestions than
men. Then, too. competition with
men players meant they had to have
extraordinary talent to break into a
mans field.
I'VE will fill the gaps by adding
women, older men who dropped out
but are coming back into the musical
world, and young men with some
physical deficiencies that give them
draft deferment but in no way affect
their ability as musicians" DR.. Kind
Ter declared.
I'VE want more people to ap-
preciate good music. Music is uni
versal. The more sensitive ones ma
ture, the better ones appreciation
of music. But if one keeps an open
mind. one can become a music lover
without being able to read score.
Edward Box of Philadelphia, for ex-
ample, did not become a patron of
music until he was past so. If music
awakens responsive chord in your
heart. you appreciate music, just
the same as you react to sunshine,
the song of birds, and flowers"
Noted Guest Artists.
DR.. Kinder emphasized this point
by saying he had no knowledge of
the materials that go into the con-
struction of a great cathedral {.
but have viewed the finished prod
uct, its artistry, with tears in my
eyes"
MI