Evening star., 1951-03-04

LII dill IIlc CuUII IIldL HAS UcCkl
made to bring music to those un-
familiar with it. no one has had
the idea Of inquiring how these
people feel about it. That Is, no
one thought about it until recent
ly. For some time now, Music
Journal. Inc. has been holding a
competition. which closed Wednes-
day. to find out the attitude
of the majority of ordinary NOR
tails toward music. Music Jour-
nal really went to the heart Of
the matter when 1t limited this
first survey to those under 20
years of age. With all the plan
ming for courses in music appreci-
alton for young people and all the
inducements offered to study mu-
sic, their feelings and ideas on
the subject seldom have been con-
sidered.
The results of the competition,
which brings $100 United States
savings bonds award to the win
ners and lesser amounts to others,
will not be known for some time.
The Judges selected represent a
gross section of music leaders. They
are Howard Hanson, director Of
the Eastman School of Music;
Marguerite v. Hood. president of
the Music Teachers National Con-
ference: Herold c. Hunt, superin-
tendent Of schools in Chicago;
Bing Crosby, Paul Whiteman, Fred
Waring and Charles E. Wilson.
president of the General Electric
Co, now Defense MobiliZer. -;
The competition is an outgrowth
of desire to probe the disastrous
conditions facing music of the
better kind right now. Why is it
that the very lives of our major
orchestras and opera companies
are threatened financially; that
younger musicians cannot find a
receptive public, and our COM
posers no encouragement? The
answer, according to Music Jour-
nal, is that "the people who have
had charge Of the music produc-
ton machine - composers. per-
formers, managers, publishers.
teachers, conductors, Boards of
Directors-have paid little atten-
ton to the attitudes and interests
of the vast majority of the $50
million people who live In our
country. They have been content
to. work toward that very small
proportion-the cream of the
crop" music enthusiasts.
Journal Asks Why?
The Journal feels that the atti-
tude of this inner circle" has
been one of arrogance" That it
has been I'VE know what is good
for you. That is our business. Sit
still, take what we give you, and
like it." From now on, however,
the public Is going to make up It's
own mind. So it is to "all of the
people" that the journal asks,
"How do you feel about music
about listening to 1t, performing
1t, studying it?" And each elab-
grafton Of these points is followed
by the question, "Why?"
With the answers the sponsors
expect. to provide to the pro-
fessional music world a series of
analyses, implications and conclu-
sions, which will enable all con-
cerned to look into the minds and
hearts of great public and see
what goes on there pertaining to
music. The first step in this ex-
tensive project Is in the direc-
ton Of young people under the
age Of 20." The Music Journal
says in release that reaction
of enthusiasm far beyond our
dreams" has been stirred up and
promises that some startling re-
ports should be forthcoming"
The problem of catering to the
general public has always been q
disturbing one for managers, ar
lists and conductors. It rends
their hearts to see some person
OF glamour. but little real musical
worth fill hall when their pro-
gram of high-class material brings
a handful of listeners. The "in-
ner circle is growing smaller all
the time, and cannot be counted
upon to support the great musical
ventures sufficiently. no matter
how fine they may be. There must
be way to reach the other public
without descending too far from
their pinnacle of eminence. It is
all too evident that something
must be done if a proper sized
paying public is to be had for the
expensive music devised for it.
Path Between Groups.
Although the gap between the
erudite musician and the ordinary