Evening star., 1948-12-19
World Accord
Being Fostered
Through Music
By Alice Eversmon

countries see this point to the de-
gree that altruistic leaders in the
United States do, but they will profit
by American enthusiasm and Amer
ican organization. At this time.
there is an awakening to the need
of helping the arts to prosper in
this country as we'll as in the dew
astated areas of Europe. With CO.
operative workmanship, a kinship
of thought and feeling may be de-
veloped that will aid materially in
the final formation Of lasting
peace.
Not long ago, Howard Hanson.
chairman of the Panel on Music Of
the United States National Commits
sion for UNESCO, made a report Of
what has been accomplished since
the panel was first organized. AS
one of the agencies which serves in
an advisory promotional and liaison
capacity to the Government in
matters relating to UNESCO, it is
formed of prominent musical groups
of every description from the Ma
tional Association of Music Mer-
chants and Piano Manufacturers to
teaching associations. music clubs
and groups interested in the de-
Velopment of every line of musical
endeavor. An informal international
music policy was discussed in the
spring of 1947 and after the decision
of the United States commission in
Chicago to authorize the creation of
advisory panels, representatives of
musical organizations were called
together by the National Music
Council.
Committee Work Successful.
After outlining a number of SUBJ
jects, the first formal meeting in
January, 1948, concentrated on re-
Mobilization, exchange of composers,
artists and concerts. radio broad
casts, music in education and copy.
right. Other meetings followed in
February and May with encouraging
reports. The committee on reha-
bilitation, headed by Mrs. Guy p.
Gannett, past president of the
National Federation of Music Clubs,
has been most successful in collect
ing music materials for war-devas-
tated countries. Latin American
cultural relations have been fostered
markedly through the efforts Of
Vanett Lawler. associate secretary,
Music Educators, National Confer
ence. chairman of the Music in Ed
ucation Committee. Foreign COM
posers and other musicians have
been aided materially, the most
generous contribution being $4,000
raised by concert of the Boston
Symphony in Tanglewood and sent
to Paris for distribution through
UNESCO.
Several important recommended
tions were made at the third meet
ing. OF international import were
plans for the interchange of teach
ing methods between member states,
the dissemination of contemporary
music through broadcasts of re-
cordings, or by other means, and
for recordings of performances Of
music by school organizations to
be made available to member states.
Nationally. it was recommended
that music schools, and others hav.
ing music departments. arrange fell
lowships and scholarships for for
eign students studying in the
United States and that an exchange
of students and teachers be en-.
couraged. It was also urged that
contemporary music Of member
states be performed more frequently.
Cataloguing of contemporary Amer
lean orchestral music, Of recorded
American music and of music in
smaller forms, which is progressing
slowly, was indorsed further.
Arts Foundation Policy.
In a private way, the Nationa
Arts Foundation is pursuing a like
policy in its plan ito make the
culture and thought Of all countries
more widely known through re-
ciprocal interchange of art and
artists" At the annual meeting
held December 8 in New York.
when Carleton Smith was reap
pointed director, the following
agenda was approved by the trus-
tees: An institute of creative work
in the arts to be established where
recognized artists and scholars will
be invited to carry on their work
according to their requirements and
independent Of other activity; to
subsidize young apprentice" or as
sistant conductors for American
orchestras; to expand the program
of exchange of artists and to grant
fellowships. sponsor lectures and
help teachers and consultants to
work in foreign countries; to assist
in the sponsorship of the Glynde-
bourne Opera for q three-week
Mozart season at the McCarter
theater in Princeton. N. j., and to
continue the research as to how art
can become more important to the
lives of the American people.
The National Arts Foundation Is
not limited to music but takes in
drama, dance, painting, poetry, ar
chitecture, sculpture, literature and
the visual and decorative arts:
Oficers elected were Millard j.
Bloomer, jr., president; Albert Per-
shing Hildebrandt, first vice presi-
dent. and George Bassett Roberts,
second vice president.
These are big plans that will re-
quire years before set fully In oper-
alton. DR.. Hanson appends an out-
line of problems" to his report.
One of these is "the relative merit
of long-range programs which.
though intrinsically important, can
have no immediate effect on world
peace, and short range programs
which, though less complete In their
scope. have some chance of exerting
an immediate influence" And.
finally, "the task Of making
UNESCO work is formidable at least
partially because the goals are to q
certain extent remote and intangi-
BILE The use of music to promote
human understanding may be advo-
Gated by every thinking musician.
but to agree on ways by which this
high ethical purpose may be trans
lated into efficacious action Is a
more difficult matter" In this last
problem" DR.. Hanson has hit upon