Evening star., 1945-08-05
Music
~ ~ y
Notes
Musical Interest
In War Time
Must Be Guided
By ALICE EvERSMAN.

The extraordinary attendance at
all concerts, both of the winter and
summer seasons, since the war began
has been a source of qualification
not only to those interested financial
Iy, but to all working toward greater
musical development in this country.
This has been true not only in Wash
iagton, but in other centers where
war work has brought an influx OF
strangers. This universal desire to
profit by all opportunities to hear
good music places great response
bility on those who provide it.
Many who attend these concerts
or opera performances are hearing
them for the first time and others
come with an excellent background
gained in their own enterprising
community. To both types it is es-
sential to give of the best. To the
ambitious learners is it necessary to
ground their liking for what they are
hearing for the first time so that the
wish may increase to know about
music other than the popular va
riety, and the standard already ac-
quired by the more cultured should
be met, at least, if not bettered.
1t Is natural that certain people
will like to grasp the opportunity the
war has provided to cash in f1nan-
cially, and so most anything will be
thought up and placed before the
public solely for this end. While
success may attend the ventures
momentarily, it is not wise, looking
toward the future, to countenance
them. This country is in too crucial
a situation musically right now and
serious thought as to what path it
will take is of extreme Importance.
The war has placed the burden of
musical progress on America. 1t will
be many years before the talented
Cnes left in Europe will be able to
take up their work again. Fortu-
nately, most of the renowned COM
posers and many of the great artists
are in this country. But here again
is a problem. Just how far will these
experienced and gifted people take
precedence over native talent and
usurp the places rightfully belonging
to our own musicians
The influence which European
musical culture has exerted on this
country has been steady through
the years. Now we are on our own,
in a sense. How will the foreign
musicians, now forced to live here,
react to our life in their creative
work and will our artists develop an
individuality that Is thoroughly
American and at last, found true
American art.
The public may have something
to say about this in the postwar
years. Music means more to it than
it did before the war. Then it was
the fashion to look down on the old
and sponsor the new. But the new
had little to offer in the way of con-
ISOLATION when the heart was wrung
by the tragedies facing us. The
beautiful melodies, the fine
thoughts, the sincerity and the hu-
manness of the old fulfilled the in
ner need the war brought. Will
that all be discarded when peace is
established and life goes on with the
former prosperity?
Science, which has made such
progress in the war emergency, will
direct the course music will take to
q certain degree. Television will be
used, new types of recordings will
be invented and other changes, not
yet thought of, will come about.
How will this effect the future of
concert giving and the character of
the music programmed.
We are at a CROSSROADS right now
without much vision into the future
But one thing remains unalterable
and that is the need to keep the
standard high and to fight for it,
If necessary. Any lowering of ideals
will divert the path opened for the
American artist and composer by
the collapse of Europe and influence
the musical output and way of
thinking to an enormous and irrep-
arabic degree. Now, when the press
ure of work makes any diversion ac-
ceptable, is the time to have in
mind the directing of musical ap-
probation by insisting that only the
best will be tolerated.
Mo,., Deof,c<:o. no.oJ,Ao1