Evening star., 1946-07-21


York, an invitation was sent to ]
compositions on American themes.
1lya Ehrenberg, Soviet writer who
request for folk tunes from Russj
IN the same manner. The Soviet v
/ tunes III chamber works.
The choice of folk music of this
country was made by Ellie Sieg-
meister, whose collections and ar
rangements of this music are widely
known. Much of it has been pub
lished in collaboration with Olin
DoWnes and programs given by the
American Ballad Singers with Mr.
Slegmeister directing The singers
have appeared here several times.
The folk songs selected for the Rus
sian to experiment upon were Hes
Gone Away" Black Is the Color
of My True Loves Hair" old Joe
Clark Joshua Fought the Battle
o Jericho and The Old Chisholm
Trail"
Songs From All Parts.
Mr.. Siegmeister has done wisely
by including songs from different
sections of this country and of diff
ferent types. Hes Gone Away
Is one OF the old English songs which
has been changed to fit the Amer
ican scene by both mountaineer and
Negro influences while "Old Joe
Clark" is from the mountain country
of North Carolina. Among the cow
boy classics The Old Chisholm
Trail, full of memories and color to
those who might remember the DAYS
OF 1880 stands foremost and from
the songs that sprang into being
following the Emancipation Procla-
nation and the end of the Civil
War, the famous "Slay'ry Chain"
has endured under the name of
Joshua Fought the Battle O. Jeri-
cho.' Black Is the Color of NV
True Loves Hair" comes from the
collection assembled by the noun
tanner tenor, John Jacob Niles, who
has recorded it to the accompani-
ment of his dulcimer.
Now, one wonders just what the
Soviet composers will do with these
songs of such varying history and
Naturally. a tune is a
tune and can be utilized for any
type of broader composition but it
would seem that a full picture of
the environment in which these
songs acquired their individual quail
lty, as we'll as psychological un-
1erstanding of the feelings that |
made them so Fundamentally a part
'f early American life should ac-
the scores.
1t is a far cry from either Soviet
or the Russia of the former
'egime to the prairies, the noun
aims and the Negro settlements of
his country. 1t will be test also
or the American composer who
nay not know the particular flavor
II a Russian folk song and its
luances to produce something that
Will be satisfactory as an original
work and at the\ same time not dis
ort the initial theme.
Folk Lore Borrowed.
Composers in the past have bor-
owed from the folk lore of another
nation and incorporated the mel
'dles in a great work. They have,
however, made no attempt to write
ntirely in this style and their indi-
'iduality has remained as a border
o the folk melody. There is more
nd more tendency in this country
o seek inspiration from the music
t the people, but the American
characteristics have been retained.
In all countries it is the music
orn in the type of life and the
eedS of the people that has made
heir folk literature. 1t would seem
hat IN using it for an art form its
lltial character should not be for
often. Would the wide spaces of
,ussia, its peculiarly toned church
ellis, the individuality of it's rustic
umor and its philosophy be clear
nd sympathetic to an Americana
n the same way would the nostalgia
)rrow of the Negro, the various
lgredients of cowboy life that
'eated the rhythm and the di-
of their songs, or the
mple melodies dear to the uncul-
lred inhabitants of remote noun
in districts be comprehensive to
modern Soviet composer?
This will be an interesting ex- |
We are familiar with |
e character of the writing that |
mes out of Russia today and know |
SO the colder and more intellectual |
nd of Americas composers. What
III be the result when each is |
'plied to something as far apart |
the music of a pioneer people |
I'd that of an age-old civilization.
i'll tune be treated as a tune
will its psychology feature in the |
'itlng? II the composing of these |
'rks is accompanied by an under |
anding of the circumstances in |
1ich the original fourished an |
lportant step will have been made
ward unity between these two