Evening star., 1948-07-04
radio to Tell
of Water Gate
|Postponements
By Alice Eversmon


The series of summer concerts by
the National Symphony will get
under way at the Water Gate
tonight. 1t will be an abbreviated
season and has been arranged after
many discouraging setbacks Of
various kinds. 1t will face again the
unexpected weather conditions that
often make postponement neces-
sary at the last minute.
When such a postponement is
decided upon, the major radio sta
tions are Immediately notified and
broadcastS made to that effect.
These usually are not later than
7 pm, so that. If patrons will keep
their radios going while scanning
threatening sky. they will know in
time whether the concert will take
place or, if Cancelled, the day it will
be given.
The Friday concert of the first
week will be the annual Gershwin
program. Honoring the memory of
this popular American composer Is
part of most of the summer concerts
throughout the country. The me-
mortal programs began Immediately
on the radio when news of his
death, July II, 1887, was made
known. A few weeks later, another
such program at the Stadium in
New York drew the largest audience
ever gathered there and such has
been the case each year when this
anniversary returns.
Popularity Continues.
Gershwin and his music were so
part of each other that it seemed
impossible for it to be as popular
when performed by any one else
than the composer himself. 1t was
asked often during his lifetime.
when he loved to play his own
music at the slightest provocation.
How long will Gershwin's music
live?" and the answer was, las long
as Gershwin is here to play it."
His personality and his style were
so unusual that to find it dupli-
Gated in another person and so given
expression in a performance of his
music, was too much to hope. Yet
Gershwin's writings carry the same
appeal whenever heard. and by
whorlever presented. The proof
is there that he has given to the
national literature a music that has
all the qualities of longevity.
This is a curious fact for the
composer was limited in his musical
expression. The same themes and
the same exposition Of them return
again and again. Although not
lacking in imagination, there is q
stylization about it that may pail
after its bright appeal has lessened.
If this ever takes place, he will
nonetheless have contributed .
strong impulse to American music.
For, as Serge Koussevitzky said,
ITO understand the nature of his
gift and his mission is to realize
that Gershwin composed as a bird
sings-because it is natural, 1t Is
Unborn, it is part of it's being"
Has Note Of Appeal.
Here, then, is the pattern GerSh-
win has left to the American COM
poser. UnconSciouSly, and directed
by an inner urge, he wrote music
that holds its own against other mod
ernS and even against the revered
classics. There is incorporated in
it the very spirit of his country
and his times. More than that, 1t
holds the imperishable quality Of
youth, of vitality and gayety. 1t
glorifies rhythm and melody. max
ing them stir the pulse and tighten
the tensions of living. If 1t carries
no special message 1t strikes the
note of appeal that all seek In
music.
1t is interesting to speculate what
Gershwin would have accomplished
had his span of life been longer.
He already was recognized and ac-
claimed over large portion of the
globe, eliminating with the award
of an honorary membership in the
st. Cecilia Academy of Music in
Rome. This arrived shortly before
he died and the composer never
regained consciousness to learn
of it. His hope was to one day
devote himself to furthering his
musical education, 'scanty in ths
first years of his success and added
to by occasional lessons in harmony.
When his orchestral works began
to attract attention. he felt his lack,
and his duty to learn, all the more
keenly.
Had time been given him, and had
he ever been able to free himself
from the demands his popularity
made on him, he might have be-
come this country's most notable
composer. He had the desire and
the ideas; what he needed was a
broader and sounder technique OF
expression. He once said that he
would gladly exchange the wealth
his songs had brought him for the
ability to write a second Schubert's
Ave Maria" or "Serenade." He
never reached this goal, but he left
a great legacy. 1t consists In his
thorough nationalism, in his un-
quenchable spirit, in the dynamic
power anu tiic SPOIlLdiiclIy tildt
nothing could restrain. Like
flower, his life was short-liyed," said
Koussevitzky, "but the blossom of
hts soul has, is, and win be an
inspiration to many a renowned
composer of our day and of days to
come"
Piano students of Nettie Sadie
Gross were heard in a program on
June II in the YWCA. Those
participating were Frances Brot-
man, Barbara and Carol Gitelson.
Melvin and SuZan Mackler, Allen
and Sharon Nimetz. Ruth Rein,
Marion Schiller, Marvin Schneider
Nera Sheintal, Richard VERIFIED.
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