Evening star., 1947-04-20
Army Regrets
Type Of Music
Given Germans
By Alice Eversmon

It would seem the War DEPART
ment Is becoming acuteIy concerned
about the quality OF musical per-
formances being given In the United
States zone Of Germany. Harrison
Kerr, chief Of the music and art unit
Of the reorientation branch, civil af-
fairs division. has Just returned
from tour Of Germany and Austria
under the War Department aus.
pices to make report. His princi-
pal reason for such q drastic sum.
mary OF musical conditions In that
territory Is that he believes that
better musicians and better music
by Americans would assist mate
rally In ironing out problems.
Other Allied governments have been
more progressive in this respect
than has this county.
The performances given by local
organizations have been OF very low
quality In Germany and Austria,
Opera presentations are Of higher
order than that of orchestras where
lack OF outstanding conductors and
good soloists is strongly felt. Meager
equipment and supplies have some
thing to do with It as well as an
indifference on the part of the pub
lie yet it all sums up to q deplorable
state that this Government has
been slow in recognizing. Yet Mr..
Kerr does not feel that the war IL
entirely responsible for the condi-
ton Of musical affairs but that IL
has been deteriorating steadily for
some time.
A Queer Turn Of Fate.
This is news indeed Of countries
that have been held In high regard
musically for many. decades. It is
also queer turn Of fate that
Americans should be called upon to
remedy the situation. True, Mr..
Kerr hnds after consultations with
Americans, Germans and Austrians.
that not even the appearance OF
internationally famous artists has
overcome the idea that, In a musical
way, the United States Ii still q
primitive country. He cites the case
of Yehudi Menuhin whose success
has been immense in Austria espe-'
cially. Because he is internation-
ally known and. to a certain extent,
internationally educated, no one viii
believe that he is a product OF the
United States. ..
Since so few outstanding artists
and ensembles have been sent to
the United States zone Of Ger
many, the Germans attribute this
to lack Of musicians who can
face the German standards, that
we are wanting In faith In our
own qualifications and that we
are timid in regard to criticism,
We have no appreciation OF thu
Importance Of music In q re-edll-
cational program and our officials
are not interested in music, they
believe.
A definite prejudice Is present in
some localities as In Wuerttemberg-
Baden, where veiled resistance is
felt to the introduction of American
musical ideas. There is more In
difference in Munich than actual
hostility. In Berlin and In Austria,
however, both interest and curiosity
are to be found in American pro-
ductions, especially Of contemporary
expression. But 1t Is felt in soma
sections that unified group Of
Germans are determined to protect
their professional interests against
the incursion and the possible foot
hold that might be gained in music
by Americans.
Neglect Is Acknowledged.
That the Government has been
woefully negleetful in using music
in its re-education program Ia
acknowledged by Mr.. Kerr and felt
keenly by the natives. If a suffi-
cient number Of American trained
musicians of first rank could bs
heard In the United States zone,
the prevailing opinion would change.
Also the presence of notable Amer.
lean orchestral conductors would
contribute a psychological effect is
these countries where music and
musicians are highly esteemed
Leopold Stokowski's planned visit ID
expected to lift the morale OF tbs
performers, at low ebb now, bee
cause Of incompetent leaders.
Although some American artists
have appeared in Austria. very few,
except those sent under the auspices
of Special Services, have gone to
Germany. The other allied govern.
ments have been more far-sighted.
While Mr.. Kerr urges the United
States Government to consider this
carefully, 1t would seem that musi-
clans could also do something about
it,. Certainly here Is one way that
American musicians could work for
peace and understanding. They
could ask that a program be dee
cided upon with their assistance
and their active interest would bs
q guide and support in this ins
portant work.
W.