Evening star., 1950-01-15
Music News
Albert SchWeitzer
Concert Funds Aid
Hospital in Africa
By Alice Eyersmon

By Alice Eversmon
Yesterday the eminent DOCTOR
philosopher author AL
bert Schweitzer celebrated his
18th birthday at his hospital in
Lambarene, in French West Africa.
A special concert was held in
New York. the proceeds OF which
will be sent for the doctors use
in his medical work. All those
who bought a ticket were to re-
ceive card of birthday greetings
which they were to sign and which
would be sent to Lambarene. In
this manner DR.. Schweitzer's new
found friends in America would
remember him both affectionately
and in the more substantial way
of a financial contribution to his
work.
He made his first visit to this
country last June when he took
part in the Goethe bicentennial
celebration at Aspen, Colo. Many
invitations had ben sent to
him previously to come to America
but he had always refused. He
felt the busy, modern life here
was not in keeping with his con-
templative spirit and only the
promise of large donation to his
hospital by the Goethe Founda-
ton changed his mind. He took
the neWness of this country in his
stride, enjoying its novelty and
contributing, through his lectures.
to the cultural growth of all those
who heard him.
Director an Acquaintance.
The program was given by
Landowska, harpsichordist.
and chamber orchestra directed
BY Eduard Nies-Berger. Mr.. Mes
Berger, as child, was neighbor
Of DR.. Schweitzer's in Strasbourg.
The conductors father and DR..
Schweitzer were fellow students at
the Strasbourg University and
both studied organ under Ernest
the father of the Boston
Symphony's new onductor,
Charles Munich. The younger
Nies-Berger often substituted for
MS father at the organ in the st.
Nicolai Church where DR.. Schweit-
zer was, at that time, the pastor.
His 18th birthday comes in the
year when the entire musical
world will be honoring the man
close to DR.. Schweitzer's heart
Johann Sebastian Bach. Through
MS research and its Incorporation
INTO the book analyzing his music,
ne has done more than any one
else to increase interest in and
study of Bach's works. From
childhood, DR.. Schweitzer has
placed Bach above all other COM
posers and each year, on July %,
the anniversary of Bach's death,
he played recitals of his music
on the organ on which Bach played
in the st. Thomas Church.
Frenchman Meets Bach.
When he was 18 years old and
a prominent soloist at all
Bach Festivals, he came to study
with the great French organist.
Charles Widor. When asked what
he would play, Schweitzer said
Bach, and with that began Widor's
own knowledge Of Bach's music
for which he had little liking until
then. It was Widor who urged
Schweitzer to write his book on
the composer and himself wrote
the foreword for the German
edition. It was first published in
however, being then trans
ated into German and, by Ernest
Newman, into English.
To musicians, what Schweitzer
has done to spread the knowledge
of Bach is uppermost. This year,
the bicentennary of Bach's death.
MS influence on composers In
greater than 1t has ever been. He
has more devotees among think
Ing musicians, his works are q
constant source of inspiration to
composers and interpreters, and
It may well be that, because of
him and his profound knowledge,
so lightly regarded in his own day,
the course Of music may be firmly
set toward an ever widening hori-
zon. Not every one may be in
accord with Schweitzer's ideas
about the composer and his output
but there Is no doubt that he has
set the world thinking Of Bach
IN different way.
A Many Sided Personality.
Schweitzer's interest in music
IS but one angle Of his great en-
dowment. To it, he added his
deep religious faith which he has
passed on IN several books, his
philosophical writings that aim at
the preservation of civilization.
and his medical knowledge, now
dedicated to helping the backward
peoples of Africa. He is unique as
an individual and certainly unique
rs a musician. He has put into
action his creed of living as no
other musician has done. Although
conscious of suffering
humanity and his duty toward it.
ne remains today a towering fig-
IRE, spiritual friend of such i'm
nortals as Bach and Goethe. From
the primitive surroundings in
which his African hospital is set,
ne can still direct and influence
the thinkers of the world. His
visit to this country was short but
he has left a cherished memory
Of a great man.