Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-24
NEWS or MUSIC
BY DAY THORPE


long interested in music APP
probation for youngsters, is
going to add a second subsidi'
airy activity to its schedule
an activity which win be OF
the greatest benefit to many
of the music students of our
local universities. The SYM
phony has offered to play the
works of local student COM
posers, to accompany student
artists in concertos and arias,
and to let itself be conducted
by selected student conductors.
The project. a university-sym-
phony workshop, starts May
10.
The plan was evolved by
Howard Mitchell and the or
chestra's mana ger, Ralph
Black, both of whom are al
ways interested in ways to
make the National Symphony
a civic enterprise of more var
led and helpful aspects. The
two men asked members of the
music faculties of Howard,
Catholic, American. and Mary
land Universities to a lunch
con, and the group discussed
what ways the orchestra could
be of service to the serious mu-
sic student. Certainly it was
good to have it playing con-
certS, but wasn't there some
thing it could do not primarily
for the listener but for the
creator?
Three CategOries to Benefit
The university men knew
that there was. The student
who writes a symphonic score
seldom has an opportunity to
hear it played, to corroborate
his judgment of the sound
of flute, clarinet and trombone
playing in octaves, or of an
original discordant progress
sion. He wants even more
than that-to be able to test
the emotional impact of his
music when it is heard rather
than seen.
The performer is in a better
situation. He can make CHAM
Der music with his friends. or
sing with the accompaniment
of a piano. But he too needs
the experience of playing with
an orchestra. The conductor.
when learning his trade, can
interpret orchestral scores to
two or four players at two
pianos; in fact, he must learn
his basic techniques by this or
a similar method. But he can
never have the true feel Of the
conductor before he stands
before a real orchestra.
DR.. Mitchell and Mr.. Black
proposed that the National
Symphony be made available
to local students of the three
categories. John Paul. OF
Catholic University. reported
that he had candidates from
all three classeS-composerS
conductors. and performers
and representatives of the
other institutions spoke of
interested students in at least
one group.
First Glasses Arranged
So it was arranged that on
May 10 and 10 the first classes
for students would be given by
the Symphony. Several of the
schools offered to pay a token
amount for the service, but
the orchestra declined. DR..
Mitchell feels that for a cause
as obviously meritorius as this
financial aid will come from
individuals or philanthropic
institutions.
Where the sessions will be
held has not yet been decided.
Also there was considerable
discussion whether the orches-
ira. playing a concerto for a
student soloist. should be con-
Quoted by another student or
by a professional, or whether
a new composition by a stu
dent should be conducted by
q fledgling or an old hand.
One question. however. was
agreed upon. This year,
student conductors will be
matched in their performance
of single piece. That piece,
which the members of the Ma
tional Symphony will soon
probably know in many un-
usual aspects. like a problem
in rubber-sheet geometry. was
selected after many had been
proposed. For one reason or
another. the finale of Beetho-
ven's eighth symphony. the
"Corsair" overture Of Berlioz,
The "Meistersinger" overture,
and several other suggestions
were rejected. Young conduc-
tors, if they want to stand on
the podium before the National
Symphony, had better start to
learn the "Euryanthe" over
ture Of Weber.
4 \ 4
ORGAN FESTIVAL
The American Guild Of Or