Evening star., 1946-04-07
|MuSica1GrOups
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Need Our Aid
America Alone Can
ReaWaken Culture
In Foreign Lands
By Alice Eyersmon

Among the rehabilitation prob
lens this country will have to face
is that Of helping foreign musical
groups to function again. It will
be the duty of American musicians
to give assistance in starting the
musical life in the devastated areas
and in providing instruments and
music for this purpose. Some
months ago the National Federation
of Music Clubs sent replacement
parts to the Athens Symphony so
that its concerts could be resumed
in Greece and more recently a small
but important gift in the form Of
q solo flute was given to the Vienna
Philharmonic Orchestra.
This Is but an example Of what
will be required from time to time
to fit out the European orchestras
and music schools so that they may
attain to some degree their prewar
eminence. The loss that must have
been sustained of valuable instru-
ments, the destruction of music
and historical data and the COM
plete Decentralization of music edu-
cation cannot be estimated for some
time. And, as in other things,
America is the only country able
to be of assistance in the restoring
of cultural life.
There is bit of irony to be found
in the fact that this country, once
considered on lower cultural plane
than those of Europe, should now
be the hope of the world in keeping
alive all of the finer aspects of
refined and intellectual living. We
have received with open arms the
renowned refugees and given them
a means of livelihood and we are
ready to help put each country on
its feet musically. Although our
own musicians still need all the
help we can give them, the call
of our brothers-in-music will be
needed and answered.
During the war the Army and
Navy went to some pains to provide
the servicemen with instruments
and music as we'll as supplying their
places of recreation and their study
Icenters with everything necessary in
the musical line. Now that the war
is ended, all that is surplus material
that must be disposed of. Schools
come in for the first consideration.
but it is doubtful if all the material
can be placed advantageously. 1t
| is possible that some of this might
be sent abroad to fill the gaps left
by the great destruction, and, since
the manufacture Of, instruments Is
still at a slow pace, the cost of
transportation might be considered
not too excessive.
Recently, at the first meeting of
the American-Soviet Music Society,
Of which DR.. Serge Koussevitzky is
chairman, steps were taken to nego-
tiate a copyright treaty between
Russia and this country. There was
much talk by prominent musicians
present of cementing the cultural
bonds of the two countries, and the
late Henry Cabot Lodge was quoted
as saying, Cultural ties would be
the best guarantee of permanent in
ternational peace"
There has been always tendency
here to welcome everything musical
that has come out of Russia. DR..
KouSsevitzky and others have gone
to some lengths to give assistance
so that what Russia is doing in the
musical line is familiar here. But
now there are other countries that
need help that can also contribute
to the musical growth and who are
deserving of being encouraged. The
world has profited in the past from
their talent and individuality of
ideas and could profit still. They
are equally hard hit by the war.
It would be well if not only Russia
but all European countries could
benefit from Americas generosity.
The musical situation in each could
be studied and steps taken to accel-
terate its recovery in whatever way
necessary, The National Federation
of Music Clubs has pointed the way,
but it could 60 further by establish
ing committee to study the needs
and see how they could be met. A
haphazard response is not enough.
There should be some organization
| so that the haSt recY1ltc nop Ha hoJ