Evening star., 1951-11-11
81 Music
Canada Reports Troubles Similar
To u. S. in Dominion Musical Life
By Alice EYersman

lore have not been drawn upon.
Canadians composers are Strong
ly influenced" by proximity to the
United States and by the German,
English and Russian schools. When
concert music is written it has
reflected Canadian geography and
landscape, but "a mere title or pro-
gramme does not give the music
itself a national stamp" To assist
the composer he suggests: In
creased facilities for perform
ances, for publication. recording
and dissemination; the establish
ment of private foundations to
help bring works to light, and
widespread propaganda in Canada
and elsewhere.
Concert Lost Money.
Showing the reluctance Of the
public to patronize native talent,
Sir Ernest tells of the concert by
the Toronto Symphony in Janu-
ary, 1948, devoted to works Of Ca
madam composers. Total box Of
flee receipts were $631 of which
almost $500 was taken by various
Canadian music publishers for dis
tribution TO their staffs. The con-
cert was well advertised Cat a cost
of $1,21O and the total expense
was 1886. A deficit of $2,965
was borne by the Composers, Au-
Ithors and Publishers Association
of Canada. 1t is obvious that
such a venture cannot be often re-
peated.
He is concerned, in a friendly
manner, with the drain made on
the local musical life by the great
Ier advantages offered musicians In
the United States. "As long as we
have on our borders" he says,
highly endowed and equipped
schools of music which generously
offer scholarships and other ad-I
vantages to our students, we must
expect much talent to be lost
temporarily at any rate" He
feels also that it is impossible toI
compete with American agencies
in establishing some like service to
guarantee public appearances for
Canadian talent. Those in exist
Ience have not the facilities for Or
Iganizing or financing such inten-
sfve selling campaigns as does the
Community Concert Service which
controls 80 great a part of our
concert field particularly in the
smaller centers of Canada. While
welcoming the many fine artists
presented one cannot but feel that
in some cases equally good or bet
ter artists could be found in
Canada"
Sir Ernest sums up his lengthy
brief by stating again that there
lis an acute need of Government
support and of official organiza-I
Ition if Canada is to develop musi-I
cally as a Nation. A NationalI
Arts Board such as envisaged in
the brief of the Canadian Arts
Council could do much to consoli-
date, encourage and extend exist
ing activities. I heartily agree that
such a board should include repre-
tsentatives from among our crea-I
tive artists themselves and that
existing bodies promoting on al
national scale the aims ard OBJ
jects of the Board either be given
strong representation and sup
port or even if need be adopted as
active sections"
It would seem that Canada Isl
more conscious of its cultural
r roblems than is the United
States. Moreover, it aims to solve
them and begins by having a sur
vey made by a musician OF the
.caliber of Sir Ernest who will be
remembered here from his several
appearances as guest conductor of
the National Symphony. Hardly
any such extensive report has been
asked for in this country That
should be the foundation o. every
reform. Perhaps Canada will
show us the way to elevate and
prosper our own musical life in a
reallv national manner