Evening star., 1945-12-30
BY ALICE EVERSMAN.

The year which finishes tomor-
row has been one rich in music for
the Nations Capital as well as for
the rest of the country. AS never
before, people have turned to music
for spiritual sustenance and mental
relief from the pressure of events
and the bodily fatigue of the SUI
preme effort to support the needs
of war. 1t has proven great solace
during the anxious months of the
years beginning and means of
rejoicing and thanksgiving when
victory was assured.
1t has been not only year when
appreciation of the music OF the
great masters has been deepened
but an occasion to become better
acquainted with what contempo-
rary composers are doing. The
American composers especially have
struck more profound depth un-
der the emotionalism the war
brings to the surface and written
with greater conviction and feel
ing. An amazing amount of fresh
young talent has been disclosed
among the servicemen who have
been stationed here and given op-
portunities to continue the de-
velopment of their gifts.
Sold out houses has been the rule
at all musical events and many
of those in the city at present
heard their first symphony concert,
first opera or first chamber music
program this year. The famed
string quartet concerts given at the
Library of Congress by both the
Gertrude Clarke Whittall and the
Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Foun-
dations have had overflowing au-
diences who have waited hours In
line at the box Office for the coveted
tickets. A few years ago this would
not have been thought possible.
In March the National Symphony
Orchestra played its l,O0oth concert
thus marking a milestone in It's
splendid history of progress. Out
of nothing the orchestra was Or
ganized a few years ago to take its
place today among the great en-
sembles of the country. Under
DR.. Hars Kindler's untiring and
inspirational supervision, it has be-
come an integral part of the COM
munity's life with its student con-
certs, its 1880" series sponsored
by the young people, its Federal
EMPLOYEES concerts, its wednesday
night series so successfully taken
care of by the Women's Commit
tee and it's regular Sunday after
noon events.
On its concert tours it has visited
many settles otherwise bereft OF
orchestral programs and others
where competition with other Or
chestras has been successfully main
tanned. DR.. Kinder, who made his
debut as a composer this fall with
the performance of his "The seven
Provinces" has encouraged Amerl-
can composers at every opportunity
such as at the special concert IN
November, when an entire program
of their works was given.
The highest standards In indi-
vidual artistry have been heard In
the concert series presented by Dor
othy Hodgkin Dorsey, one OF the
most important cultural influences
in the city. For this series come the
great lights of the concert world
the famous names and glamorous
personalities who embellish their
mastery interpretations with the
originality of their own talent. For
years Mrs. Dorsey has contributed
to Washington's status as musical
city by the special service she rem
ders it.
Last winter saw the return of the
Boston Symphony to this city after
a long absence and the first local
performance of the Baltimore SYM
phony. These, with the fine pro-
grams presented by the Philadelphls
Orchestra on its regular visits, have
both stimulated and broadened the
appreciation of orchestral music
The new music included in these
programs such as George Antheil's
Symphony No. 4" and Copland'!
"Fa anfare for the Common Man,
played by the National Symphony
and Gesensway's Suite for String:
and Percussion, played by the Phil.
adelphians, has acquainted the pub
lie with the trend in composition
the last two works using the percus.
sion section of the orchestra for spe.
cial effects.
The National Gallery of Art ha!
also been a source of stimulation
for American composers and artist!
with many first hearings given theil
works at the weekly concerts anc
musicians of worth introduced II
soloist capacity. It's annual Amer
ican music festival now ranks among
the most important in the country
and the Sunday concerts in thu
very artistic surroundings of thu
east court are already well known
outside the city.
The Phillips Gallery has supplied
a much needed hall for smaller
recitals and in this the young talen'
has had an opportunity to SHOW
its caliber in recitals that beside.
the usual vocal and pianistic event:
have included those of wind instru'
ments and the less seldom heart
cello, viola and double bass pro
grams. The Chamber Music Guile
has been active in sponsoring th'
appearances of young artists as wei
as encouraging composition in it
sensational promotion of the hemi
spheric contest for string quartz
and the playing of the two prize
winning works, one by Robert Doell
ner of Connecticut and the othe
by Camargo Guarnieri of Brazil.