Evening star., 1951-12-30
Music
Providers of Good Music Deserve
Best OF New Year Greetings
BY Alice Eversmon

has brought some of the worlds
greatest orchestras for concerts
here. The New York Philhar-
monic has been included on his
list for three seasons and in ad-
dition, he has brought the NBC
Symphony with Toscanini direct
ing, the Orchestra National of
France, conducted by Munich, and
the Royal Philharmonic of Lon
don, under the baton of Sir
Thomas Beecnam. He has grouped
in one interesting series, presented
this year in the Lisner Audito-
rum, the most outstanding pian-
lists before the public. When a
novelty is on the market, such as
the Salzburg Marionettes or the
Hurok company of die Fielder
maus," he is quick to see that
Washington is on the itinerary.
The variety and scope of his
events cover the entire field of
music and the dance.
The value of the programs ar
ranged by Richard Bales in the
National Gallery of Art and by
Elmira Bier in the Phillips Gal
lery cannot be estimated. Not
only are these weekly concerts
provided free to the public but
they give occasion to young artists
to be heard and to gain the very
necessary experience of perform
ing in concerts. Through the OPP
portunities these appearances Of
fer, the talent of this country is
being encouraged and built up.
Bands Contribute.
Too much gratitude cannot be
expressed to the service bands
and their leaders for their con-
tribution to local enjoyment and
culture. The Army. Navy, Marine
and Air Force have a friendly
competition in the programs they
give each week. They are a purely
gratis donation of these busy Or
ganizations to the public, their
only reward being the increasing
ly large and loyal attendance. We
are inclined to take these concerts
too much for granted but on their
tours. the coming of each group is
a special event in the musical sea-
sons of the towns they visit.
The Washington and Cathedral
Choral Societies deserve the city's
thanks for keeping alive interest
in the great oratorios which are
among the finest of musical liter
ature. 1t is not easy to train the
large membership of the societies
and Paul Galloway has done won-
ders. Nor is it easy for the mem
bers to give so much time for
rehearsal or for study of ne
difficult scores at home. Theit
devotion to a noble cause earns
our gratitude.
The treasured series which
Washington shares with other
cities now through broadcasts.
are the concerts at the Library of
Congress. That two such philan-
thropic women as Gertrude Clarke
Whittall and Elizabeth Sprague
Coolidge have made this notable
gift to the Capital City is a
source of constant gratitude.
There are others, working in a
smaller way, such as the weekly
programs of the Friday Morning
Music Club and those at the
YWCA and the YMCA that are
doing inestimable good and still
others in churches, clubs and
schools. deserving of public recog-
milton.
When the amount of music
available in this city is considered.
should invade the spirit
at this time of the year. None
OF it would be possible, however
without the devotion, hard work
and far-sightedness of those who
arrange and manage the events.
10 all those who are in the busi-
ness of providing music for the
local public but who are in reality
the city's benefactors, a happy
and prosperous New Year.
A@~A