Evening star., 1949-03-27
Letter Contest
Is Opportunity
For Composers
By Alice Eversman

By Alice Eversmon
The D. c. Federation of Music
Clubs has a new idea for its Junior
Music club members. 1t is called
the American Composers Letter
Contest" and the object is to "cul-
tivate a better acquaintance with
our composers and their work"
To do this, the members Of the
Junior Club are asked to select q
composer and write him letter
asking him about "his work and
life. hobbies, travels. teachers.
etc" The signature Of the writer
must be accompanied by his age
and stamped, self addressed en-
velope. The deadline for returns
is April 20 and first and second
prizes will be given during Music
Week to the Junior who has re-
ceived the most letters and the
best data from composers.
Perhaps the American composer
never counted on such lombard
ment when he yearned for public.
ity and recognition. Yet what
finer idea could have been thought
Of? If the grown-up members Of
the musical public are indifferent
to his existence, the younger ones
will know him we'll. Furthermore.
they will have a personal contact
with him from an early age and
will follow his development with
more than ordinary interest. By
the time these youngsters are
grown men and women, they will
be more familiar with the charac-
ter of American musical writing
and the personalities Of its crea-
tors than the majority of music
lovers.
Demand Will Be Created.
One can visualize the excitement
when the first answer is received.
When these are read, as they pre-
sumably will be. on the day Of the
award giving, imagine the pride
and pleasure of the recipients.
Not only will these budding musi-
clans hurry to hear any of the
composers works when announced
for performance but they will be-
gin TO demand to hear them.
From these children will grow an
appreciation of native talent that
has been hoped for from their
elders with little success.
The next thing to be desired IL
a proper response by the COM
posers to whom the juniors write.
It is advised that the letters be
sent to the publisher whose name
will be found on the sheet Of
music some one possibly Is study
ing. If this is not practical. the
letters should be sent to Marie
Seuel Hoist. chairman. American
Music, Columbia School Of Music.
1000 N street NV. She will for
ward them. It would be wise to ad-
wise the composers In advance OF
the reason and Importance Of this
correspondence. What blow to
fresh enthusiasm If no answer
were forthcoming!
One of the reasons that adult
interest in the contemporary
American composer is tepid stems
from the fact that he is seldom
more than a name to them. They
do not know. or only occasionally
know, what his hobbies are or
other features of his personal life.
Any dictionary Of musicians will
give the outline of his studies and
career and some coldly stated
facts about his likes and dislikes.
But he has never emerged into
public consciousness with the
same glamour of trials and senti-
ment that surrounds the life his
tory Of the older composers.
Americans Lack Glamour.
Any American composer is
viewed as a man like any other
except that he has a special gift.
He lives. possibly. in a city in
much the same kind Of living
quarters as the rest of us and he
does about the same things every
day. How different the erratic
changes of Beethoven, the travels
of MendeIssohn and the young
Mozart, or the princely surround
ings in which Haydn lived so long.
How these men suffered and bat
tied for recognition. Every new
item about them adds to the
minds picture Of = great per-
sonality.
Too little of human interest
has been unearthed regarding the
lives of American composers. This
has been their mistake and that
of their publicity makers. After
all. the human race Is romanti-
cally inclined and those who love
music want to feel close to the
one who creates it. There is not
much chance to get close tc the
American talent unless this plan
of the Federation of Music Clubs
opens the door. If the corre-
spondence goes as hoped. the
adults should be invited to share
In the experience.