Evening star., 1949-09-04
Kindler'S Work
Put Symphony
On Firm Base
By Alice Eversmon


founder of the National Sym
phony Orchestra, and its con-
ductor until last year, writes f1nis
to a chapter in local music his
tory. 1t closes a period OF IL
years when his dynamic per-
sonality was the focal point OF
musical endeavor. 1t encom-
passes an era of unprecedented
musical growth in this city, OF
giant strides forward and OF
herculean efforts to give the Ma
tons Capital a musical life COM
parable with that OF other large
cultural centers. With the pass
ing of the orchestral leader, the
magnetic influence he exercised
will be no longer stimulant as
it has been in the years when
hope and despair alternated SO
strongly in the Symptoms an
nails.
The old phrase. "Gone but not
forgotten" has never had a more
appropriate application than now.
In the history of music in this
country. DR.. Kinder has written
the name of the National
Symphony and his own beside it.
Not that alone, for he has given
Washington a history that cannot
be overlooked where musical
progress in this country is men
toned.
But more lasting, more pro-
found and more generative is the
-,emory of his personality, his
=eals and his vision that will be
Snerished among those who were
first brought to a consciousness OF
music's value through contact
with him. A still greater memorial
will be his when the children, to
whom he opened the doors OF
music understanding in an
inimitable way, will expand their
knowledge and bring to worth
while fruition all that he taught
them.
Ill for a Number Of Years.
One of the sad things about
being a public figure is the con-
slant need of being in top form.
For many years prior to his opera
ton, DIR. Kinder was a sick man.
It is doubtful If anyone outside his
close circle of friends knew how
Ill he was. He battled against
the malady that finally necessi-
tated his operation and a long
period of convalescence. None
of this was apparent in his work.
His programs continued to cover
as much ground as possible and
to include a nice balance OF the
old and new. Some lessening OF
the spirit may have been visible
in their working out and there
were those quick to pounce on
that without knowing the cause.
A man of virility and intellectual
power, DR.. Kinder had both
warm, loyal friends and bitter
enemies.
Every man of prominence has
adherents and detractors. 1t is OF
little consequence that the latter
had the upper hand in the last
years of his life except that they
made more bitter the serious
physical condition DR.. Kinder
faced. Yet, instead of retiring to
an easy existence. he continued
his conducting even undertaking
an arduous European tour where
the strain and excitement would
sap his strength still more. And
everywhere he went. in Europe,
Latin America or this country, he
was spoken Of as founder and
conductor of the National SYM
phony Orchestra" He carried
with him always the name OF the
local organization.
Fragment From a Letter
He had hoped to enlarge his
sphere of activities as stated in
the following quotation from let
ter. y am more and more in
clined to composition. find now
that my technical meter has crys-
tallized itself to the extent that,
once there is such a thing as in
spiration, both form and orches-
tration seem to fall rather natur-
ally into place. And while I have
no ambition nor hopes OF being
one of the great ones, think that.
in all modesty, I may achieve to
do what a number of others have
done under the same circum-
stances-namely, starting rather
late, achieve a certain number OF
well-worked out and personal ex-
pressions. I think of such COM
posers Gin all modesty) as, for in
stance, Dupare. Delibes, Cornelius
and a few others of the same
fix"
This would have been the path
his declining years would have
taken. 1t was with great glee that
he told this writer, at a dinner in
his honor at the Arts Club, of the
satisfaction he received from COM
plimentary acclaim given his
Pacific Nocturne" which he pro-
grammed under the name of Phil
lip Henry as composer.
Finis is written to a chapter in
local music history. Under the
National Symphony is a firm
foundation. At its helm is a pro-
gressive director in Howard Nit
chell. The way is set, the future
bright. Let us all carry on.
WARREN r. JOHNSON, oRGAklsT
CHURCH OF THE PILGRIMS
n