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THE
48
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN MUSIC
{Continued from page 47)
be are on every side. But we must make more
music and more musicians in America, and im-
port fewer of these articles.
We must de-
velop a real art spirit here, a real knowledge
and appreciation of what America is and what
she is to be, before we amount to anything sub-
stantial or call our souls our own in our music."
Favors Use of American Songs
Mr. Mclsaac wrote:
"I am heartily in favor of the use of Ameri-
can songs when they have merit, and I have
heard a large number of really fine songs by
American composers in my concert experience.
But the attitude of the American composer (or
some American composers), that he is entitled
to a protective tariff, that the American flag
covers his output, and that it is a matter of
patriotism to sing his songs, strikes me as gro-
tesque. On the other hand I have found an at-
titude of snobbery on the part of American
singers towards our own musical output, a con-
tentment with a conventional repertoire of a
few German lieder, a few French songs, and
an aria or two from the Italian, which is greatly
to be deplored.
"I do not blame an intelligent artist for re-
fusing to add to his repertoire a great many
of the songs by uninspired Americans which are
published frequently at their own expense. But
on the other hand our singers ought to exhibit
more interest than they do in the output of the
high-class publishing houses.
"Music, of course, has no nationality nor any
other claim upon one than that produced by its
melody upon the ear.
Between an ordinary
song by an American composer and a spark
of fire by Debussy, Strauss or Mozart there is
nothing to be said at all for the American.
"Nevertheless, Cadman, Manney, Chadwick,
Crist, Gilbert, Carpenter, Bond, Burleigh, Mac-
Dowell and other Americans have forced their
way into recital and concert programs by sheer
merit, and other American composers who have
the goods will get recognition in time.
"The public which pays to hear an artist ex-
pects him to choose his program from the finest
music in the world. It takes what is given on
trust. Our people desire to be given only the
best and until the best in music has become
largely American I am afraid we shall have to
submit to our programs being largely made up
of foreign music."
Some Points of the Discussion
Some of the points advanced by the speakers
were these: "Now is the time to boost every-
thing American for all that it is worth, for there
never will be another chance like the present."
"We are not getting the proper attention from
the press."
"There is an inherent vitality to American
music that will make itself felt and American
music will get its recognition by standing on its
own feet."
"Why could not the Boston music publishers
The Pace & Handy Music Co. of Memphis, Tenn.
Wishes to announce to the readers of The Music Trade
Review that the Columbia Graphophone Co. will place
on sale from January 2 to 9, 1918, the following five
numbers as recorded by the Handy Orchestra of Memphis,
whose leader is the originator of the Blues and Jazz
creations.
A-2421
A-2420
Snakey Blues
The Hooking Cow Blues
Fuzzy Wuzzy Rag Ole Miss Rag
A-2417 Sweet Child
"BEALE STREET BLUES," which is recorded by the
Victor and Columbia companies, is Immensely Popular
and a Good Seller.
Sample copies furnished the trade.
Pace & Handy Music Co., Box 913, Memphis, Tenn.
father a series of concerts whose programs are
made up entirely of American compositions?"
'"The American march leads the world, and it
is most encouraging that schools are taking to
American music."
"There is not enough care exercised over the
counter in assisting singers to select the best
of American songs. Music clerks should have
a keener and more discriminating knowledge
of American compositions."
The vote which was finally passed was that
the association draft a letter addressed to all
the editors of Boston newspapers protesting that
American composers are not receiving a just
recognition by the critics.
C. A. Woodman's Toast
In the course of the evening Clarence A.
Woodman proposed a toast to the boys doing
their bit for the nation, to the American com-
posers, and the critics, as follows:
"Here's to our boys overseas, in the camps,
on the ships, in the arsenals, in the departments,
each of whom is doing his little bit for us and
our country.
"Here's to our American composers and edu-
cators; may their power increase, and may our
appreciation of them increase.
"Here's to our critics who have done, and are
doing, splendid work. We look forward to the
time when our American composers will receive
at their hands, not for patriotic reasons alone,
but because of real merit, the reward in the
way of appreciation they have rightly earned."
McCORMACK TO RAISE $100,000
Noted Tenor Plans Concert Trip for Benefit
of the American Red Cross
John McCormack, the noted Irish tenor, has
given further proof of his love for and interest
in his adopted country by undertaking to raise
$100,000 by means of a series of concerts, the
money to be turned over to the American Red
Cross. Mr. McCormack will pay his own ex-
penses during the tour.
In announcing his
plans the tenor said:
"I want to continue to do my bit here in
America, and I should like to do it through the
Red Cross. I am willing to give a series of
concerts from the Atlantic to the Pacific, for
the benefit of the Red Cross, in which the gross
proceeds shall be turned over to the organiza-
tion. I will pay all my own expenses, and I
will keep on singing until I have earned $100,000,
which the American Red Cross can use as it
sees fit. If this offer is accepted, the work will
be a privilege to me, and I will perform it with
an enthusiasm such as I never have felt be-
fore."
The first concert in this patriotic tour will be
given at the Belasco Theatre in Washington, De-
cember 18. President Wilson, who is also
president of the American Red Cross, and Mrs.
Wilson have said that they would attend.
Mr. McCormack has canceled many important
engagements so that he may give these concerts.
'The Real Team-Mate of Our Famous NATIONAL EMBLEM March
COLUMBIA'S CALL
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W yiTlall
While Practically New, Daily Sales of "Columbia's Call/' for Piano, Equal Either
Our "National Emblem" or "The Battle Song of Liberty"—and that's "Going Some !"
ALSO PUBLISHED FOR BAND AND ORCHESTRA
WALTER JACOBS, 8 Bosworth Street, Boston, Mass,