Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-09-30

Government SUBSIDY OF major
organizations in this coun-
try. is being urged more and more
frequently in these days when
help, from individuals is
becoming increasingly difficult to
obtain. Dimitri Mitropoulos ad-
it in his address at the
recent luncheon held by the
Committee of the Ma
tional Symphony Orchestra to
its ticket sale campaign.
The, conductor of the New York
Philharmonic cited the practice of
nations in providing
government backing of opera COM
panies and orchestras as an ex-
ample of how the cultural life
could be assisted in its develop
ment. He spoke feelingly for its
adoption in this country.
It is rather a strange thing that
in the constant plea for govern
ment financial help, no one points
out how remarkably this country
has done in a cultural sense with
out it. Nothing in European his
tory is comparable to it. With
only the people of the United
States to provide the money, music
alone has become one of the prin-
cipal interests of the citizens. and
its growth here has been phenom-
inal. 1t is something to be proud
Of and something to cherish as
another example of the American
way of life. When the people oil
this country were ready for cul.
tural assimilation in the form O.
music, they went about getting il
whatever it cost them financially
They did not wait for the Gov.
eminent to provide it or make Il
easy for them to have.
Concerts Are Big Business.
The record of the last quartel
Of century alone is amazing
From the last Musical America
listing there are now ITO large
orchestras in the United State.
and 18 smaller ones. Thirty five
opera companies of varying sizt
are in operation with 81 devoted
to light opera. There is no neec
to mention the scope and quality
OF concert series all over the coun.
try. Concert managing and con.
cert giving has grown to big bust.
ness proportions and the money
turnover is tremendous. To esti-
mate how many people are con-
cerned with musical education il
Conservatives, schools, colleges
and universities would be almost
impossible. But throughout the
length and breadth of the land
music is being cultivated ardently
and its presentation supported
with enthusiasm.
All this is private endeavor
With very few exceptions, the
money to make a success of any
OF these fields is supplied by in.
dividuals. In addition, tn,
amounts set aside for scholarship
or awards, and supervised by club
and foundations. surpass anythin,
known in Europe. There neve
was a country so willing and s.
eager to have music in it's mids
and accomplishing about its cos
as the United States. Nor is Their
any nation that has progressed s.
rapidly as America in absorbin,
the musical culture that othe
countries provide, or in forming
its own.
The Subsidy Plan in Europe.
In Europe, the governments Sc
aside money for Conservatives
Iorchestras and opera houses
What must not be forgotten i!
that such subsidy was given fol-
the use of the people of that coun.
try first, with foreigners accepted
with reluctance. In America
foreigners have taken precedence
over native talent for many years
and have been welcomed. Right
now, when the going is difficult
TO sustain our musical organiza
tions, America has given refuge tt
innumerable European artists oil
all kinds and found them a means
|of livelihood. The number Of
American-born musicians in oul
opera houses, symphony orches.
tras and on the faculty of con.
Iservatnries and university music
departments is few. 1t has moi
been the policy of the American
public to favor native talent ovel
foreign.
When one considers that all thi.
musical activity is supported BY
contributions from individuals OF
groups of individuals. whether
rich Of poor, it assumes great i'm
portance. 1t shows that the peo-
Pile are interested and able tt
stand on their own feet culturallJ
as well as in other respects. The
National Symphony itself is ar
Instance of what can be accom-
plished. Its 90 years of life has
been made possible by the backing
of the community. The same is
true of other orchestras through
out the country. Years ago Rach-
maninoff said the United State:
had the best symphony orches.
tras In the world. The reason
much larger sums are put al
their disposal than in Europe.
This money came. and still comes
from private purses. No where
has the Federal Government, anc
only rarely. If at. all, the State
government, allocated funds fol
music enterprises.
Several references were made by
Mr.. Mitropoulos in his talk to the
world leadership the United States
has attained in mechanical fields