Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MAY
1, 1920
11
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MAKE MUSIC AN AMERICANIZATION FORCE
By WALTER C. HEPPERLA, President, Premier Grand Piano Corp., New York City
Charles M. Schwab, who is president of the
Oratorio Society of New York, as well as head
of the Bethlehem Steel Co., recently made the
following pertinent and significant comments:
"Music is a great antidote for unrest, for the
most primitive and ignorant are susceptible to
Walter C. Hepperla
music. It's a sedative and a stabilizer and pro-
motes beautiful thoughts. No normal person
could do wrong or think wrong with the sound
of music in his ears.
"In all of my establishments I encourage
music of every kind. Better business and bet-
ter work is done by persons who have an ap-
preciation of the finer things of life, and there
is nothing finer than good music."
The Bethlehem Steel Corp. has a band of 130
pieces, an orchestral society and a Bach choir.
Mr. Schwab, who has in his Riverside drive
home in this city one of the finest pipe organs
in the world, is an accomplished musician. Mr.
Schwab always says something emphatically
worth while when he makes an utterance. Noth-
ing is more to the point or more common sense
than his expressions on music's vast influence
for good.
Even a casual survey of the many and di-
versified constructive forces which can be en-
listed in furthering Americanization, with spe-
cial stress on the value of music in this con-
nection, demonstrates tremendous latent possi-
bilities. Americanization and music can be made
to go hand in hand—a mighty movement of in-
estimable value and importance.
If the patriotic musical program which is the
initial feature of many public schools' morning
exercises would be standardized nationally—the
same program of a New York school for ex-
ample being closely followed at the same iden-
tical time at a Nebraska school, there would be
a corresponding nationalization in spirit and
in morale. This is a movement, which alone
and in itself, would make for Americanization,
added to a proper and wholesome appreciation
of our national songs and anthems.
More light shed in the public schools on dis-
tinctively American Composers and musicians,
such as John Howard Payne and Stephen S.
Foster, of the earlier days, and Edward Mc-
Dowell and Ethelbert Nevin of a later period,
would again sharply accentuate Americanism
and show a patriotic regard for the works of
pioneers and real geniuses.
It is really remarkable how many organiza-
tions, associations, etc., there are in this coun-
try whose combined efforts could not help but
produce the most beneficial results along the
lines of Americanization. One is astounded at
the extent and the multiplicity of these various
constructive forces—the patriotic note in com-
munity sings, for instance, and in band concerts
—the latter a regular outdoor feature of cities
and towns the country over during the Summer
season. The ubiquitous "mov.es" could be made
to do their share in Americanization v.a the
great force of music. Tnrow patriotic songs on
movie screens—in connection with tne regular
film programs—especially in those industrial
sections of our country, wi.ere a large foreign
element predominates. J-,et us cail me roll—
and it is an impressive wst—ot the many organ-
izations that could materially a,d in a national
Americanization movement and with patriotic
music as one of the b.g elements in this move-
ment—and we find:
The American Federation of Women's d u b s ,
the American Federation of Musical Clubs, the
Boy and Girl Scouts, the Boys' Clubs, the Camp
Fire Girls, the settlement and welfare workers
in the large cities, American Legion, Young
Men's Christian Association, Young Women's
Christian Associat.on, Knights ot Columbus,
Kiwanis Clubs, Rotary Clubs, Associated Ad-
vertising Clubs cf trie World, Foreign Language
Aewspapers, etc.
What an extraordinary influence could be ex-
erted on behalf of Americanization through the
mighty medium of music, by the combined
forces enumerated. A definite and systematic
national program, carefully worked out and care-
fully adhered to, would literally work wonders.
In many, many cases, it would mean letting
sunshine in, where shadows now prevail. Music
in industrial plants and department stores
would be further constructive activities, all in
line with the big national Americanization
movement.
Send American patriotic music into every com-
munity where there is a large foreign popula-
tion. The music merchant can render excellent
service by pushing patriotic music rolls and rec-
ords to the fore in such sections. Take the
right kind of music into these homes and there
will be a long stride in advance in making the
right kind of American citizens.
I would suggest that the music industries gen-
erally carry the slogan "Make Music the Great
Force for Americanization" in every advertise-
ment featured the next six months. This means
every division of the industry: Piano, phono-
graph, band instruments, player rolls, talking
machine records, sheet music, etc., and every
newspaper, magazine, trade paper, outdoor bul-
letin, car card, concert, movie and theatre pro-
gram, music roll and talking machine bulle-
tin, should carry this slogan in every individual
advertisement.
Had a concerted national movement such as
I have outlined been in operation some years
ago, there is no doubt that both the Julliard
and Pulitzer wills would have contained liberal
provisions by way of indorsing and strengthen-
ing this activity.
Now is the time to get this movement under
way and to accelerate it in every way possible.
There never was a better time to get behind it
—to push and to push hard. It is, of necessity,
a matter which will require considerable work
and study. The results to be obtained are of a
character that are invaluable and that will leave
a definite impresss on our future American life.
The various music industries organizations,
the Chamber of Commerce, the Music Mer-
chants' Association, the Piano Travelers, the
.Talking Machine Associations, etc., are natural-
ly and logically the initial constructive forces
which should get behind this national activity
and "Make Music the Great Force for Amer-
icanization."
The new manager of the Calder Music Shop,
New Haven, Conn., is C. R. Nichols, who suc-
ceeds W. E. Fulton.. "
Christman
The Piano of Tone
Quality
One Standard
Highest Art Construc-
tion and Workmanship
Makers of the
Famous
Studio Grand
(Five Foot Over All)
Remarkable Tone Qual-
ity Which Appeals
to the Artist
Reproducing
Grand Pianos
A perfect musical in-
strument, satisfying the
critical demands of a
master musician.
Now is the time to be-
come acquainted before
your territory is taken.
"The first touch tells"
Christman Piano Co.
597 E. 137th Street, New York