Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-12
NEWS or MUSIC
ny DAY THORPE
star Music Critic


critics representing leading
newspapers In the United
States" the press release said.
''have been invited by the
German Foreign Once to be
guests Of the German Gov
eminent for a four-week tour
OF the Federal Republic. They
will leave New York's Idle
wild Airport on January r."
Five prominent music
critics'l" ] said 70 myself
doubtfuliy. We'll. there's
George Bernard Shaw and
Hanslick--but they're dead.
Then perhaps the Foreign
once Is including Hector
Berlioz. the critic who said
Camille Saint-Saens Is an
outstanding young composer
who Is cursed with q lament
able lack OF inexperienced
But he's dead. too"
But the German Foreign
once showed more persever-
ance and finer insight than I
had at first imagined. 1t had
indeed located Ave prominent
music critics. The FIRST two
on the list we're Alfred
Frankenstein. Of the San
Francisco Chronicle. and
Alexander Fried. Of the San
Francisco Examiner. Both Of
these newspapers are pub.
lished in the state Of Cali
fornia--a point which. In
view Of future developments.
should be remembered.
Imagine for yourself, II you
will. the German Foreign
once in Bonn. Big building
with thick carpets and
thousands of filing cabinets.
No. tens Of thousands Of filing
cabinets. Workers sitting at
desks. executing. planning.
thinking. A. conference is
called among high but not
the highest echelons Of civil
servants.
I'VE are having a disturb
ingly large number OF danger
signals from our overseas
stan in the United States"
sayS Herr X. Americans
despise us for our lack Of
culture. Everybody is saying
Germany Is interested only
In money and the carnal
comforts that money can buy.
We must show the Americans
We have just as much culture
as they. perhaps even more.
We must do something to KIN
these lies before they infect
the satellite nations"
you can scarcely blame
them" says Herr L.. who has
been suspected Of liberal
leanings. The Americans see
hourly evidence Of our de-
pendence on Mammon and
luxury. In Washington there
are two volkswagens for
every parking space, two
Contaxes for every paling in
the White FiouSe fence and
two bottles Of Lowenbrau for
every pretzel. We shouldn't
wonder the Americans nave
q distorted picture Of US"
The answer Is culture"
says Herr NJ. q man to whom
the others look with becom-
ing difference. And ] think
We will find the Americans
not at all unacceptable to
culture. They know what It
means - Omnibus on ones
television. Douglas Southall
Freeman's life OF Washing
ton on ones living room
table, an open mind about
Billy Graham. and an un-
shakeable belief in the thera-
peutic value OF an automobile
trip through Yellowstone Ma
tional Park. But the epitome
Of culture is Of course music
"a fact that makes our task
easier. II music isn't culture.
what is It? Fortunately the
Americans have thought Of
that too.
Now. we viii invite some
prominent American music
critics TO Germany. to show
that the Fourth Reich not
only has music. II has music
festivals. Then they will 90
back home and write that the
new Germany has more
music festivals than Volks-
wagons. and that the COM
mon man likes them better.
Let's See-the group will be
officially welcomed in Bonn
there they will confer with
representatives Of the appro-
pirate agencies :"
That's a magnificent
phrase. Herr NJ" says a
colleague. I'VE can use 1t in
a preSs release" (T,hev do