Evening star., 1944-08-20
Music
Notes
Federation to Study
Postwar Program
At Fall Meeting
By Alice Eversman.

VVAlCll tAlC x1oaAa Va A~ASNtSAo
District and State presidents of the
Federation Of Music Clubs meet in
Tulsa, Okla, from September II to
IA the principal subject to be con-
sidered will be Postwar Cultural
Horizons" The part the federation
will play in the after period will be
carefully considered and will be Of
utmost Importance since new condi-
tions will have to be met and pre-
pared for. The work which the
organization was doing previous to
the war will have to be adjusted
to the changes that have come with
many new angles to be noted and
developed.
In the meantime, the fine pro-
gram which the federation has fol-
lowed in providing music for the
wounded and disabled service men
and women will be reported by a
speaker whose theme will be Music
in Hospitals" The benefit which
the wounded men have derived from
the musical equipment supplied to
hospital ships will be told in first
hand account. The federation hopes
that this same idea can be carried
into the civilian hospitals when the
war is over.
While the disabled soldiers and
those at the battle front have gained
much pleasure and learned a great
deal about music, the artists who
have made tour of the Army and
Navy bases have also broadened
their ideas. Playing before a con-
cert audience and appearing in front
of a group Of soldiers or sailors are
two different matters. The artist
must know how to bridge the dis
tance between his art and the un-
schooled audience If the purpose
OF his performance is to be attained.
Yehudi Menuhin. who has been
playing for servicemen in the Aleu-
tan Islands and in Hawaii this
summer has evolved a system. He
will play, for instance, the first
movement of the Paganini Con-
certo," which he announces himself
and at the finish will ask his
listeners If they wish him to con-
tinue. He does this between each
section of long number and knows
definitely that the boys are not
bored by his high-brow program. In
explaining his numbers first the
popular violinist gets close to his
public.
Good War Song Found
1t is remarkable fact that very
few good war songs have grown out
of the present conflict quite in con-
trast to the catchy and imperishable
songs OF the last war. 1t has been
so much a concern of the Federation
Of Music Clubs and of some radio
companies that prizes have been
offered in an effort to stir inspira-
ion. 1t appears that the need has
tccn met finally, however, and in
cutie a modest way when The
American Doughboy" was sung on
the Army Air Forces Bands pro-
gr2m at the Water Gate last Sunday.
The servicemen have taken it to
their hearts, feeling that the COM
poser of the lyrics, Stanley Rich
man, veteran of the former war,
has described the heroism and
philosophy Of the American soldier
with just the right touch. Capt.
George S. Howard, leader of the
Army Air Forces Band, consented
to take time out from his many
duties to write the music, little
dreaming that it would be acclaimed
so enthusiastically by the men for
whom 1t was intended. God bless
the American doughboy wherever
he may be- the opening line of the
chorus, is echoed in every civilians
heart.
Capt. Howard, formerly director
Of music at Penn State College, is
proud of the group he directs in
the service and the fine record made
in the short period of its existence.
The band splits itself up into vari-
Gus ensemble groups for smaller
appearances, 121 of which have been
made this past season.