Evening star., 1946-03-03
Festival Series,
Held Annually,
Opens Tonight
Native Composer
Should Be Given
Public Support
By Alice Eyersmon

For the third consecutive year
the National Gallery of Art will hold
a festival of American music begin
ming tonight and continuing through
the Sundays of March. The number
of such festivals held throughout the
United States Is small and 1t is to
the credit of David E. Finley, direc-
tor OF the gallery, and Richard Bales,
the musical director, that such hear
ings of native composers output can
be held right in the Nations Cap
ital. 1t is a constructive step toward
this city's assuming leadership in
musical matters.
Now that the war is over it is Of
the greatest Importance that Amer
ican composers be given the SYM
pathetic support of the American
public. AS in other musical ways,
European countries have long sur
passed us in championing their own
and we have helped them out by re-
celving, hardly without question,
what they said was fine and deserv-
Ing of universal recognition. The
music that has been sent here from
abroad has not always been world
stirring but we have added our
measure of admiration unStintingly.
Public's Reluctant Attitude.
But why, when it comes to the
American composer, there is a re-
luctant attitude to admit he can
nave anything at all worth while
TO say is one of the mysteries that
is part of the American makeup
That American soldiers are the fin
est in the world, that American
atheletes rank at the top, that
American motion pictures can not be
equalled and that American keen
ness and quick thinking out of testy
problems has saved many a situa-
ton these last years is accepted as
quite natural. There is a compla-
cency Immediately apparent when
1t Is known that an American has
accomplished some difficult feat
There is no doubt in any ones mind
that an American has the wit, the
intelligence and the grit to do the
| impossible
Why is it then that the American
| public can not visualize one of its
native sons or daughters as a great
composer or one at least as good as
any from another country. The idea
is SO deep rooted that it operates
against the willingness even to listen
to music OF native origin. That large
hurdle lies in front of every striving
composer of this country.
However, the persistence of a few
is gnaWing at the foundation of this
mental attitude. 1t was never more
necessary for, musically, America
is on its own right now. Europe's
writer's are mostly in this country
but they are still in the process
OF assimulating its way of life. They
can only give out their idea of it
tlnged with their old world out
look. 1t will be years before they,
If they continue to live here, will
understand fully the essence of our
viewpoints.
| Reflects Country's Ideals.
! The native composer, on the con-
trary, has his countrys rhythm in
MS piocd. He is intelligent; he has
studied the great masters and is
conversant with the trend of this
era.
1t is hard to think that his re-
ward may be given only a hundred
years hence. 1t would be easy to
oestoW it during his lifetime if the
public were as courageous as the
composer. There is not much differ
ence, for the average individual
IN listening for the first time 10
Brahms, Sibelius or even Debussv,
or in listening to a work by an
American except that an aura OF
glamour has not been established
about the latter. The composer has
accepted his responsibilities, but his
compatriots will not acknowledge
theirs. The boy next door, no matter
how talented they feel Just cannot
be as worthwhile as the boy from
Europe