Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05
A curious reader write


make fine reading, I have
been wondering about the rea-
sons why equal space seems to
be devoted to big events, such
as those that. take place in
Constitution Hall, and small
concerts and musical vespers
such. as those in neighborhood
churches and out-of-the-way
auditoriums.
Are the two equally i'm
portant? Is it right to subject
the church singer to the same
sort OF searching scrutiny as
is given to the big star? /. .
What are the reasons for this
sort of spotlight on every nook
and Granny Of Washington's
musical scene?
Would it not be kinder to
the local talent to disregard
their weak efforts and to con-
centrate instead on reviewing
the major concerts?
This is apparently a new
policy, one which was not fol-
lowed during previous years
and in other Washington
newspapers, and I would like
very much to know what is
in the minds of The Stars
music department in follow
ing it,"
No Predetermined Policy
These questions interest
The Stars music department
as much as they do the writer.
They cannot be answered
simply, by citing a predeter-
mined policy, for such a policy
does not exist. Washington
music is being reported in The
Star on the basis of an at
tempt to express the reactions
Of interested, experienced,
though not necessarily learned,
auditors to every sort of pub
lie muSic-making in town.
While there may be a higher
criticism, this expression of
reaction, If 1t iS successful. Is
certainly the most beguiling
and entertaining.
Performers and composers
seldom suffer unfavorable
comment in The Star unless
to put it as the briefest gen.
erality-they are more in
terested in the tradition than
the song, more interested in
the convention than the
thing itself.
Critic Adjusts Automatically
Thus the problem of re-
vising ones standards of
Judgment in reviewing what
the writer calls "the big star"
one day and local talent" the
next-and the two categories
are by no means mutually ex-
clusive-is not so difficult as
one with no experience in the
matter might expect. One
adjusts automatically, as one
does in most matters of evalua-
ton, and soon feels that this
flexible criterion is in no sense
an adulteration of high stand
ards.
Also, this very tradition,
this convention, is unques-
tionably as important a part
Of all music as it is of spelling.
You enjoy a tune, whether
you have heard it before or
not, because some notes you
expect and some come as a
surprise. This is true even
though the old tunes that are
well-known are often the ones
you like best, for the greatest
paradox about music is that
1t can be at the same time
both absolutely familiar and
absolutely new. It is unlike
words in this respect, since old
jokes lose their SAVIOUR, except
perhaps in "Tristram Shandy"
and Twelfth Night"
Must Avoid Bios
Aware of this characteristic
Of music, the critic often has
the uncomfortable sensation
that perhaps what he dislikes
is not the special traditions
and conventions of per-
Torrance or composition with
which the player or composer
has obscured the music, but
rather that they do not COIN
eide with his own. There is no
Bureau of Musical Standards.
The institution was discredited
about 1900, although prior to
that time musicians had little
doubt about what was good
or bad.
Amateurs Fare Very Well
We do not believe that un-
favorable reviews are bad for
the little known artist, the
amateur, or even for the Or
CARNATIONS that put on "musi-
cal vespers in those neighbour
hood churches" Certainly we
get almost no evidence of re-
sentiment, except from piano
and voice teachers, q few Of
whom are less anenable to
vicarious criticism than their
pupils are to direct criticism.
But the reviews are not ordi-
narily unfavorable.
Indeed. those looking for
good music in Washington
should not conf1ne their atten-
ton to Constitution Hall. the
Washington Cathedral and the
Library Of Congress. In these
fashionable resorts one can
from time to time be troubled
by a suffocating sense of rou-
tine that makes the prevailing
high standards Of performance
seem less attractive than the
fresh enthusiasm and novelty
Of some of our more public
beaches.