Evening star., 1947-08-10
i. S. Musicians
Urged to Pace
Worlds Artists
By Alice Eversmon


At the opening of the Eastman
School Of Music last year, DR.. How
ard Hanson said 1--WE may be at
the beginning of a new golden age
OF music which will have its incep-
tion In our country" Certainly IL
would seem that everything con-
spires to place a great opportunity
before American musicians such as
has never been known before. If
proper advantage Is taken of 1t, it
is possible that not only a new era
for this country will develop but a
golden age" in truth for all the
world In music.
American musicians have earned
this privilege even If world condi-
tions had not given musical leader
ship to the United States. They
have been faithful followers of the
renowned musical lights of Europe
and for more than a century have
turned all their ability to an un-
derstanding of foreign ideas. They
have been humble about their own
gifts and generously recognitory Of
the advanced culture of other lands,
They have been good and earnest
students; 1t Is now time for them
to take their place In the vanguard
of progress.
Great Strides Now Made.
The equipment to do so is now
theirs. In certain fields, as DR..
Hanson points out, such as compo-
Sltion. the creation of an American
style IN orchestral playing and the
inclusion of music in the public
school curriculum, this country has
made great strides In the past quar-
ter OF a century. This Is only the
beginning and shows both initiative
and vision. But there Is a greater
good to be accomplished and one
that requires time and unShakable
conviction. 1t is the concentration
on things American to the exclu-
sion Of all else In order that a true
American music may be begotten.
The need of such a course is 50
imperative that no charge of chau-
vlnlSm can be attached to it. The
Old world has exhausted its re-
sources musically as well as other
wise and just as the war ruins will
be replaced by new and up-to-date
structures so also will music be led
into new paths by the fresh, vigor-
Gus talent of the new world. 1t Is
for this leadership that American
musicians and the American public
must prepare themselves.
Public's Role Is Important.
The part the public will play Is
as important as that of the mu-
sicians. With its help, understand
ing and encouragement, the task of
the music makers will be made
easier. The public has been reluct-
ant to accept new developments in
music, preferring to hear over and
over again their favorite artists or
compositions. Nearly all of these
stem from Europe and so the closed
circle has continued with the Amer
lean artist and composer lowering
on its outskirts. The right of q
paying public to hear what it wants
is unassailable so that the only
appeal that remains is through its
generosity and its patriotism.
This would provide the opening
wedge but the American artist need
not accept the charity if he is at all
enterprising. 1t is up to him to
popularize himself with the concert
public but not in the sense that the
word is understood today. He must
become loved, sought after and
revered. He must be the spokesman
through music of all the elements
Americans hold dear, the idealism.
the kindliness, the courage and the
strength that form the corner
stone of the Nation. He must gar.
ner to himself our mountain seem
cry. our placid waters of rivers or
lakes, our farms and their daily
life, our cities and their great
endeavors and the small, homely
details that make up the existence
OF the great bulk of our citizenry.
American Roots Needed.
There has never been a conscious
effort on the part of any of the
celebrated composers of Europe to
infuSe nationalistic atmosphere
into what he wrote. It is there,
however, and easily identifiable. 1t
has caused American musicians an
almost complete detachment from
their way of life in order to EMU
late the style and the form of these
great masters. Now is the moment
for them to reimmerse themselves
in the national spirit and draw
from 1t inspiration for the found
ing of new art.
1t is true that efforts have been
made repeatedly to incorporate
some specific bit Of America in
music. 1t remains just that and
nothing more. The alluring vista
that now opens for American artists
is to grasp the fundamentals, to
be carried away by their worth and
to write Of them as Beethoven said,
From the heart to the heart" Then
the nationalistic stamp will be oblit-
Grated and the music will be for
world consumption, for it will hold
the strength of feeling that makes
for universally and immortality.
American composers have been
exceptionally adept in grasping the
contemporary trend in composition.
They are keen and forward looking
artisans. But that is not enough.
There has been so much brain work
directing the worlds progress these
last years. What is needed now
is something deeper and Of higher
origin. The powerful spiritual
forces of mankind must be brought
into play If the world Is to survive
and one OF the most irresistible
agents for their awakening is music.
The burden that rests on Amer
lean artists is not an easy one to
discharge, but it is glorious as
signment that will repay in world