Evening star., 1948-02-29
Symphony's sProbIen
By jones G. Deone

Is the problem OF Wasningtons
National Symphony a problem OF
civic apathy?
If so, what can be done about It?
Confronted with possible disso-
luton of the symphony, Washington
has made an abject response. In
the first three weeks Of the current
sustaining fund campaign, there
were fewer than $500 donations
amounting to slightly more than
half Of the $l65,000 goal.
Yet, in the 1947 fiscal year, the
861 600 residents of Washington
spent $10,5S0, 600 to go to the movies,
"a, ,685, 900 In cabarets and night
clubs; $3.50, 900 on furs. and sl2.-
500 900 on jewelry. The taxes alone
collected on the liquor they con-
sumed were well in excess OF $685.
000, 900.
Is the National Symphony, then,
a luxury? It's total cost In II
years-shared In considerable part
by many other cities visited on Its
tours-has been only $3.424, 42s'
In II sustaining fund campaigns
lit has received only $l,664,l9l IN
| gifts from the public.
For culture, however, s.. .424, AS
lis q large investment. And for
washington 1t has been . sadly
grudging one.
Aspects Of the Problem.
Is symphony music just too high
brow for Americans?
The answer to that Is patiently
no. The United States has several
hundred symphony orchestras and
many more that play the same
brand Of music. The millions who
hear symphonic and opera broad
casts on the radio and who listen
to fine recordings In their own
homes are beyond count.
Do Americans who live In the ma
tion's Capital have tastes much dill
ferent from the mass OF their coun'
trymen?
FIRST proof that they do not Is the
National Symphony itself, we'll
established among top-ranking or
chestras. It could not have beer
built without washington money
and audiences.
The tangible evidence that Wash
ineton does not want to throw Till
investment away still Is larger!
wanting, however. That evidence !!
the missing part Of the $l65,oo'
needed for next year.
Many Are Sympathetic.
What is public opinion on TN
matter? Because 1t has not peer
appreciably mobilized, no one car
be sure. Washington's musical pup.
lie cannot be accurately measured
and the city's political machner!
offers no means for general civil
expression.
The crowds who regularly hear th'
numerous concerts in the city, q
Constitution Hall, at the Nationa
and Phillips Galleries and IN man.
other halls and the churches testlI.
to the large musical audience mere
however.
These citizens, Of all ages, can b.
presumed to have an interest IN tn
preservation of the symphony
Among them, some $3.50 last yea
showed their interest in positiv
fashion by contributing to the or
chestras support. Actually, ther
were more than that number, Whlcl
included many joint small donations
Yet Washington's general publ
is markedly apathetic in the face Q
this years appeal for financial sup
port. This is true despite assur
ances that the requested Sl65,00O
essential-assurances accepted b,
among others, the businessmen Q
the Board of Trade-and that tn
orchestra will not continue II 1t
not obtained.
], Even those who do not regularl
attend its concerts are in sympath
, with the orchestra's appeal. Tn
problem is to translate this sym
pathy into action.
. Can ways be found to make tn
public sit up and take an activ
interest? Can the symphony sho'
promise Of being Of such value II