Evening star., 1949-08-28

Means STUDY :
For the Artist
By Alice Eyersmon

By Alice Eversmon
The slack season in musical
affairs that comes at this time OF
the year is a vacation period only
for audiences. AS regards music
ians of whatever kind. it means a
time for study and planning for
winter programs that the. rested
and refreshed public will hear.
Frequently pictures appear OF
famous artists disporting them
selves at a beach or enjoying
relaxation in rural surroundings.
These represent, however, only the
occasional moments when work
can be forgotten for little fun.
Few artists have an entire summer
to while away as their fancy
dictates.
The business' of preparing for
the winter concert season Is
difficult. New programs must be
selected and learned and all plans
made in advance for those who
have tour booked. Perhaps con-
ductors are the most occupied OF
all, for with close to a hundred
concerts scheduled for the more
prominent organizations, study
of new works and the refreshing |
of the old is an arduous affair.
The hour and a half of music the
public listens to at one concert
represents weeks and months OF
preparation.
Time for Study.
When an artist or an orchestra
begins season, no time is avail
able for much study. Naturally
all artists worthy of the name
practice or study every day but in
extent and Importance it does not
equal that done in the summer
time. If an artist can devote an
hour or two day to study while
touring, he is doing we'll, for with
concert piling on concert for the
popular musician, most of the
time is taken by transportation.
Symphony conductors must have
the detailed learning of their pro-
grams all over with by the time
summer is ended so that the short |
time between concerts, can be
devoted to a brushing up process |
1t is doubtful if the public in
general has any idea of the
amount of work spent on pro-
grams that are delivered with a
fine degree of inSouciance. The
learning of the notes, the tempt
and the general idea of a COM
position is followed by thoughtful
analysis of style and effect. Here
the real practice comes in, for
various technical means are tried
out in an effort to reach the right
results and then the work of
making these operate smoothly
begins. No matter how great a
virtuoso an artist may be, the
necessity of working out a work
is always there.
Many artists prepare numbers
they expect to include in con-
cert programs year or two in
advance. They leave time for the
composition to settle in their
minds and return to it latter with
renewed zest. Putting works aside
after a thorough study of them
is an important principle with
most artists. for its termination in
their subconscious mind gives
them a greater sense of security
and authority. A musician who
performs work after just having
learned it will skim only its sur
face and at some later time will
be amazed at how much more it
will yield with deeper study.
Audience Reaction Listed.
Unprogressive planners of musi-
cal programs will wish to re-
duce the work connected with
it as much as possible. "A
few new pieces and pad
ding Of the old, familiar num-
bers fills out the list. Searching
in odd corners for some lesser
known composition of value re-
quires q great deal Of time and
some artists have not the ambi-
ton or the desire for fresh ma
terial. A work to catch the pub
lies attention is enough for them
and the rest will be the old
standbys they could sing or play
in their sleep and with which the
public is all too well acquainted.
Only when appearing in the big
music centers will they exert
themselves to vary their offerings.
1t is here that the audiences
attitude comes in. Many 60 to
concerts only to hear a favorite
artist without caring what music
he will present. But more dis
eliminating listeners will want to
enlarge their music knowledge and
to learn new works as a skilled
artist conceives them. Musicians
who travel the length and breadth
of the land have cities tabulated
as to their cultural standards.
They are not above tightening
their concert burdens by simpler
programs where an audience will
accept them. A wide awake in
terest in new music keeps artists
of all descriptions on their toes
and those who are sincere in their
art will welcome the challenge.
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