Evening star., 1946-08-18
FilmdOmClainl
As Music Hub
Is Challenged
Hollywood Hasn't
Yet Offered a
Great Composer
by Alice Eyersmon

by Alice eNeTSmon
To the long list in which Holly
wood claims leadership is added
the assertion that 1t has become
the musical center OF the world.
The statement is based on the large
Of better type of music
now performed during picture
showing and on the organization
that has brought to the movie
colony the great number Of musi-
clans, composers and arrangers now
All this has been system
atized in such way as to warrant.
in measure, the sweeping state
ment that the hub of the music
world is fixed in Hollywood.
There is no gainsaying that the
years have seen remarkable strides
and for those who remember the
days of the silent films, the progress
is phenomenal. The piano player
or organist who sat in the pit in
the film industry's infancy, had to
have skill to adjust his repertoire
to the action of the picture. He
could shift with surprising ease
from depicting a tender moment
to that Of an exciting chase and
improvise, If necessary, whatever
would convey the speed and ex-
element Of the moment. No picture.
where one read what the actors
said before or after they said 1t.
could have been quite so realistic
and thrilling without the very real
presence Of music that could be
watched as well as heard.
But all that is changed now.
Instead Of relying on the ingenuity
of the local musician, recordings of
the carefully selected music score
are sent out with the picture. The
music department of every studio is
an important division. The recruit
ing OF musicians and music writer's
has been accompanied with such
alluring prospects that their work
In other fields has taken second
place. Several OF the famous artists
can accept concert engagements
only with a reservation as to their
Hollywood commitments. These
may crop up at such inopportune
times as to cause the cancellation
of concert date as was the case
when Jose Iturbi was scheduled
for an appearance here two years
ago.
Hollywood CapituIates.
Some original music written ex-
pressly for picture has been widely
advertised 80 that the public has
the idea that in addition to the story
and cast something super" in the
way of music will be given. SYM
phony orchestras now play under =
trained conductor who leads his
group through mazes of shadinss
descriptive Of the scenes, helped by
the expert modulations of a skilled
technician. So complete has been
Hollywood's capitulation to music
that it has sought out the romantic
histories of classic composers to
recreate them to excerpts from their
compositions or has lured artists
with colorful personalities to play
the lead in a story built around them
and with plenty Of opportunity for
the public to hear them In their
speciality.
There is no question but that
more people know about Chopin
today even though it is only through
"the" mazurka and "the" Polonaise.
Also the art of Melchior. Iturbi.
Paderewski, Stokowski and others
remains the same even when
adjusted to movie needs and has
been undoubtedly an inspiration to
many. But what does this lead to
what impress will be made on the
future Of music?
The studios claim that because
musicians can earn a living and
write at the same time, the movie
industry is the fountainhead from
which the great music of today and
tomorrow will spring. While in
sisting that new freedom shows
in their work, the point is stressed
that motion picture music must not
interfere with the plot or intrude
upon the audiences consciousness.
Here are definite limitations in the
circumference within which the
composer must revolve his fantasy.
1t Is doubtful If the average movie
goer is as conscious Of the magnifi-
cence OF the music played by the un-
seen symphony orchestra as he was
OF that produced by the lonely,
piano player In the
olden days. II the plot, the acting,
scenery and personalities are power
full enough, the ears will be closed to
what Is no more than an agreeable
accompanying sound, for the mind is
busy with what the eye sees.
Produced No Composers.
While there is the stimulation Of
new ideas flying around, of keen.
minded men constantly alert for
every new inspiration, Hollywood
would not seem to be the ideal sur
rounding in which a really great
composer could function. The
trouble with all our creative facul-
ties today is that there is little op-
portunity to season them with pro-
found thought and ripen them with
aSSP ACS1AlB. 4lC llOflCS pIOflQ0
work and certain amount of in
spiration but there is no time or in
clination to temper it with the only
things that give longevity to music.
Hollywood may be the mecca for
the bright young men of facile ability
but it has not yet produced a COM
poser acceptable to the higher brac-
kets Of musical production. The
truly great American composer will
be born in quiet environment
where his dreams, hopes and talent
will be brought to supreme fruition.
Although the movie world Is doing
q service to music in acquainting the
public with the lives of the composers
and their most appealing music and
letting it hear the art of concert
musicians In most digestible form.
it does not and cannot supply the
incentive for imperishable music.
That must come from some other
place than a center" and "foun-
tainhead."
Organist to Teach
Edith B. Athey, who was organist