Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-10-16
New Meaning
Of Music Trend
Questioned
By Alice Eversmon

intimate lives? We are willing
to pay outlandish prices to have
1t poured into our homes. We pay
high price to hear a performer
do his or her stunt on the stage.
but do we love it enough to pay
the real price in time and work to
make it part of our lives?"
Many people must have had
moments of bordering as to
where all the music activity Is
leading us and if there will be an
ultimate gain of proportions such
as to leave mark in history.
That is, thoughtful and earnest
musicians must have these times
of query. They are the ones who
know by actual experience just
what music can give that is deep
er and finer than most other
things available. Naturally their
desire Is that all should share In
the good and that its influence
should be visible in every walk Of
life. The real price" to attain
this must be paid willingly. 1t
must be actiyated by deep feeling.
There is no question but that
the United States is the greatest
music loving Nation. No where
else in the world can people be
found who eat. travel, study, do
business and seek recreation with
music. It is everywhere about
US. A restaurant without music
is an anachronism. We travel in
taxis and buses to music. In
Grand Central Station in New
York, the scurrying Of commuters.
the transaction of business and
all the various transportation &C.
tivities are done to the accompa-
niment Of a jazz group from
loud speaker or the saccharine
sentiment of some popular song.
The evening newspaper is read be-
side a radio where swing bands or
symphony orchestras hold forth
and upstairs, Junior does his
homework to the music Of his
favor1te program.
Music Becoming Constant.
If a charitable appeal warrants
a booth on a street corner, 1t Is
identified by a racuous musical
broadcast. Shopping tedium is
relieved by the strains Of an organ
playing anything from Bach to
Kiss Me Again" Housewives
work to music and father cannot
hang up his, hat at night until
the radio is tuned to some music.
In concert halls there are bigger
and better concerts and music
schools are turning out musicians
Of every conceivable kind. II
there is a quiet moment on the
street, one is apt to find some ono
carrying portable radio to relieve
the boredom Of walking.
Now what does all this mean2
Is it that the nerves Of the Ameri-
can public need the constant
stimulation of music? Are people
afraid to be left with their own
thoughts for an hour or two and
have they no other resources to
fill in the time? For the sad part
about all the music around US Is
that no one really listens to ii. It
has become a part Of our mode Of
living and seems as necessary a.
fresh air.
What Does It Mean?
There must be something more
to 1t or sponsors OF commercial
radio programs would not insist
on having music a part of them.
A catchy trade mark sung to q
catchy tune must have more than
ordinary selling power. 1t must
be financially worth while to sub
ject bus passengers to an hour
long ride where music masks adj
vertising. But just what does
music mean to the great American
public?" 1t penetrates every mo-
ment Of our lives but does it con-
tribute peace, broader vision,
greater kindness or spiritual up.
lift. That is the big. question
today.
The quotation from the letter
refers, Of course. to the best music.
This we are teaching our children
and supporting In concert series.
But, outside Of hearing pleasant
sounds, taking pride in personal
achievement or being intellectu-
ally alert by knowing what Is
going on in the music world, do
we assimulate enough Of tho
unique properties Of music to
realize that our thinking or living
has grown better because Of it.
Neither our native composers or
artists as q whole have given us
as yet the immortal, seul-satisfy-
ing music we yearn for. They are
doing excellent work but the in
tellectua1 approach has still the
upper hand. Arnold Schoenberg
whose 18th birthday will be COM
memorated by the Philadelphia
Orchestra Tuesday. was once
asked What Is the greatest need
in music today?" He answered
I'VE need more men with charac-
ter. Talent we have. What We
need Is men with the courage to
express what they feel" This can
only be attained by every one In
terested in music making it q part
OF his intimate life. Not only
would music benefit but also the
entire social relationship.
Budapest Quartet